vancouver: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | December 29, 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.
It’s a quiet week around the Lower Mainland, as many of us are staying home and spending time with loved ones. But there are some nice family events happening for New Year’s Eve, including a couple of early countdown events for the young ones. There’s also a storytelling event, and of course, it’s Polar Bear Swim weekend. We’ve also added several New Year’s swims and skates to our listing of holiday skates, swims, walks and other physical activities, and updated our holiday trains, lights, and other ongoing events listings so you can see at a glance which ones are still running. If you are celebrating the New Year this weekend, we wish you a fun evening, and the very best for the year to come.
Just a reminder: we’ll be taking the first week of January to recharge our editorial batteries and get organized for a great year! But we’ll still send out a What To Do on the 5th, ‘til then all the best for a wonderful 2012!
Ice Age Science
Tuesday, December 27th – Monday, January 2nd, 10 am – 6 pm, Science World at TELUS World of Science, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
There’s lots of fun to be had at Science World again this week, as they explore Ice Age Science. There will be Prehistoric Painting, Paper-Bag Puppets and Sabre-Tooth Smiles, Ice Age Dentist, and much more: www.scienceworld.ca
Family First Night
Saturday December 31st, 6 pm – 9 pm, Snowplay Park, Enquist Lodge, Mount Seymour, North Vancouver
It’s a New Year’s celebration the whole family can enjoy, with tubing, tobogganing, music, a fire pit, and s’mores! Party hats, sparklers, and noisemakers are provided for everyone, and the first 50 families to purchase their passes (starting at 6 pm) receive a Mount Seymour swag bag. There will also be an early countdown at 9 pm so little ones can get to bed. Regular tubing/tobogganing rates apply: www.mountseymour.com
New Year’s Eve At Robson Ice Rink
Saturday, December 31st, 6 pm – 9 pm, Robson Square Ice Rink, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
The Province of BC is hosting this family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. There will be live music, performances, and free glow sticks and noisemakers for all. The countdown will be at 8 pm for those who can’t stay up until midnight: www.gov.bc.ca
Polar Bear Swim 2012
Sunday, January 1st, 2:30 pm, English Bay, Burnaby Street & Beach Avenue, Vancouver
It’s that time of year again, where people of all ages and walks of life collectively lose their marbles and plunge into the freezing waters of the ocean. Will you be one of them? Or maybe you’d just like to watch it all go down? Registration starts at 12:30 pm. Participants are often costumed, and there are prizes to be had: www.vancouver.ca
Farther Afield:
The Great Escape New Year’s Eve Family Bash
Saturday, December 31st, 6 pm – 9:30 pm, The Great Escape, #105-20645 Langley Bypass, Langley
Ring in the New Year Great Escape Fashion with laser tag, mini golf, food specials, door prizes, and an early countdown at 9 pm. This event costs just $15 per child, and is all wrapped up in time for adults who wish to enjoy their own celebration at midnight: www.thege.ca
Whistler First Night
Saturday, December 31st, 6 pm – 9 pm, Whistler Village Square, Whistler
Whistler’s First Night celebrations have become the stuff of legend. The Village Square is taken over with live music, workshops, street entertainment, storytelling, comedians, and so much more. There will also be two live stages with ongoing performances. This is a family-friendly and alcohol free event. There will be an early countdown at 9:30 pm as well as a midnight countdown with fireworks. Tickets are $20 per adult. $10 for kids under age 12, and tots under age 2 are free. Arrive early and get advance tickets at a discount: www.whistlerfirstnight.com
Polar Bear Swim Tsawwassen
Sunday, January 1st, 11:45 am – 1:15 pm, Boundary Bay Regional Park, Tsawwassen
Not to be outdone by the craziness in Vancouver, the folks in Tsawwassen will also be collectively losing their minds and jumping into the ‘refreshing’ waters of Boundary Bay. Registration starts at Noon, and swimmers head into the water at 1 pm. There will be prizes awarded, and family festivities are being planned. Keep an eye on the site for details: www.corp.delta.bc.ca
Penguin Plunge
Sunday, January 1st, Noon, Rocky Point Park, 2800 Block Murray Street, Port Moody
Port Moody residents can show their bravado by plunging into their own icy cold waters this New Year’s day. You can be one of them, or just head down to watch in awe and wonder: www.portmoody.ca
Pajama Tales: Family Storytelling For All Ages
Wednesday, January 4th, 7 pm – 8 pm, Lobby of The Act, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
Kevin MacKenzie, hailed as the ‘grandfather of silliness,’ is sharing his talent for storytelling and you are invited. Come in pajamas, bring your blankets and pillows, and if you have a stuffed friend, bring that too. Be prepared to dance, jump, and even wiggle! Pre-registration is required: events.crayon.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!
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