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 also easy to get these event listings in our handy new app, OnTheGoKids, which takes our weekend guide and makes it mobile!
Celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Light, with henna, Indian food and dance. Then, try your hand at making nature journals and bird feeders; enjoy good music and bubbles; and check out the holiday season’s first craft markets! Then, head to the Vancouver Baby & Family Fair or The Belly, Baby & Tot Show in Port Coquitlam, where there’s sure to be lots of useful info for young or expecting families.
You’ll find all these events and more in our interactive events calendar.
Featured: mom inc MOVEMENT
Sunday, November 4th, 10 am – 4 pm, Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre (Grand Villa Casino), 4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby
This free tradeshow is packed with great exhibitors, inspiring speakers, a Modern Mom Fashion Show, mini session with coaches who focus on everything from sex to parenting, complimentary makeovers and headshots and more! And if you pre-register for your free ticket you’ll not only get a fabulous swag bag packed with goodies but be entered to win prizes and avoid line ups at the registration desk. It’ll be a day of education, inspiration and fun: www.momincmovement.com
Heart of the City
Ongoing until Sunday, November 4th, check festival schedule for times and locations, Vancouver
Heart of the City festival is back on the Downtown Eastside. Music and dance, poetry and movies, galleries and history walks, there’s lot to see for everyone. While not everything is suitable for the young audience, you can find many family friendly events as well, including paper lantern making, capoeira shows, kids’ movies, kids’ Halloween party and much more: www.heartofthecityfestival.com
El Dia de los Muertos
Thursday, November 1st, 6:30 pm – 7:15 pm, Kerrisdale Library, 2112 West 42nd Avenue, Vancouver
Celebrate the Latin American Day of the Dead tradition with songs, stories and crafts, in English and in Spanish: www.vpl.ca
Kevin Sylvester at Kidsbooks
Thursday, November 1st, 7 pm, Kidsbooks, 3083 West Broadway, Vancouver & Friday, November 2nd, 4 pm, Capilano Library, 3045 Highland Boulevard, North Vancouver
Kevin Sylvester is an award-winning author who mixes cooking and mystery for young audiences. He will talk about his new book and show off his drawing skills. Pre-registration required: www.kidsbooks.ca
Professor Banjo
Friday, November 2nd, 6 pm – 7 pm, Rhizome Café, 317 East Broadway, Vancouver
Get ready to dance and clap! It’s a fun evening for the whole family, with banjo tunes, fun songs and stories: www.squaredancepaul.com
Gazillion Bubble Show
Friday, November 2nd, 7 pm & Saturday, November 3rd – Sunday, November 4th, 2 pm & 7 pm, The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, 777 Homer Street, Vancouver
Gazillion Bubble Show is a thrilling combination of bubbles and lasers. Catch the show on their first visit to Canada: gazillionbubbleshow.ca
Vancouver Baby & Family Fair
Saturday, November 3rd, 10 am – 5 pm & Sunday, November 4th, 10 am – 4 pm, the Forum at the PNE, Vancouver
From diapers to toys, from photography to baby food, this fair with over 100 booths offers plenty of information, innovation and inspiration for young or expecting families. There’s also a Creative Corner, bouncy castle and live entertainment to keep the kids interested: www.baby-fair.com
Young Naturalists’ Club: Nature Journals
Saturday, November 3rd, 10 am – Noon, Stanley Park Nature House, under the viewing plaza at the corner of Alberni Street &s Chilco Street, Vancouver
You can discover many things when you explore the outdoors. But how will you remember next year what you saw, heard or smelled? Come and make your own nature journal for notes and observations. Pre-registration required: stanleyparkecology.ca
Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Saturday, November 3rd – Sunday, November 4th, 11 am – 3 pm, Science World, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Learn to make a pine cone snack for your feathered friends, and help them adapt to the colder weather: www.scienceworld.ca
Children’s Films
Saturday, November 3rd – Sunday, November 4th, 11 am, Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
This free movie presentation is a collaboration of seven different artists. Come and enjoy the result, an art film produced exclusively for kids! No adults allowed, unless accompanied by children: www.facebook.com
Kids’ Toy & Clothing Sale
Saturday, November 3rd, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm & Sunday, November 4th, 2 pm – 4 pm, Lynn Valley Recreation Centre, 3590 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver
Check out the Lynn Valley Community Association’s annual kids’ sale, with different vendors each day: www.lynnvalleylife.com
Waterfowl Blitz
Sunday, November 4th, 10 am – Noon, Stanley Park Nature House, under the viewing plaza at the corner of Alberni Street & Chilco Street, Vancouver
The sea is too cold to swim in during the winter but some ducks don’t seem to mind. Join this two-hour walk to learn more about our favorite bathtime birds. Pre-registration required: stanleyparkecology.ca
Vancouver Celebrates Diwali
Celebrate the Festival of Light, India’s biggest holiday. Paint and light your own diya lamp, get your hands decorated with henna, learn how to tie a saree (or sari), and enjoy Indian food and Bollywood music: vandiwali.ca
- Saturday, November 3rd, 1 pm – 3 pm, Renfrew Park Community Centre, 2929 East 22nd Avenue, Vancouver
- Monday, November 5th, 1 pm – 2:30 pm, South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, 6470 Victoria Drive, Vancouver
- Tuesday, November 6th, 5 pm – 7 pm, Sunset Community Centre, 6810 Main Street, Vancouver
- Wednesday, November 7th, 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm, West End Community Centre, 870 Denman Street, Vancouver
Farther Afield:
Craft Fairs
The season for craft fairs and markets has started. Check out the following markets for handmade goodies and baked yumminess. Some also serve tea!
- The Robertson Elementary Annual Craft Fair, Thursday, November 1st, 5 pm – 9 pm, Robertson Elementary School, 46106 Southlands Crescent, Chilliwack
- Prelude to Christmas, Saturday, November 3rd, 10 am – 4 pm, Red Door Farm, 22025 26th Avenue, Langley
- Century House Craft Sale & Tea, Saturday, November 3rd, 10:30 am – 2 pm, Century House, 620 Eighth Street, New Westminster
- Annual Tea and Crafts Sale, Saturday, November 3rd, 2 pm, Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 930 Cumberland Street, New Westminster
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Saturday, November 3rd, 10 am – 2 pm & Sunday, November 4th, 1 pm – 4 pm, Terry Fox Library, 2470 Mary Hill Road, Port Coquitlam
It’s the season for great books under a blanket or in front of the fire place. Pick up some gently used treasures and support your local library: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Artisan Crafts for Africa
Saturday, November 3rd, 10 am – 4 pm, CAW Union Hall, 326 Twefth Street, New Westminster
Come and shop for handmade items, including African jewellery, baby blankets, handmade soaps, cards, and lots more. All the proceeds support Grandmothers Campaign: www.tenthtothefraser.ca
Honey Harvest
Saturday, November 3rd, 10:30 am – Noon, Surrey Museum, 17710 56A Avenue, Surrey
Learn all about the bees through games, crafts and other fun activities. Test your taste buds in honey blind taste-tasting, and try to guess which plant each honey comes from. Pre-registration required: www.surrey.ca
Happy Diwali!
Saturday, November 3rd, 11 am – 2 pm, Rick Hansen Secondary School, 31150 Blueridge Drive, Abbotsford
Celebrate the light, and the victory of good over evil. Bring the whole family, and enjoy entertainment, crafts, food and more: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Diwali
Saturday, November 3rd, 1 pm – 3 pm, Muriel Arnason Library, 20338 65th Avenue, Langley
The Township of Langley celebrates Diwali. Discover a new culture through face paintings and henna, crafts and food, and by learning the basic steps of Bhangra, a Punjabi folk dance: www.fvrl.bc.ca
Prince Rama in the Wilderness
Saturday, November 3rd, 2 pm – 3 pm, Surrey Arts Centre, 13750 88th Avenue, Surrey
It’s a story full of adventures, intrigue and suspense: Prince Rama has to rescue his wife Sita from the evil Ravana: www.tourismsurrey.com
The Belly, Baby & Tot Show
Sunday, November 4th, 10 am – 4 pm, PoCo Inn, 1545 Lougheed Highway, Port Coquitlam
It’s a great event for every young family. Check out the kids’ fashion show and get a professional photo of your belly or baby. There’s also space to drool over new cars while the kids will be entertained at the Kids’ Activity Centre: www.mommyconnections.ca
Get Animated!
Saturday, October 27th – Sunday, November 4th, times and locations vary, see site for full details
Get Animated! is a nation-wide festival celebrating animated films. Join an animation workshop to learn how the movies are made, and enjoy short films for the whole family: films.nfb.ca
1st Annual Diwali Celebration
Monday, November 5th, 3:30 pm – 10 pm, Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool & Fitness Centre, 240 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby
Come celebrate the Festival of Lights. Make a Diwali craft to decorate the facility and enjoy a loonie swim in the pool. www.burnaby.ca
You’ll find all these events and more in our interactive events calendar.
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!