vancouver: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | July 8, 2010
Fingers crossed the summer weather has finally arrived, and with it lots of outdoor summer fun and opportunities to picnic (more on that tomorrow) and just generally get outdoors. Enjoy!
SpongeBob SquarePants™ 4D
Thursday, July 8th through Monday, September 6th, mornings, Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Vancouver
Check out SpongeBob SquarePants in a zany adventure in Bikini Bottom and then meet his underwater friends at the Aquarium’s touch pool stations which are open from 11 am to 5 pm daily: www.visitvanaqua.org
Summerfest – Kid’s Fridays at Londsdale Quay
Friday, July 9th, 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Lonsdale Quay Market, 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver
Every Friday over the summer Lonsdale Quay will be hopping with kid-friendly fun including a kids’ menu from East Side Mario on the plaza from 1 pm to 2 pm, face painting and balloon twisting and this Friday they’re featuring a bouncy castle with a slide and exterior ladder: www.lonsdalequay.com
Dream Auction
Friday, July 9th, 5:30 pm – 1 am, Vancouver Law Courts Inn, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver
It’s the second annual Dream Auction benefiting Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Head out for dinner, silent and live auctions, gambling and a live band plus appearances from NHL players – all for a good cause: www.dreamauction.ca
Pyjama Party
Friday, July 9th, 6:30 pm – 10 pm, Science World at TELUS World of Science, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Wear your PJs, bring your favourite Toy Story paraphernalia and hit Science World for an evening of fun and movies, plus you can explore Treasure!, their summer feature exhibition, create your own toy and watch the original Toy Story. Plus we hear there’ll be prizes: www.scienceworld.ca
Brock House Society Summer Fair
Saturday July 10th, 10 am – 3 pm, Brock House, 3875 Point Grey Road, Vancouver
Head over to Brock House for music, a silent auction, white elephant sale, Morris dancers, Balloon Typhoon for the kids, a clown, games and more. And when you’re done you can visit the neighbouring beach: www.brockhousesociety.com
North Vancouver Community Craft Fair
Saturday, July 10th & Sunday, July 11th, 10 am – 4 pm, Civic Plaza, Lonsdale Avenue & 14th Street, North Vancouver
Check out local crafters, live music and on Saturday there’ll also be a free children’s art workshop: www.nvartscouncil.ca
Blackberry Books Book Signing with David Martin
Saturday, July 10th, 12 noon – 2 pm, Blackberry Books, Granville Island, #3 – 1666 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver
David Martin, author and illustrator of Where’s My Cheese Please?, Bob and Cayle, The Little Bare Bear, Fishy Food and others will be at Blackberry Books signing copies of his phonics-based books for small kids. Rumour has it there’ll be stickers for the tots as well: djcpublishing.com
Annual Open House and Plant Sale at Strathcona & Cottonwood Community Gardens
Sunday July 11th, 10 am – 2 pm, Gardens are located between Prior & Hawks Avenues and Raymur & Malkin Avenues, Vancouver
Celebrate 25 years of community gardening with a plant sale, garden tours, a honey sale, kids zone and workshops on everything from bee keeping to composting: strathconagardens.ca & cottonwoodcommunitygardens.ca
Tibet Festival
Sunday, July 11th, 10 am – midnight, VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
This family-friendly cultural and arts event will feature Tibetan Thangka painting, sacred sand mandala art, butter sculpture,Tibetan food, arts, music, dance and more: www.tsengdokrinpoche.com
Yoga Day in Vancouver
Sunday, July 11th, 11 am – 1 pm, Halfmoon Yoga, 1650 Johnston St., Granville Island, Vancouver
Celebrate Yoga Day with demos and short classes focused on young families and yogis alike, they’ll also be selling tees to benefit Camp Moomba. Be sure to sign up in advance by calling 604.731.7099 x107: www.halfmoon.bz
Marpole Summerfest 2010
Saturday, July 10th, 11 am – 3 pm, Granville Street, between 63rd and 71st Avenues, Vancouver
Marpole is celebrating their community and their 10th annual Sumerfest with sidewalk sales, merchant promotions, musicians, balloon art, face-painting, a kids zone complete with bouncy castle and a classic car Show ‘n Shine at the Safeway parking lot and lots more fun: www.marpoleonline.com
Mountain View Cemetery’s Annual Open House
Sunday, July 11th, 11 am – 3 pm, 39th & Fraser Street, Vancouver
Get ready to ramble. The cemetery will be a perfect place to take a walking tour this Sunday, plus there’ll be joss paper demonstrations from Dr.Sun Yat-Sen Gardens, kite making and more. You can also bring a picnic and enjoy it by the fountain: vancouver.ca
Hotdogs for Heritage: an Architectural Salvage Sale
Sunday, July 11th, 11am – 3 pm, 5026 Connaught Drive, Vancouver
If you’re doing some DIY this summer than you won’t want to miss this trove of old doors, stained glass windows, antique fixtures and more. There’ll also be a family fair with a silent auction, kids’ activities, live music and a free hotdog for everyone. Admission is by donation: www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org
“The Goonies” Outdoors
Wednesday, July 14th, dusk, Ceperley Meadow (2nd Beach – Stanley Park), Vancouver
All through July the West End Business Association will be running a movie each Wednesday or Thursday and they’re starting with the classic, The Goonies this Wednesday: www.westendbia.com
Farther Afield:
SPECC-tacular Productions presents: The Wizard of Oz
Tuesday, July 6th – Sunday, July 11th, 7:30 pm, Saturday, July 10th – Sunday, July 11th, 2:30 pm, The ACT, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
We’re used to seeing pantomimes only around Christmas so this summer panto based on the Wizard of Oz was a fun summer find: www.theactmapleridge.org
Neale Bacon, Ventriloquist & his Crazy Critters
Thursday, July 8, Whalley Library, 10am & Cloverdale Library, 1pm and Friday, July 9, Guildford Library, 10am & Fleetwood Library, 1pm, Surrey
Kids of five and up are invited to learn why reading rocks through ventrioloquism, laughter and music: www.spl.surrey.bc.ca
Burnaby Summer Theatre: CHROMA: The Quest For Colourm
Thursday, July 8th, 10:30 am, Burquitlam Child Care Centre, 9847 Lyndhurst Street, Burnaby
The Shade has begun his mission to consume all of the colours in Chroma and keep them in his Well of Darkness, watch as heroic Dasos and Neela go on a brave quest to return colour to the world in this show that’s all about children unleashing the power of their imagination: www.facebook.com
Tot Tour: Treasure Trove
Friday, July 9th, 11 am – Noon & 1 pm – 2 pm, 17710-56A Avenue, Surrey
Preschoolers are invited to don their eye patches, pick a perfectly piratical name and join in on a treasure hunt. Be sure to register in advance: www.surrey.ca
Sesame Street Live: IMAGINE! with Elmo and Friends!
Friday, July 9th – Sunday, July 11th, see schedule for times, Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, 33800 King Rd., Abbotsford
This high-energy musical featuring Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and more Sesame Street faves is all about the power of imagination: www.abbotsfordcentre.ca
Party in the Park
Fridays, July 9th to August 27th, 5 pm – 8 pm, Central Community Park (corner of Victoria & Young), Chilliwack
Party in the Park 2010 is all about entertainment, a family fun zone complete with clowns, crafts, mini golf and bouncy castles and the summer kick off for this ongoing event includes a great line up on Coast Capital Stage: www.downtownchilliwack.com
Tour de Delta
Friday, July 9th – Sunday, July 11th, various locations and times, Delta
Okay, so it’s not France but there’ll be three days of competitive cycling at Canada’s richest cycling event, plus the Prologue on the 9th from 5 to 8 pm at 84th Avenue and 11t4th Street in North Delta will include lots of fun, games and activities for kids. On Sunday morning there’s also a community ride and pancake breakfast to get everyone in the spirit : www.tourdedelta.com
Queensborough Summer Entertainment Opener
Friday, July 9th, 7 pm – 11 pm, Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Avenue, New Westminster
The Queensborough Community Centre is kicking off summer with a party featuring a performance by Ventriloquist Kellie Haines followed by crafts and then an outdoor movie. And it’s all free. We’ve seen Kellie Haines before and she rocks: qspc.org
Cinema Under The Stars – Coquitlam: Sun Valley Alvin & the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel
Friday, July 9th, 9:15 pm, Sun Valley, Coquitlam
Catch the chipmunk magic under the stars on a towering silver screen. Be sure to bring a picnic and your own blankets to lounge upon. Watch for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more coming during the rest of the summer: city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca
Burns Bog Conservation Society Discovery Workshops
Saturday, July 10th, 9 am – 4 pm, Delta Nature Reserve, 10388 Nordel Court, Delta
The Bog is hosting a series of workshops on Saturday that are all about nature including an interactive session with Roberta Price, a First Nations educator, for kids from 11 am to 1 pm and bird watching, nature photography and health workshops for adults: www.burnsbog.org
Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival
Saturday, July 10th, 9 am – 8 pm & Sunday, July 11th, Noon – 9 pm, 224 Street & the Peace Park, Maple Ridge
Enjoy live Caribbean bands, colourful costumes, dancing, arts and crafts, delicious food, a Farmers Market, street vendors and more: www.caribbeanfest.ca
Boardwalk Bingo
Saturday, July, 10th, 10 am – 4 pm, Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Drive, New Westminster
This is about more than just bingo, you can also stroll along the boardwalk and discover more about the boats, industries, environment, geography and the “olden days” of the Fraser River: www.fraserriverdiscovery.org
Discover Dinosaurs
Saturday, July 10th, 10:30 am – 11:30 am & 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm, 17710-56A Avenue, Surrey
Kids from three to six are invited to think really, really big as they discover fun dinosaur facts. Be sure to register in advance: www.surrey.ca
Fair in the Square 10th Anniversary
Saturday, July 10th & Sunday, July 11th, Noon – 4 pm, Carre Heritage Square, 1120 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam
Place des Arts, the Mackin House Museum and the Gare de Fraser Mills Station Museum are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Fair in the Square with live performances, art activities, outdoor games, roving entertainment, a vintage car show, carnival games and heaps more fun: fairinthesquare.ca
Pioneer Fair
Saturday, July 10th, 12 noon – 4 pm, Historic Stewart Farm, 13723 Crescent Road, Surrey
Head to this event dressed as a pioneer, bring a picnic and enjoy their old-time music, watch cold forge and hot forge blacksmith demos, tour the farmhouse, play traditional sports and games and more: www.surrey.ca
Old-Fashioned Sports Day
Saturday, July 10th, 2 pm – 4 pm, 17710-56A Avenue, Surrey
There’ll be fun, games and outdoor pioneer pastimes on the museum’s lawn. And hopefully lots of sunshine: www.surrey.ca
Literacy4kids Story and Craft Times
Saturday, July 10th, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm, The Little Gym, #5-6233-200 Street, Langley
These free, monthly, parent participation events in Langley include stories, songs and crafts and this month the theme is dogs with Clifford, The Big Red Dog on hand as well as a real working dog from PADS to help kids learn what to do when they meet a working dog: literacy4kids.com
Creatures of the Not-So-Deep
Sunday, July 11th, 10:30 am ~ 2:30 pm, Belcarra Regional Park, follow Ioco Road from Port Moody to the picnic area and look for the tents, Port Moody
Take a beach walk and search for sea life, play seashore games, see sub tidal creatures at the pool on the wharf and make an ocean craft. Be warned, prepare to get muddy: www.greenclub.bc.ca
22nd Annual Symphony in the Park
Sunday, July 11th, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Deer Lake Park, Burnaby
The VSO is performing their annual, free outdoor concert in the beauty of Deer Lake Park. The program includes light classics and popular favourites. It’s the perfect opportunity for a picnic in the park: www.shadboltcentre.com
Eco Kids: I Spy Fry
Tuesday, July 13th, 10:30am – 1:30pm, 4887 221 Street, Langley
Follow the salmon on their journey from the stream to the sea, meet some salmon friends, build a life-sized salmon habitat and paint a fish for the garden’s Streams of Dreams. And be sure to bring your lunch for a garden picnic: www.leps.bc.ca
Summer Fun Nights
Tuesdays, July 13th, – July 27th, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (fair weather only), King George Park Gathering Place, #5 & Cambie Road, Richmond
The East Richmond Community Association is presenting this free evening of activities, a BBQ, live music, kids’ games, face painting and more: www.richmond.ca
Children’s Day at the Harrison Festival of the Arts
Wednesday, July 14th, 11 am – 4 pm, Harrison Memorial Hall, Harrison Hot Springs
It’s the Harrison Festival of the Arts Children’s Day and it includes crafts, a climbing wall, live music from Bette & Wallet, a tightwire walker, comic Flying Bob and more: www.harrisonfestival.com
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!
Leave a Comment
Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
