vancouver: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | May 27, 2010
The weekend’s simply packed with family-friendly fun including lots of swaps and farmers markets. And don’t forget that it’s Bike to Work Week from May 31st to June 6th.
CircusWest Presents “Around the World in 80 Days!”
Thursday, May 27th – Sunday, May 30th, 12:45 pm & 7 pm (Sunday Matinee only), PNE Gardens (East Hastings at Renfrew), Vancouver
The world may have come to us for the Olympics but CircusWest is bringing us the world in this unique adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic. It involves flipping, flying and flirting with gravity in such exotic locales as London, Paris, Barcelona, India, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Japan and Canada. Be sure to get your tickets now: www.circuswest.com ** please note: this show runs 75 minutes without intermission, so it’s probably more appropriate for slightly older kids!
Hawks Night
Thursday, May 27th, 4 pm – 7:30 pm, Florence Nightingale Elementary School, 2740 Guelph Street, Vancouver
Florence Nightingale School’s annual celebration is open to all and includes a cupcake walk, lollipop tree, games (including chess), raffles, hawk dogs and lots more fun.
Friends of the North Vancouver District Public Library Book Sale
Friday, May 28th – Sunday, May 30th, various times, Lynn Valley Main Library – 1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
Stock up on great books for just 50 cents to two dollars and on Sunday everything’s half price with bags of books for $5 and boxes of books for just $10. Bookworms rejoice and BYOB (that’s bring your own bag): www.nvdpl.ca
Science World: PJ Party! & ThinkFirst
Friday, May 28th – Sunday, May 30th, PJ Party, Friday from 6 pm – 10 pm & see schedule for ThinkFirst times, Science World at TELUS World of Science, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Put on your coziest jammies and head down to Science World for a night-time event for the whole family (note: it’s not a full on sleep over) that includes a chance to explore their summer feature exhibition and showing of Muppet Treasure Island. And ThinkFirst is all about helmet safety: www.scienceworld.ca
Grand Boulevard Parent Participation Preschool Open House
Friday, May 28th, 6 pm – 7:30 pm, Grand Boulevard Parent Participation Preschool, 520 E 20th Street, North Vancouver
Here’s your chance to learn more about this play-based school where children explore, create, experiment and socialize and each day’s an adventure. Plus kids will be decorating their bikes – or wagons or strollers – for the upcoming Lynn Valley Days Parade during the open house: www.gbppp.com
Kid’s Toy Sale and Swap
Saturday, May 29th – Sunday, May 30th, various times, Lynn Valley Community Recreation Centre, 3590 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver
With different vendors each day here’s your chance to stock up on used children’s toys, clothes, equipment, sport’s gear and more. The ticket price of $2 goes to support the Lynn Valley Community Association: www.northvanrec.com
Collingwood Days
Saturday May 29th, 9 am – 5 pm, Carlton Elementary School, Kingsway and Joyce, Vancouver
This community event is all about celebrating their vibrant culture, history and creativity with a pancake breakfast at 9 am, a parade at 11 am and it all ends with heaps of fun at the elementary school afterwards: www.collingwooddays.com
World’s Longest Garage Sale
Saturday, May 29th, 10 am – 2 pm, Blenheim Street between 16th Ave & SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
So a big oops, we listed this as last week but it’s actually this week and yes, we double checked! It’s the 7th Annual Blenheim Street Bazaar with 30 blocks of bargains on Blenheim Street from 15th Avenue to SW Marine Drive. Keep your eyes peeled for the yellow balloons and great bargains: dunbar-vancouver.org
Family FUSE Weekend
Saturday, May 29th & Sunday, May 30th, 10 am – 5 pm, Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Artists, musicians, filmmakers and performers will be on hand to help families discover their personal histories through historic and contemporary art. There’ll also be animation and drawing workshops, dance performances, live music and more: www.vanartgallery.bc.ca
Taiko Drumming with Bonnie Soon
Saturday, May 29th, 11 am & 1 pm, ArtStarts Gallery, 808 Richards Street, Vancouver
Bonnie Soon will introduce kids and parents to Taiko drumming, a combo of martial arts and drumming techniques including Taiko stance and movements, basic drumming skills, vocal shouts and song playing. Best for kids from five to 12: www.artstarts.com
South Hill Festival
Saturday, May 29th, 12 pm – 4 pm, Fraser Street from 43rd to 49th Avenue, Vancouver
The 100th anniversary celebration of this commercial area will include pony rides, wacky bikes, street sports, historical theatre, a climbing wall and heaps more fun: southhillbia.ca
Community Ceilidh/Scottish Festival
Saturday May 29th, 2 pm – 8 pm, Seaforth Armoury, 1650 Burrard Street, Vancouver
It’s the 100th anniversary of Vancouver’s infantry regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and they’re commemorating this auspicious occasion with a free, family-friendly festival featuring pipe and drum band performances, Highland dancing, Scottish music and tours of the Regimental Museum and Archives: www.seaforth100.com
The Great Pedalheads™ Treasure Hunt
Sunday, May 30th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver
Pedalheads™ is kicking off Bike Month with a treasure hunt for kids of all ages. The hunt will take about an hour and there’ll be prizes for everyone at the finish: www.pedalheads.ca
Spring Fling Festival
Sunday May 30th, 10 am – 2 pm, Victoria Drive & 3rd Avenue, Vancouver
Victoria Drive will be hopping with a bouncy castle, the Art Express, rare reptiles, face painting, henna tattooing, a storytelling corner, bake sale, mega garage sale and heaps more fun.
30th Annual Sheep Fair
Sunday, May 30th, 11 am and 1 pm, Maplewood Farm, 405 Seymour River Place, North Vancouver
On the last Sunday of each May, Maplewood Farms celebrates the “Rites of Spring”. There’ll be sheep shearing, a food concession, pony rides and face paintings, plus you can check on the rest of the farms regular denizens: www.maplewoodfarm.bc.ca
Salmonberry Days Community Fair
Sunday, May 30th, 11 am – 3 pm, Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street, Vancouver
The Dunbar Community Association wraps up their month-long Salmonberry Days with games, crafts, activities and lots more fun including the Family Awesome Race: www.dunbarcentre.ca
Portobello West Fashion and Art Market
Sunday, May 30th, Noon – 6 pm, Rocky Mountaineer Station, 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver
Portobello’s always packed with heaps of styling finds. This month you’ll find yoyomama reviewed faves like Pineapple Pete and Superfly Lullabies and lots more. And that’s just for your tots. Don’t even get us started on what you can find for yourself, your hubby and your home: vancouver.portobellowest.com
Erika Ehm and Rebecca Eckler’s Book Tour of The Mischievous Mom at the Art Gallery
Tuesday, June 1st, 4 pm, Kidsbooks, 3083 West Broadway, Vancouver
Erica Ehm and Rebecca Eckler, two fabulous, fearless, modern Canadian mamas have collaborated on the contemporary children’s book The Mischievous Mom at the Art Gallery and Erica’s on a cross country bookstore to help us all discover our inner mischievous mum: www.yummymummyclub.ca
Main Street Station at Thornton Park Farmers Market
Wednesdays, June 2nd – September 29th, 3 pm – 7 pm, 1100 Block Station Street along Thornton Park across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St Skytrain Station, Vancouver
The Wednesday Main Street Farmers Market is back with local vendors purveying their produce, baking and more. Yum: www.eatlocal.org
Lullaby League Mixer
Wednesday, June 2nd, 7pm, Hip Baby, 2110 West 4th Avenue,Vancouver
Need a sitter? This is a painless way to power through a whole whack of interviews in one fell swoop and hopefully find the right sitter for your family. But do register in advance, they usually sell out: www.lullabyleague.ca
Farther Afield:
Chaffey-Burke Green & Groovy Fair
Friday, May 28th, 4 pm – 8 pm, rain or shine, at Chaffey-Burke Elementary School, (10 minute walk from Patterson Skytrain station), 4404 Sardis Street, Burnaby
With a theme of reusing, recycling and minimizing waste in their community Chaffey-Burke’s fair will be full of cake walks, dunk tanks, hockey shoots, student activities and a silent auction with some fabulous prizes. As for the Groovy part – well embrace your ‘70s wardrobe and pull out the bell bottoms.
Ladner Pioneer May Days
Friday, May 28th – Sunday May 30th, various times, Memorial Park, 5010 47th Avenue, Ladner
One of BC’s largest, free family fairs, you’ll find heaps of activities and entertainment including live bands, a craft fair, jugglers, magicians, balloon artists, a petting zoo, carnival rides and a food fair. And at noon on Sunday, Ladner’s May Day Parade will culminate in a traditional May Pole Dance and the crowing of the May Queen: www.ladnermaydays.org
Davie Jones Elementary Annual Carnival
Friday, May 28th, 5 pm – 8 pm, Davie Jones Elementary, 12030 Blakely Road, Pitt Meadows
You’re invited to Davie Jones Elementary’s annual carnival which includes pony rides, kiddie rides, raffles, a silent auction, cake walk, face painting, crafts and lots, lots more. Email cdecs@shaw.ca for more info.
Environment Week 2010
Monday, May 31st – Sunday, June 6th, various times and locations, Burnaby
It’s Environment Week in Burnaby and their theme is ‘Our Food, Our Future’ so you can enjoy a smorgasbord of fun and educational activities. While there are events all week long, the main event is on Saturday, May 29th from 9 am to 2 pm featuring live music, a BBQ, a Farmer’s Market and more: www.burnaby.ca
Kids Swap Meet
Saturday, May 29th, 9 am – 1 pm, Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 6050 176 Street, Cloverdale
Stock up on new and used kids toys, clothing, books, baby gear and more: www.cloverdalerodeo.com
Garden With Me!
Saturday May 29th, 10 am – 1pm, Surrey Nature Centre, 14255 – 96th Avenue, Surrey
If you’d love to grown your own plants and veggies then this workshop is about the whole family learning how to garden together: www.surrey.ca
13th Annual European Festival
Saturday, May 29th, 10 am – 1 am, Scandinavian Centre, 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby
There’ll be 15 hours of European fun including dancing and music from different nations, cultural display booths, lots of live performances, a children’s tent (open till 6 pm), food tent and more: scandinaviancentre.org
Free Children’s Clothing Exchange at the Hive @ Eric Langton Elementary
Saturday, May 29th, 11 am – 2 pm, The HIVE Neighbourhood Centre at Eric Langton Elementary, 12138 Edge Street, Maple Ridge
The school’s collecting clean, gently-used kids’ clothes and on Saturday you can come by to choose some clothes for your little ones and enjoy a snack and enter some draws: www.mapleridge.ca
Mundy Road Country Fair
Saturday, May 29th, 11 am – 3:30 pm, Mundy Road Elementary, 2200 Austin Avenue, Coquitlam
This is an old time country fair with races, a bouncy castle, a bake sales, Gizeh Shrine clowns, dancing lesson, a marketplace and a lot more fun: www.sd43.bc.ca
36th Annual Alexandra Festival
Saturday, May 29th, 11 am – 8 pm, Alexander House, 2916 McBride Avenue, South Surrey/White Rock
Celebrate community with music, activities, prizes and local crafters and artisans: campalex.com
Como Lake Fishing Derby
Sunday, May 30th, 7 am – 12 Noon, Como Lake Park, Gatensbury Street, Coquitlam
Pint sized fisher people won’t want to miss out on this chance to cast a line and win prizes for everything from the largest fish to the smallest fish to the strangest catch of the day. While the kids are busy fishing parents can enjoy a pancake breakfast cooked by the Coquitlam Kinsman Club: festivalcoquitlam.citysoup.ca
SOS Children’s Village Run
Sunday, May 30th, check in at 9 am run starts at 10:15 am, Richmond Olympic Oval, 6111 River Road, Richmond
Run or walk in support of SOS Children’s Village BC, which helps BC’s children in foster care. The 1K walk along the Middle Arm dyke is perfect for families. There’ll be face painting and kids’ games following the run: www.sosbcrun.ca
The White Rock Summer Farmers’ Market – Summer Market
Sundays, May 30th – October 10th, 9 am – 1 pm, 15154 Russell Avenue, South Surrey
White Rock’s Famers’ Market opens for the season with baking, produce, crafts and lots more: www.whiterockfarmersmarket.ca
Kids Swap Meet
Sunday, May 30th, 9 am – 3 pm, Sullivan Hall, 6306 152nd Street, Surrey
Whether you’re buying or selling kids’ toys, clothing, books, gear and more you’ll be glad to know that all proceeds will be going to the Children’s Heart Network: www.notquitesouthsurrey.com
16th Annual Queensborough Day
Sunday, May 30th, 11 am – 4 pm, Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Avenue, New Westminister
Celebrate community living in New West with delicious food, fun entertainment, marketplace activities, rides and crafts for the whole family: qspc.org
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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