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Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver parents and their awesome kids. Every Wednesday I post a roundup of upcoming family-friendly events and activities. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, contact me at theplayground@vancouverisawesome.com. Because Vancouver is awesome for kids too! |
Here are some cool things to do with your kids this week:
This Sunday is Car Free Vancouver Day! Celebrate healthy communities, local culture and car-free streets with festivities all across Vancouver. Go on foot or by bike, take your scooter, stroller, or shiny red wagon, but leave the car at home!
There are festivals in five neighbourhoods this year -- Kitsilano, Main Street, West End, Commercial Drive and North Van -- each with its own distinct flavour. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect:
- Block parties all over Kitsilano with dancing, performers and potlucks
- Skateboard demos and the Terminal City Roller Derby on Main Street
- Spoken word, square dancing and Capoeria in the West End
- Street hockey, Drum Jam and a Healing Garden on Commercial Drive
- A beach party on Lonsdale Avenue in North Van
And, of course, it’s all free! Check the Car Free Vancouver website for details on events in your neighbourhood. Car Free Vancouver is also on Facebook and on Twitter @carfreeyvr.
This is also the weekend of the 22nd Annual Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. Recognized as North America’s biggest and best, the Festival attracts over 100,000 people and close to 180 dragon boat teams from across the Lower Mainland and around the globe. The fun starts Friday night with the colourful Eye Dotting Ceremony and continues all weekend with non-stop entertainment on the World Beat Stage, fabulous food and shopping. Oh, and dragon boat racing too! Another awesome event that's all free. At Concord Place, Creekside Park and the waters of False Creek, near Science World. To get you in the mood, here's a video from last year that I found on the Festival's website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=327Sk4ePFTI
The Scandinavian Midsummer Festival is on from June 18-20 at the Scandinavian Community Centre in Burnaby. This year’s theme is "Travels of the Vikings", and there’s tons of fun stuff for kids to do -- explore a Viking village and watch as they work, raid and pillage; play carnival games; visit a troll forest; watch folk dancing and choirs; participate in the Amazing Nordic Race; enjoy some storytelling and more. There’s an outdoor Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday morning at 10am (indoor if the weather disagrees), and right afterwards there will be kids’ games and dancing around the Midsummer Pole. And no Viking celebration is complete without a Wife Carrying Contest! Nope, not kidding! Winning team is awarded the wife’s weight in Carlsberg Beer. You can find out more about the Festival (or how to win a lot of beer) here.
And one more festival worth checking out! It's the 25th year for the Point Grey Fiesta. There's a parade Saturday at 10am on West 10th between Blanca and Discovery, including a decorated bike contest for kids age 3-11. Afterward, head down to Trimble Park (Trimble & 8th) for Carnival Rides and more fun!
VanDusen Gardens presents Splash! It’s Pond Season -- a workshop for families with children ages 5 to 11 years. Get a hands-on look at pond life. Collect some critters with pond-dipping nets and check them out up-close with microscopes. Saturday June 19, two sessions: 10:30-12:30 or 1:30-3:30 p.m. Member Family $10, Non-Member Family $15 (includes admission to the Garden). Pre-registration required by calling 604-718-5898 or familyprograms@vandusen.org
And at Science World this weekend, get up close and personal with some Radical Reptiles! Face your fear of snakes and get a chance to handle some of the rarest and most misunderstood creatures on earth. Brought to you by the Westcoast Society for the Protection and Conservation of Reptiles.
Finally, next week’s Movies for Mommies show is Get Him to the Greek. Baby-friendly cinema with change tables, stroller parking, bottle warming and reduced sound. Wednesday, June 23 at the Rio Theatre, 12:30pm. Join their Facebook page for updates.
That's it for this week. See you next Wednesday!
