The weekend may seem a little slow but that’s because all the activity is happening in our Spring Break Activities Guide. Plus we’ve also created a separate guide full of other ways to keep your kids busy over the two week break – it includes everything from crafts, to places to visit to readers recommendations (we’d love yours!). And this Saturday the 26th it’s Earth Hour from 8:30 pm – 9:30, it’s an opportunity to think about how we use and produce energy.
Behind the Scenes at Maplewood Farm mini Special Events
Thursday, March 24th & Saturday, March 26th, 11 am & 2 pm, Maplewood Farm, 405 Seymour River Place, North Vancouver
Getting a chance to check things out behind the scenes at the farm is always popular, so be sure to pre-register your tot of three and older by calling 604.985.FARM to hold your spot soonest. You get a chance to look at how the farm operates checking out activities such as preparing grain and bedding for the farm animals and grooming and tutorial on ponies: www.maplewoodfarm.bc.ca
5th Annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Saturday, March 26th – Friday, April 22nd, various times and locations, Vancouver
We spotted our first blossoms just the other day and we’re happy to welcome spring with this series of events including a Haiku Invitational, the Cherry Jam Downtown on March 31st, the family-friendly Sakura Days Japan Fair on April 2nd and 3rd and lots more. Be sure to check out their site for full details. And about 3,000 cherry trees will be planted this spring in celebration of Vancouver’s 125th birthday: www.vcbf.ca
Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre Presents Wake Up!
Saturday, March 26th, 10:30 am – noon, Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre, 3663 Park Road, North Vancouver
Kids from three to six (with an adult) are invited to this Imagine and Explore program where you’ll be looking for signs of spring flowering opening and animals awakening: www.dnv.org
HSBC VanDusen Family Program at Bloedel Conservatory
Saturday, March 26th, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Bloedel Conservatory, Cambie Street at West 33rd Avenue, Vancouver
Kids from five to 11 are invited to discover the tropical plant life inside the Conservatory and you’ll also learn about the exotic birds that call the Bloedel home. Be sure to preregister by emailing familyprograms@vandusen.org or calling 604.718.5898: vancouver.ca
It’s Tap Time with TapCo.! at the ArtStarts gallery!
Saturday, March 26th, 11 am & 1 pm, ArtStarts gallery, 808 Richards Street, Vancouver
TapCo.’s dancers are bringing their cutting-edge rhythms (and extra tap shoes just for you) to the ArtStarts gallery for a free tapalicious workshop this weekend: artstarts.com
Portobello West Market
Saturday, March 26th & Sunday, March 27th, 11 am – 5 pm, Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver
Not only is Portobello back after their winter hiatus but they’re at a new location, the Creekside Community Recreation Centre. Lots of our favourite designers and artists will be there including Abeego, CocoaNymph, Kiki Kids Wear and Lootz Designs. And we’re looking forward to discovering more local creations: www.portobellowest.com
Children’s Toy & Clothes Market
Sunday, March 27th, 10 am – 1 pm, Douglas Park Community Centre, Auditorium, 801 West 22nd Avenue, Vancouver
Buy or sell used children’s toys and clothing. This sale is just for used items, you won’t find any merchants or businesses here, just great secondhand finds: vancouver.ca
Blim Monthly Community Market
Sunday, March 27th, Noon – 5 pm, Heritage Hall, Main Street and 15th Avenue, Vancouver
There’ll be 48 vendors of everything from food to fashion to accessories at this monthly market including Barefoot Books, Baby Elephant, Farmers Daughter, Squid Kid and lots more. Plus shop while enjoying music, hot food, beverages and entertainment: blim.ca
Free Easter Skate in Kerrisdale
WhenWhere: Sunday, March 27th, 2 pm – 4 pm, Kerrisdale Arena, 5670 East Boulevard, Vancouver
Well Easter’s still awhile away but you can start celebrating now with this free skate – and free skate rentals while supplies last: vancouver.ca
Are Our Children Paying the Price for Our Work-Life Imbalance?
Monday, March 28, 6:30 – 9:00 pm, Michael J Fox Theatre, 7373 Macpherson Avenue, Burnaby
RSVP by Wednesday, March 23, 2011.
It’s expensive to live in Greater Vancouver and our children feel the effects of parents who need to spend much of their time working to make a living. How can we ensure that every family earns a “living” wage while ensuring our children get the care and attention they deserve? Join panelists Paul Kershaw, Michael McCarthy Flynn and Diana Mumford to discuss how we, as a society, can put our children first. For more information contact Nicola Wootton at nicola.wootton@ubc.ca or 1-800-883-3088: www.alumni.ubc.ca
Farther Afield:
Kids’ Spring Fling
Friday, March 25th, 10 am – 2 pm, Surrey Nature Centre, 14255 – 96 Avenue, Surrey
It’s a day of outdoor games, eco crafts, nature activities and more. Rain or shine you’ll hunt for bugs, search for birds, play in the forest and more. Parent participation is required: www.surrey.ca
Penzer Bike Park Spring Clean
Friday, March 25th, Noon – 3 pm, Penzer Bike Park – 200th Street and 47th Avenue, Langley
Come out to help with general park maintenance and re-shaping of the dirt jumps. There’ll be music, giveaway and free food: www.city.langley.bc.ca
Magic Show 2 Go
Friday, March 25th, 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm, Maple Ridge Public Library 130 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge
Matthew Johnson, magician, juggler, comedian and actor is all set to entertain, engage and transfix kids of all ages at this free show: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Little Critters Swap Meet
Saturday, March 26th, 9 am – 1 pm, St. Ann’s Church, 33333 Mayfair Avenue, Abbotsford
This is the second annual Little Critters Swap Meet and they’ll have new and gently used toys, clothing, books and more for kids. Call 604.744.5814 or email picklesandgiggles@hotmail.com for more info.
Beach Skate Party
Saturday, March 26th, 12:45 pm – 3:15 pm, Bill Copeland Sports Centre, 3676 Kensington Avenue, Burnaby
It’s a beach party. On skates. Plus there’ll be face painting, beachy crafts and fun in the sun game. It’s season fusion: www.burnaby.ca
The Mystery of the Chipper Stream
Saturday, March 26th, 1 pm – 3 pm, Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Drive, New Westminster
Kids from five to 12 are invited to help solve the mystery of who polluted the Chipper Stream. Become a pollution detective, do a little crime solving and learn about solutions to reduce pollution. Call 604.521.8401 for more info: www.fraserriverdiscovery.org
Board and Puzzled at the Surrey Museum
Saturday, March 26th, 1 pm – 4 pm, Surrey Museum, 17710-56A Avenue, Cloverdale, Surrey
At this drop in event families can play games and toys from the museum’s teaching collection and if you’re feeling lucky sign up for a board game tournament: www.surrey.ca
Burns Bog Public Tour
Saturday, March 26th, 10am – Noon, Delta Nature Reserve, 10388 Nordel Court (Great Pacific Forum/Planet Ice), Delta
Call 604.572.0373 or email info@burnsbog.org to learn why Burns Bog is an important carbon storage site and its role in climate change, examine the conditions that create bog mummies, bounce on sphagnum moss, visit animals habitats such as a fox den and bear cave and lots more boggy fun: www.burnsbog.org
Earth Day at Hyde Creek Recreation Centre
Saturday, March 26th, 1 pm – 3 pm, Hyde Creek Recreation Centre, 1379 Laurier Avenue, Port Coquitlam
This Earth Day Special Swim will include games and crafts that bring awareness to being environmentally friendly – think reduce, reusing and recycling – and also to get you in the mood for Earth Hour that same evening: www.earthday.ca
Multicultural Food and Craft Fair
Saturday, March 26th, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Maple Ridge Public Library 130 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge
Celebrate Multicultural Month at the library by discovering other cultures, tasting new foods and learning how to make crafts from around the world: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Kid Swap Meet in Richmond
Sunday, March 27th, 10 am – 1 pm, Steveston Community Centre, 4111 Moncton Street, Richmond
Sell or buy used kids clothes and gear at this swap: www.richmond.ca
Kids Swap n Shop
Sunday, March 27th, 2 pm – 5 pm, George Preston Center, 20699 42nd Avenue, Langley
Browse gently used and new children’s items and offerings from family-friendly businesses as well: bc.kijiji.ca
Spring Break @ the Library – OWL (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society)
George Mackie Library, Tuesday, March 29th, 10:30 am – 11:30 am, 8440 – 112th Street,
Delta
Elementary school kids and their parents/caregivers are invited out to see a live raptor up close. Learn about Delta’s OWL and meet some feathered friends: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Do you have an event you would like to see in our weekend guide? Then send us your details and we’ll help you get the word out. Looking for a feature listing? Contact Erin, our Director of Sales and Marketing, for more information.
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!