Welcome to yoyomama’s weekend guide! Your go-to list of family friendly fun things to do with kids in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
This Vancouver summer weekend promises not to disappoint! There are some very interesting and entertaining things going on, including the glorious Forest Symphony in Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Caribbean Festival Days, the West 4th Street Music + Art Festival, and Vancouver Prides’ Picnic in the Park. Farther afield there’s the Mission Folk Music Festival, New West’s Fraser Fest, the Vancouver International Airport’s kid friendly 80th birthday party, Whistler’s Cheese Rolling Festival, and Harrison Lake’s Dragonfest, to name a few.
Summer Sale at Lusso Baby |
The Muppet Movie At Trout Lake
Thursday, July 21st, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm, John Hendry Park (aka Trout Lake), south picnic area, East 19th Avenue and Lakewood Street, Vancouver Google Map
Join Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vision Vancouver Team for a family-friendly screening of ‘The Muppet Movie’ under the stars at East Vancouver’s John Hendry Park (aka Trout Lake). Bring a blanket or chair, and enjoy some free popcorn: www.votevision.ca
Forest Symphony
Friday, July 22nd, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Pacific Spirit Regional Park, start at Cleveland trail across from the parking lot on W. 16th Ave., Vancouver
Take your kids for a walk in the woods and encounter a symphony along the way. Musicians will be playing throughout the trail. This is sure to be a phenomenal experience -your own personal forest music video. Please allow one hour for the walk. For more information visit page 1 of guide: www.metrovancouver.org
Caribbean Days Festival
Saturday, July 23rd & Sunday, July 24th, 10 am – 7 pm, parade starts at 10 am, Waterfront Park, North Vancouver
Join the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society for tropical rhythm, cuisine, and culture as only the Caribbean can offer: www.caribbeandays.ca
Khatsahlano! The West 4th Music + Art Street Festival
Saturday, July 23rd, 11 am – 6 pm, West 4th Avenue between Burrard Street and MacDonald Street, Vancouver
Check out this huge street party featuring free live entertainment on five different stages. Plus, enjoy great sidewalk sales, patio parties, Kitsilano’s largest garage sale, and lots of cool things all day long: www.shopwest4th.com
Picnic In The Park
Saturday, July 23rd, 11 am – 6 pm, Stanley Park Brockton Oval, Vancouver
This event is famous for nostalgic summertime games, promising to bring the whole family together! Highlights include a live DJ, a barbeque, and a new children’s area featuring the Hat Lady. A live performance at noon is geared especially for kids: www.vancouverpride.ca
Neighborhood Fire Hall Summer Open Houses
Sunday, July 24th, 1 pm – 3 pm, Fire Hall #4, 1475 West 10th Avenue, Fire Hall # 14, 2804 Venables Street, Fire Hall #22, 1005 W. 59th Avenue, Vancouver
Are your children enthralled with fire engines? Now’s your chance to let them explore all things fire truck; plus, this is a great chance to meet your local firefighters, learn what they do, and discuss any fire and safety concerns you may have: www.vancouver.ca
Farther Afield:
Mission Folk Music Festival
Thursday, July 21st – Sunday, July 24th, see schedule for times, Fraser River Heritage Park, 7494 Mary Street, Mission
Staged in one of BC’s loveliest parks, and overlooking the Fraser River, this music festival has earned a reputation for its great mix of accessibility and easy-going comfort, not to mention world class folk, world, roots, blues and brilliantly “un-categorizable” music from across Canada and around the world: www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca
Mike’s Critters
Thursday, July 21st, Friday, July 22nd & Tuesday, July 26th, see website for various times and locations
Head over to one of the Fraser Valley Libraries to check out Mike Larson and his incredible critters. Reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and mammals populate his fascinating menagerie of weird and wonderful creatures from around the world. Mike’s Critters will delight, wow, educate, and amaze your kids: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Fraser Fest
Saturday, July 23rd & Sunday, July 24th, see schedule for times, Boardwalk at New Westminster Quay, New Westminster
This two day New Westminster community event has something for everyone, including fireworks, live performances, local community vendors and artisans, kids’ rides and games, a mascot march, the Lucille Johnstone workboat parade, fire dancers, a sunset ceremony, Tricycle Races, Port Metro Vancouver Harbour Tours and boat building workshops, crafts with the Arts Council, children’s activities with New Westminster’s Parks, Culture and Recreation, a Samson V Maritime Museum Tour, and a Fraser River Discovery Centre treasures showcase: www.hyack.bc.ca
Vancouver International Airport Celebrates 80 years!
Friday, July 22nd & Saturday, July 23rd, 10 am – 3 pm, YVR, 3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond
This Friday YVR celebrates its 80th birthday and your kids are invited! Check out tons of family-friendly entertainment, including face painters, DJs, and balloon twisters, as well as a vintage aircraft display and a fly-past, an 80 Memorable Moments photo display, and the piece de resistance – an emergency vehicle airstrip ballet: www.yvr.ca
Harrison Dragonfest
Saturday, July 23rd, Harrison Lake just behind the lagoon, Harrison Hot Springs
Grab beach towels, a picnic, and the kids, and head up to Harrison Lake for this exciting one-day dragon boat event. Cheer on the paddlers while participating in community sponsored attractions and festivities, and be sure to play in the sand and enjoy a swim in the lake: www.harrisondragonfest.com
Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows Country Fest
Saturday, July 23rd & Sunday, July 24th, see schedule for times, Fairgrounds, 23588 105th Avenue, Maple Ridge
Immerse your family in a good ole’ summer country fair; enjoy 4H livestock shows, home arts and competitions, livestock demonstrations, dog competitions, food exhibitions, a midway, kids’ carnival games including Cow Patty Bingo, and live entertainment: www.mrpmcountryfest.com
Honeybee Festival
Saturday, July 23rd & Sunday, July 24th, 10 am – 4 pm, Honeybee Centre, corner of Fraser Highway and 176 Street, Cloverdale, Surrey
Celebrate all things honey bee with amazing exhibits and fun activities, including beekeeping demos, live musical entertainment, a bustling artisans’ market, fresh honey samples, in-store specials, the Kids’ Zone games tent and bouncy castle, and a delicious barbeque concession: www.honeybeecentre.com
LEGO Kids Cool Cosmos Creations
Saturday, July 23rd, 10 am – 11:30 am, 12:30 pm – 2 pm, 3 pm – 4:30 pm, Surrey Museum, 17710-56A Avenue, Surrey
Join “LEGO Certified Professional” Robin Sather from Brickville DesignWorks and learn some LEGO Master Builder tricks of the trade, while checking out a stellar space exhibit, and building your very own “cool cosmos” creations. Appropriate for ages 7-10: www.surrey.ca
Steveston Museum Summer Music Series “Washing the Past”
Saturday, July 23rd, Noon – 4 pm, Steveston Museum, 3811 Moncton Street, Richmond
Check out the old fashioned washing lines, tubs, and scrub boards and, of course, music at the Steveston Museum Park. Come try your hand at washing the old style way while listening to beautiful traditional folk music performed by Westwynds. Your kids can create their very own pioneer toy while participating in the museum’s latest colouring contest: www.richmond.ca
2011 Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival
Saturday, July 23rd, Noon – 4 pm, Blackcomb Mountain Base 2, Whistler
Canadian Cheese Rolling is back! In case you don’t know, Cheese Rolling involves an 11-pound wheel of cheese being rolled down a hill with hundreds of participants racing, tripping, and falling after it, for the chance to win great prizes. The festival includes activities for the whole family, such as face painting, milking activities, free games, a cheese Farmers’ Market with cheese tastings, and seminars on the different ways to enjoy Canadian cheese: www.canadiancheeserolling.ca
International Bog Day Festival
Sunday, July 24th, 10 am- 3 pm, Planet Ice at 10388 Nordel Court, Delta
Bring the family to celebrate the lower mainland’s beautiful bog. Start the day off with Jog for the Bog, a trail walk/run through Burns Bog. Stay for more fun with free entertainment, eco-exhibitors, kids’ activities, and bog tours all afternoon: www.burnsbog.org
Richmond Kidsafe
Sunday, July 24th, Noon – 4 pm, South Arm Community Centre, 8880 Williams Road, Richmond
Kidsafe is a free, fun outdoor event to promote the safety and wellbeing of our children. Your children can participate in arts and crafts, interactive games, get their faces painted, watch a Richmond Fire-Rescue demonstration, or visit the information booths of BC Ambulance, Kids Help Phone, and Canadian Red Cross: www.richmond.ca
Family Sunday At The Richmond Art Gallery
Sunday, July 24th, 1 pm – 4 pm, Richmond Art Gallery, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond
Join the Art Gallery for hands-on art activities, stories, gallery games, and more! All activities are free, thanks to the RBC Foundation: www.richmondartgallery.org
Snowbirds Fly For CHILD And Outdoor Movie Night
Wednesday, July 27th, 6 pm, Pier, White Rock Beach, White Rock
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be flying to support CHILD: Children with Intestinal and Liver Disorders. Head down to White Rock Beach and catch this amazing air show then stay for the free outdoor movie screening of Rio: www.allscenes.com
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!