vancouver: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | July 28, 2011
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.
Vancouver abounds with family fun this weekend! Grab the kids and head to West Vancouver’s waterfront for the Harmony Arts Festival, take in the great entertainment and colour of Vancouver’s Pride Parade, or celebrate the amazing fireworks at English Bay. Want to head out of town? This weekend is Abbotsford’s Agrifair and Rodeo, the Jamaican Canadian festival in Surrey, and Pirate’s Day at Kilby Historic Site, where the kids can dress up and walk the plank! A great weekend to get out in your city and enjoy all it has to offer.
Harmony Arts Festival
Friday, July 29th – Sunday, August 7th, see schedule for event times, Ambleside Landing, John Lawson Park and other seaside venues, North Vancouver
The whole family will enjoy this lively festival along West Vancouver’s waterfront! Every summer for the last 21 years, locals and guests from across the Lower Mainland have come to relax and take in the arts, the music, and the visual diversity that is Harmony Arts. And don’t miss Creative Kids Day, which is on August 6th: www.harmonyarts.ca
Beaver Tales
Saturday, July 30th, 11 am & 1:30 pm, Nature House Plaza located at foot of Alberni Street, under the Fountain Viewing Plaza on the shore of Lost Lagoon in the former boathouses, Vancouver
Parks Canada’s exciting new theatre troupe, Beaver Tales, will perform on the Nature House Plaza. Join the wacky antics of Justine Beaver and Fingers the Raccoon for some tail-slapping fun as they bring to life Canada’s national parks and historic sites. Fun for all ages: www.metrovancouver.org
Emrys Raptors At Science World
Saturday, July 30th & Sunday, July 31st, 11:20 am & 1:20 pm, Centre Stage, Science World at TELUS World of Science, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Join some beautiful birds of prey at Centre Stage for a special show where the kiddos will learn about their prehistoric predecessors: www.scienceworld.ca
35th Annual Powell Street Festival
Saturday, July 30th & Sunday, July 31st, 11:30 am – 7 pm, Oppenheimer Park (400 Block Powell Street), Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova), Vancouver Japanese Language School & Hall (475 Alexander), Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy), Japanese Canadian National Museum (6688 Southoaks, Burnaby), Blim (115 East Pender), Vancouver
The Powell Street Festival is an annual celebration of Japanese Canadian arts, culture and heritage that features something for everyone: dance, music, film and video, visual arts, martial arts demos, amateur sumo tournament, craft vendors, traditional displays, and of course, tons of scrumptious Japanese food: www.powellstreetfestival.com
Illuminares Lantern Procession
Saturday, July 30th, 6 pm – 10 pm, Outdoors Canada Place, Vancouver
For over 25 years Public Dreams has been making magic happen in neighbourhoods across Vancouver. One of its signature events is the Illuminares Lantern Procession, which will light up Canada Place with indoor and outdoor installations, artists, music, performances, and more: www.publicdreams.org
Celebration of Light 2011 & Shorefest
China: Saturday, July 30th, 10 pm; Spain: Wednesday, August 3rd, 10 pm; Canada: Saturday, August 6th, 10 pm, English Bay, Vancouver
The Celebration of Light is an annual pyro-musical fireworks competition that takes place over Vancouver’s English Bay. Arrive early to find a good viewing area! The best viewing points are English Bay, Kitsilano Beach, Vanier Park, Jericho Beach, and West Vancouver: www.vancouverfireworks.ca
Vancouver Pride Parade
Sunday, July 31st, Noon, parade begins at Robson and Thurlow and travels through the downtown core along Denman Street, Vancouver
Each year, Vancouver’s Pride Parade gets more spectacular! As Vancouver Pride celebrates its 33rd year, expect more fabulous floats, elaborate costumes, marching bands, and an even greater number of people filling the streets: www.vancouverpride.ca
Portobello West Market
Sunday, July 31st, 11 am – 5 pm, Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver
Vancouver’s favorite monthly Market! Are you looking for something that says original and independent? Experience the inventiveness, the originality, and the sheer style of Vancouver’s best designers and artists at Portobello West: www.portobellowest.com
Farther Afield:
Abbotsford Agrifair & Rodeo
Thursday, July 28th – Monday, August 1st, see schedule for times, Abbotsford Exhibition Park, 32471 Haida Drive, Abbotsford
Do you want fun, excitement, great food, and free stuff? Well, bring the family to Abbotsford’s Agrifair! With affordable gate prices, plenty of animal displays and shows, a KidZone, a Rodeo, a Trade Show, and great acts, this is the place to make lasting family memories: www.agrifair.ca
Champions Of Magic
Friday, July 29th, 8 pm, Michael J Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Avenue, Burnaby
The show will feature previous winners of the title of the Pacific Rim Professional Champion, such as Paul Romhany (New Zealand), Shu Yan Yu (Hong Kong), Master Payne (Seattle, WA), Shawn Farquhar (Current World Champion of Magic), Trevor Watters and Lorena (Siegfried & Roy Gold Lions Head Champions), and Shayne King (Victoria, BC): www.magicianconvention.com
FinnWest 72nd Finnish Canadian Grand Festival
Friday, July 29th – Sunday, July 31st, see schedule for times, Scandinavian Community Centre, 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby
Take your family to Finland, without paying for airfare! For three days, the Scandinavian Centre will become the “Centre for all things Finnish” as we welcome entertainers from Finland, USA and Canada. Children under 12 get into the festival for free, and plenty of activities are planned in the Kids’ Corner with special musical performances each day: www.finnwest2011.com
Spirit Of The Sea Festival
Friday, July 29th – Monday, August 1st, see schedule for times, Semiahmoo Park, 15872 Marine Drive, White Rock Beach and Museum, 14970 Marine Drive, White Rock
The Spirit of the Sea Festival is an annual weekend-long celebration featuring a variety of events for the whole family, including a children’s carnival and pirate parade, a torchlight parade, beach games and races, a teddy bear picnic, fireworks, and continuous live entertainment: www.spiritofthesea.ca
B.C. Renaissance Festival
Friday, July 29th – Monday, August 1st, see schedule for times, Thunderbird Show Park, 24550 72nd Avenue, Langley
The Renaissance returns this summer! Come join the village of Steller’s Grove for a weekend of thrills and merriment. Captain Charity’s past comes back to haunt her as the pirates return to Steller’s Grove. With the arrival of a Scottish Captain, and an unexpected visit from the King of England, Charity finds herself caught in a power struggle. Thrill to the excitement of the Joust and join in song at the end of the day: www.bcrenfest.com
Tsawwassen Sun Festival
Friday, July 29th – Monday, August 1st, see schedule for times, Winskill Park (5500 9 Ave), South Delta Recreation Centre (1720 56th Street), Delta
Attracting upwards of 8,000 people over this three-day period each year, the Tsawwassen Sun Festival is the largest community festival in South Delta. There’s fun for the whole family, including a parade, a children’s midway, an antique fair, a marketplace, a slow pitch tournament, a BMX air show, bingo, main stage entertainment, fireworks, food vendors, and much more: www.sunfestival.ca
First Annual Rotary Duck Race
Sunday, July 31st, 10 am – 3 pm, Maple Ridge Park, 23200 Fern Crescent (232 & Fern Crescent), on Alouette River, Maple Ridge
The Meadowridge Rotary Club, with support from the Rotary Club of Haney and its major sponsor Maple Ridge Chrysler, are proud to present the first annual rotary duck race – with 10,000 rubber ducks launched into the Alouette River. Visit the site for information about how to “adopt” rubber ducks for the race: www.rotaryduckrace.ca
12th Street Festival
Sunday, July 31st, 11 am – 4 pm, 12th Street between 6th Avenue & 8th Avenue, New Westminster
This street event will celebrate food, music, heritage, and the cultural diversity of 12th Street! The event is organized by the West End Business Association and surrounding resident associations: www.tourismnewwestminster.com
Jamaican Canadian Festival
Sunday, July 31st, see schedule for times, Holland Park, King George Boulevard & 100 Avenue, Surrey
Come to the Jamaican Canadian festival for family fun! Enjoy Reggae music, great food, and family friendly games, plus outstanding live performances and entertainment. A free community event for all ages: www.jccabc.net
Kilby’s Pirate Day
Monday, August 1st, 11 am – 4 pm, Kilby Historic Site, 215 Kilby Road, Harrison Mills
Shiver me timbers … Come to the Kilby Historic Site’s Pirate Party! Whether you are a Buccaneer or Privateer, you can enter the contest for the best pirate costume. Enjoy a full day of crafts and activities, including games, walking the plank, and a Treasure Hunt. Your admission to the event helps preserve this 1906 general store museum and farm for future generations. Children 5 and under are free: www.kilby.ca
Wesburn Family Picnic
Wednesday, August 3rd, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Wesburn Park, Moscrop Street & Patterson Avenue, Burnaby
We’re setting up activities stations, filling the wading pool and roasting hot dogs. Event runs rain or shine. Call 604.297.4572 for more information: www.burnaby.ca
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Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
Thanks for the list of great activities. Lots of stuff to do on a long weekend. Think we’re going to head out and check out the AgriFair.