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.
Even though back to school is right around the corner, that’s no reason to give up on summer fun yet! Grab the family and enjoy festivals, cultural events, markets, charitable events, and so much more…there’s even fun to be had for your little one’s beloved teddy bear, and the family pooch. It’s a great weekend to live in and around Vancouver!
2nd Annual Princess Party |
Kerrisdale Days
Thursday, August 25th – Saturday, August 27th, see site for events schedule, Kerrisdale Village, Vancouver
Come and celebrate Kerridale’s birthday! There will be free cake and fun events to keep the entire family entertained. Also enjoy the music, face painting, clowns, rides, and sidewalk sales: www.kerrisdalevillage.com
Vancouver Wooden Boat Festival
Thursday, August 25th – Sunday, August 28th, 10 am – 5 pm, various locations, Vancouver
Bring the family to this floating exhibition of wooden boats, displays, and hands-on boatbuilding and demonstrations, including knot tying and marlinspike seamanship. Hear some sea shanties, join in the workshops, listen to maritime storytellers, explore a replica of an 18th century Spanish long boat, check out the exquisite kayaks, or join in the races: www.granvilleisland.com
BC SPCA Block Party & Kennel Lock-In
Thursday, August 25th, 11 am – 3 pm, BC SPCA Vancouver Shelter Parking Lot (1205 East 7th Avenue), Vancouver
The Vancouver BC SPCA is hosting a Block Party! Join in for a fun afternoon of games, prizes, entertainment, and a BBQ. VIPs and top supporters will also be locked in our kennels and will need your help to escape! Hint: you can free them with your generous donations: www.support.spca.bc.ca
CNIS African Market
Saturday, August 27th, Noon – 6 pm, Courtyard at 1985 West Broadway (at Maple Street), Vancouver
The whole family will enjoy African performances, fabulous food, fashion, arts and crafts, and free admission! Make African soccer balls with recycled materials, help decorate an African hut, play table-fuzball made from bottle caps, and learn about other African eco-innovations: www.cnis.ca
Free Cloth Diaper Workshop with Bumbini Cloth Diaper Company
Saturday, August 27th, Britannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, Vancouver
Come learn everything you need to know about choosing and using cloth diapers. Explore the different types of cloth diapers and covers, how to care for your diapers, and why cloth diapers are a fun, easy, economical and earth friendly option for diapering your baby. Our workshops are free, so please pre-register as space is limited. Email info@bumbini.ca to reserve a seat, or check out the workshops page of the website for more information: www.bumbini.ca
The 2011 Mitsubishi City Chase powered by GoodLife Fitness
Saturday, August 27th, 10 am – 4 pm, various locations, Vancouver
City Chase is back with new, adrenaline pumping ChasePoint challenges! Participants will learn about the city, their teammates and themselves as they navigate through the streets of Vancouver with only their feet, a transit pass, and a clue sheet: www.mitsubishicitychase.com
Tibet Festival Vancouver
Saturday, August 27th, 11 am – 7 pm, VanDusen Botanical Garden Floral Hall, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
A cultural event for the whole family, with Tibetan music, dance, food, arts, handicrafts and more. Donations will help the Tibetan Resettlement project, a humanitarian initiative to resettle one thousand Tibetan refugees in Canada, and part of the proceeds will also be donated for the Japanese Tsunami relief efforts. This event is hosted by Tsengdok Monastery Association and Tibetan Cultural Society of B.C. (tax receipts available): www.facebook.com/TibetFestival
Kitsilano Neighbourhood House Celebration
Saturday, August 27th, 1 pm – 4 pm, Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, West 7th Avenue at Vine, Vancouver
This fall, Kitsilano Neighbourhood House will be undergoing redevelopment. Join in celebrating their rich and diverse past and honour the volunteers, staff, and wonderful community that have made it what it is. There will be live music, entertainment, refreshments, a community art project, a historical costume contest, a kid’s area and bouncy castle, and more: www.kitshouse.org
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Celebration
Saturday, August 27th, 11 am, Pottery Barn Kids, 2935 Granville Street, Vancouver
Join in for a series of events and activities in celebration of author and illustrator Eric Carle and his beloved stories! Kids can read along, help build a mobile about healthy eating, and more: www.potterybarnkids.ca
Viva Vancouver In Cambie Village!
Saturday, August 27th, 10:30 am – 3 pm, Park Theatre (Cambie between West 18th and West 19th), followed by events on West 18th at Cambie, Vancouver
The fun starts with a free showing of Gnomeo and Juliet at the Park Theatre, then create art (art materials supplied), and visit with local artists, crafters, and merchants displaying, demonstrating, and selling their wares: www.cambievillage.com
VSO School of Music Open House
Saturday, August 27th, 10 am – 2 pm, VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Come and see the school in action! There will be demonstration lessons, kids programming, concerts, tours, and an opportunity to meet the faculty, plus refreshments and giveaways: www.support.spca.bc.ca
Kayak for a Cure
Sunday, August 28th, 8 am – 5 pm, Jericho Beach, Vancouver
Kayak for a Cure is a fun and exciting way to raise money for the fight against cancer. Join 60+ paddlers at Jericho Beach and paddle across English Bay and back, and then return to a full BBQ feast with friends and family! Paddlers of all levels are welcome: www.kayakforacure.org
2011 Give the Gift of Life Vancouver Kidney Walk
Sunday, August 28th, Registration: 11 am, Walk Start: Noon, Athlete’s Village Plaza, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver
Help reach the goal of raising $40,000 for the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s programs to fight kidney disease and raise awareness about organ donation. This event will include a 2.5km walk and a 5km fun run from Athletes’ Village Plaza towards Granville Island, be inclusive to handi-capable participants, and include at least two dragonboat teams racing alongside in False Creek. There will also be live music, food, entertainment, bagpipers, a silent auction, and opportunities for participants to sign up and paddle the Walk: www.vancouverkidneywalk.ca
Blim Monthly Community Market
Sunday, August 28th, Noon – 5 pm, Robson & Granville Streets, Vancouver
This month’s market includes 60 vendors (food, fashion and accessories, fine art, vintage items, and more), plus great music and entertainment. There will be a focus on nurturing and promoting creative production in our community: www.blim.ca
Deep Cove Daze Festival
Sunday, August 28th, Noon – 8 pm, Panorama Park, Deep Cove, North Vancouver
Deep Cove Daze is a one-day festival held every year to celebrate the community of Deep Cove. It features live music, a midway, food and beverage vendors, a beer garden with a house band, a children’s stage, artisan booths, and more. There will be a variety of artists performing on both the Main Stage and the Children’s Stage: www.musart.ca
Fall Earth Walk: Nature Trails & Treasures
Sunday, August 28th, North Vancouver Museum & Archive, North Vancouver
Explore traditional food gathering, preparation and preservation, and get an opportunity to taste test! The locations of the walks will be confirmed at registration. See site for more information: www.northvanmuseum.ca
Pink Salmon Festival
Sunday, August 28th, Noon – 5 pm, Vanier/Hadden Park, Vancouver
With 17.5 million pink salmon projected to return to the Fraser River in August, the second biennial Pink Salmon Festival will serve up delicious complimentary pink salmon to the public and promote pink salmon as a sustainable seafood choice. Check out the salmon play page on their site for kids too: www.psf.ca
Portobello West
Sunday, August 28th, 11 am – 5 pm, Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver
Are you looking for something that says original and independent? Experience the inventiveness, originality, and sheer style of Vancouver’s best designers and artists at Portobello West: www.portobellowest.com
Dog Wash
Sunday, August 28th, 11 am – 3 pm, BC SPCA West Vancouver Branch, 1020 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
Our popular dog washes are back! Bring your dirty dogs to us and, for a minimum donation of $20, we’ll do the rest to get them spic and span while you enjoy refreshments. All proceeds will benefit animals in the care of the BC SPCA West Vancouver Branch: www.supportspca.bc.ca
Farther Afield:
Kwantlen First Nation Mini Pow-Wow
Saturday, August 27th, 9 am – 10 pm, Kwantlen First Nation Park, 23690 Gabriel Lane, Fort Langley
Kwantlen First Nation and the Seyem Qwantlen Group of Companies are pleased to announce they will be hosting a one-day mini Pow-wow. This family event feature lots of festivities for youth, including activities and amazing food, marketplace vendors, drummers, dancers, and so much more. Admission by donation: www.fortlangley.com
Teddy Bear Picnic
Saturday, August 27th, 1:30 pm – 3 pm, Historic Stewart Farm, 13723 Crescent Road Surrey
It’s picnic time for teddy bears their owners! Bring your favourite bear or stuffed animal for a teddy bear hunt, a teddy bear judging contest, and ice cream and lemonade. Ages 4-6. Must pre-register: www.surrey.ca
Southeast Asian Cultural Arts Festival
Saturday, August 27th, 10 am – 5 pm, North Pond, Burnaby Central Park, Burnaby
Come and join this celebration of Filipino and South East Asian martial arts culture! This is your opportunity to watch, meet, and train with all of the best FMA instructors in and around Vancouver. No experience required: www.maelstromcore.com
The Cariboo Road To Gold
Saturday, August 27th, 1 pm – 3 pm, Maple Ridge Public Library, 130-22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge
Join British Columbia historian John Mitchell on a trip back to the 1860s for an expedition along the challenging Cariboo Wagon Road. Experience travel by sternwheeler, stagecoach, or freight wagon on a quest to the fields of gold. We’ll check our roadhouses that offered shelter along the route, and meet some characters of the day: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Family Night In The Wild
Saturday, August 27th (4 pm) & Sunday, August 28th (10:30 am), Greater Vancouver Zoo, 5048-264th Street, Aldergrove
Bring your family and join the fun for the annual “Family Night in the Wild”! Sleep overnight at the Zoo – right next to where the night animals live. Once night falls, our guides and volunteers will accompany you on a walking safari throughout the Zoo so you can observe the behaviour of the animals before dusk. This extremely fun-filled event includes hot chocolate and marshmallows with storytelling, games, and songs (guitars are welcome). Wake up to a light breakfast, meet a Zookeeper, plus enjoy a 40-minute narrated train and bus ride. Registration required: www.gvzoo.com
Summer Family Festival
Sunday, August 28th, 8 pm – 10 pm, Summer Night Market, 12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond
Come enjoy the live entertainment and video presentations! There’s something for the whole family, so make sure you bring everyone: www.summernightmarket.com
12th Annual Doggy Fun Day hosted by VEATA
Sunday, August 28th, Noon – 3 pm, Queen’s Park (south field), New Westminster
It’s fun and games for dogs … and their people! The Royal City Rockets Dog Agility Team will perform at 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm, there will be doggy displays, prize draws, and doggy games (egg & spoon race, 3-legged race, howl-a-long, special doggy tricks, doggy look-a-like contest and the famous 4 paws up! bobbing for wieners contest): www.newwestcity.ca
Kilby’s Kid’s Festival
Sunday, August 28th, Kilby Historic Site, 215 Kilby Road, Harrison Mills
A full day of entertainment for the kids featuring music, dance, crafts, old-fashioned games, and more. Bring your blanket and your picnic lunch, or check out the kid’s specials in the Harrison River Restaurant. Admission rates apply: www.kilby.ca
Pennies For Paws Bottle And Coin Drive
Sunday, August 28th, 11 am – 3:30 pm, BC SPCA Port Coquitlam Education & Adoption Centre, 104-3278 Westwood Street, Port Coquitlam
Please come to the Pennies For Paws event and drop in your coins! Your donation of coins as well as refundable bottles and cans are needed to help homeless, injured, and abused animals. The goal of the event is to collect more than 40lbs of coins, although paper money will also be gratefully accepted. All proceeds will support animals in the care of the BC SPCA Port Coquitlam Education & Adoption Centre: support.spca.bc.ca
Sikh Temple Centennial Celebrations Parade
Sunday, August 28th, Parade: 10 am along South Fraser Way, Abbotsford
There will be a Nagar Kirtan Procession from the Heritage Gurdwara to Rotary Stadium, then returning back to the site for an unveiling of the Centennial Monument. Bring the family and enjoy some great summer weather and the parade: www.tourismabbotsford.ca
Hockey Day At Osprey Village
Monday, August 29th, 10 am – 2 pm, Osprey Village, 10958 Barnston View Road, Pitt Meadows
Come and enjoy a free afternoon of good old-fashioned street hockey with your friends and neighbors. Geared for all ages, simply bring your own stick and an extra if you have one to spare. There will be a toddler rink, two youth rinks, and one adult rink. All proceeds go directly to local children to play hockey. Enjoy the on site BBQ, prizes, and special guests. E-mail hockeyday@gmail.com for more information: www.ridgemeadowshockey.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!