vancouver: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | May 13, 2010
There’s music, merriment, challenges, chases and more to keep the whole family entertained this weekend plus the Children’s Festival is in full swing.
Concert at the Library
Thursday May 13th, 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm, Lynn Valley Main Library, Community Meeting Room, 1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
Join the Ambleside Orchestra – the North Shore’s community orchestra for more than 18 years -for a chamber music concert with selections by Beethoven and Mozart and others. This is the opportunity to hear local musicians close to home: www.nvdpl.ca
Toddler at the Table
Friday, May 14th, 9 am – 10:30 am, Riley Park Community Centre, 50 East 30th Avenue, Vancouver
Registered Dietician Kristen Yarker-Edgar will take you through which feeding strategies are great for toddlers (hint: hiding vegetables in their food is not one of them). And we’ve checked and there are a few spots left for this workshop. Be sure to register in advance: www.vitaminkconsulting.com
Stars on Ice
Friday, May 14th, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm, GM Place, 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Your chance to see National Champions and Gold and Silver medalists dance on ice at the 20th Anniversary Tour of Sears Stars on Ice, one of Canada’s best loved family entertainment: www.ticketmaster.ca
Declutter For a Cause
Saturday, May 15th, 3333 Main Street (Main and 17th), Vancouver
Bargain hunters and those wanting to donate gently used items are supporting a good cause at the 2nd annual National Garage Sale for Shelter, raising funds to help abused women and children across Canada. Last year’s sale raised more than $120,000 and this year they hope to make even more: www.shop4shelter.ca
Mackenzie Days
Saturday, May 15th, 10 am – 3 pm, Mackenzie @ West 33rd, Vancouver
Ever wondered how they make all those loaves of bread? Go behind the scenes at Tinker’s hatch bakery as part of the fun as Mackenzie merchants welcome families for a day of entertainment. Bouncy castle, a BBQ and more: dunbar-vancouver.org
Spring Fling at the Cedar Cottage Community Garden
Saturday, May 15th, 11 am – 2 pm, Victoria Drive and Hull Street, under the skytrain at the big red “A”, Vancouver
Find out what to plant, how to plant it and a place to plant, take a garden tour, enjoy children’s events, a bake sale, craft sale, poetry contest, a band and more make this day in the garden entertaining for all: cedarcottagegarden.wordpress.com
North Shore Spring Arts Festival
Saturday, May 15th, 12 noon – 4 pm, Lynn Valley Village, 1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
Visit Lynn Valley Village for this free community event celebrating music, performing arts, visual arts and literature on the North Shore! There are readings, painting and drawing demos, musical performances and more: nscelticensemble.com
Childcare First Aid Course
Sunday May 16th, 9 am – 5 pm, Nannies on Call Office Downtown, #302- 788 Beatty Street, Vancouver
Be prepared, basic first aid is something every mom, and nanny, needs to know and here is your chance to learn from a Red Cross Certified instructor. Register by emailing lara@nanniesoncall.com or calling 604.734.1776: www.nanniesoncall.com
HSBC VanDusen Family Program, Tasty Plants
Sunday, May 16th, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm or 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
Fresh herbs can make a summer’s meal and kids from five to 11 can plant their own mini-herb garden to take home as well as learning all about the herbs grown at VanDusen Gardens. Pre-registration required by emailing familyprograms@vandusen.org or calling 604.718.5898: vancouver.ca/parks/parks/vandusen
Explore Sunday: Ben Franklin
Sunday May 16th, 12 noon – 4 pm, Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Avenue in Vanier Park, Vancouver
Take this rare opportunity to peek inside the submersible Ben Franklin and learn about its important mission to study the Gulf Stream and its connection to manned space flight. Tours are offered from noon to 4 pm and are included with admission to the Museum: www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com
Write Your Birth Story Workshop
Sunday, May 16th, 2 pm – 5 pm, Pomegranate Midwives, 2647 East Hastings, Vancouver
Cori Howard, founder of The Momoir Project, is leading this workshop for moms – new and old – to record their birth experiences, before they forget. Reliving your birth experiences can be healing, therapeutic and powerful. Bring a journal, some handkerchiefs and join a great group of women for an afternoon of sharing, reading and writing. Be sure to register in advance: www.pomegranate-midwives.com
Vancouver International Children’s Festival
Monday, May 17th – Monday, May 24th, various times, Vanier Park, Vancouver
Come expand your horizons and join in the fun for any age, there’s the thrill of the National Acrobats of Taiwan, the Cirque du Soleil’s Circus Incognitus or beloved Robert Munsch stories brought to life as well as contests and more at the 33rd annual festival: www.childrensfestival.ca
Farther Afield:
Explore Like Dora: Cowpokes & Buckaroos
Friday, May 14th, 11 am – 2 noon or 1 pm – 2 pm, Surrey Museum, 17710-56A Avenue, Surrey
If you have a budding three to six year-old cowboy, or cowgirl, there are tours, crafts and games to help them prepare for the Cloverdale Rodeo. Be sure to pre-register: www.surrey.ca
Langley Demonstration Garden Opening Day and Distribution Event
Saturday, May 15th, various times, Langley Demonstration Garden, 4887 – 221 Street, Langley
Join LEPS and the Township of Langley as they kick off the Langley Demonstration Garden’s 18th year with activities for the whole family including children’s events, composting and backyard composting workshops, prizes, indoor and outdoor water saver kits and much more: www.leps.bc.ca
Kids Only Swap Meet
Saturday, May 15th, 9 am – 1 pm, Kanaka Creek Elementary School, 11120 234A Street, Maple Ridge
Bring your kid’s gently used toys and clothing to sell and purchase new-to-you things to take home at this great event in the school’s gymnasium: www.usedmapleridge.com
The Best Swap Meet & Craft Fair Ever!
Saturday, May 15th, 10 am – 1 pm, Cambie Community Centre, 12800 Cambie Road, Richmond
Folks flock to this always sold out event which includes a Kidz Only Market: www.richmond.ca
Salmon Saturday – Going Batty!
Saturday, May 15th, 10 am – 1 pm, front lawn, Fort Langley Community Centre, 9167 Glover Road, Fort Langley
They’re coming, those pesky mosquitoes so learn now how to build a bat box (by donation) at LEPS Fort Langley’s Going Batty event. Bats love munching on mosquitoes so you’ll want to encourage these night flyers to hang out in your yard: www.leps.bc.ca
Get Active Coquitlam, A Spring Sports Fair!
Saturday, May 15th, 10 am – 2 pm, Pinetree Community Centre, 1260 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Come and meet local community aquatics, field sports, ice sports and gym sport organizations at our Coquitlam Sports Fair: www.activecoquitlam.ca
Animal Grossology at Metropolis at Metrotown
Saturday, May 15th – Sunday, August 22nd, Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 9 pm, Sunday & Holidays, 11 am – 7 pm, Metropolis at Metrotown (Grand Court), 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby
“Ew – gross!” takes on a whole new meaning at this event, which features some of the world’s slinkiest, slimiest and yuckiest facts about creatures from those as small as a flea to those as large as a cow. This educational exhibit showcases science in a way that will make kids’ laugh and learn simultaneously with interactive learning games. We’ll be checking it out and reporting back ASAP: www.metropolisatmetrotown.com
Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre Grand Opening
Saturday, May 15th, 11 am – 2 pm, (Ceremony at 12:00 noon), Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre, 13458 – 107A Ave, Surrey
This official opening of the Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre, a legacy of the 2010 Olympic Games in the city, will feature entertainment and refreshments for everyone of all ages. Check out this 20,000 sq. feet of recreational space, which includes a gymnasium, youth lounge, preschool room and multipurpose space: www.surrey.ca
National Public Works Week – City of Richmond Public Works Open House
Sunday, May 15th, 11 am – 3 pm, 5599 Lynas Lane, Richmond
Help Richmond celebrate their Engineering, Parks and Public Works with a day of fun for the whole family. There’ll be live music, arts and crafts, face painting, demonstrations by emergency crews, a fish pond, balloons and more. Everyone will want to try the hands-on operation of dump trucks, excavators and other heavy equipment. Plus there’ll be a display of classic cars: www.richmond.ca
Environmental Extravaganza: Trash to Treasure
Saturday, May 15th, 1:30 pm – 3 pm, Historic Stewart Farm, 13723 Crescent Road, Surrey
Reuse! Kids from seven to 11 can learn to create something unique from those newspapers, egg cartons and dairy product containers that usually get tossed into the recycling. Be sure to pre-register online: www.surrey.ca
South Surrey’s 4th Annual Amazing Chase
Sunday, May 16th, 10 am – 1 pm, Start at the South Surrey Recreation Centre, 14601 20th Avenue, Surrey
The chase is on. This is a fun event for the whole family, challenges are geared to all ages and abilities. Bring your runners or walking shoes and enjoy our beautiful walkway as you travel by foot between facilities and fields. Be sure to register in advance: www.surrey.ca
Wilderness at your Doorstep
May 16th, 10 am – 2 pm, Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, from Highway 1 in North Vancouver take the Lynn Valley Road exit and follow north to the park entrance, North Vancouver
This annual celebration of pioneer history is fun for the whole family. Visit the 102-year- old Mills House and see relics of early logging and mining days in Lynn Valley, as well as learning about natural history in the park: www.metrovancouver.org
Spring into Summer
Sunday, May 16th, 10 am – 4 pm, Burnaby Lake Regional Park, Nature House, Burnaby
It’s the season opening of the Burnaby Lake Nature House and everyone from ages 2 and up are invited to take a guided walk with a park interpreter to learn about early summer plants and visiting birds. There are displays and crafts and you can take in the sights from the viewing tower: www.metrovancouver.org
May Fun Fly at Garry Point Park
Sunday, May 16th, 11 am – 4 pm, Garry Point Park, Richmond Map
Weather permitting why not settle in for a day of single, dual line and team flying, as well as kite boarders and buggiers. Heck, why not bring your own kite too for a bit of high flying: bcka.bc.ca
Multifaith Social
Sunday, May 16th, 4 pm – 6 pm, 7050 120th Street, Surrey
The Multifaith Action Society invites everyone to a social event hosted by The Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. Families are invited to bring their children to enjoy different customs and learn about different faith traditions. There will be children’s activities and refreshments. RSVP to Sister Cecilia Hudec at hudec@telus.net or Sukhvinder Vinning at anand75ca@yahoo.com.
Free Breastfeeding Workshop for Expectant Mothers
Monday, May 17th, 7 pm – 9:30 pm, Langley Public Health Unit, 20389 Fraser, Langley
Expectant mothers planning to breastfeed their babes can get helpful advice and information from skilled nurses who will teach breastfeeding basics and techniques to increase success. Pre-register by calling 604.530.2772: www.fraserhealth.ca
And we wanted to remind you to always call or visit the website for event info before you head out just in case any changes have been made since we posted it. And of course, have fun!
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