Following a few days of rainy weather, sunshine is set to return to the Lower Mainland this weekend - we can't blame you if you're looking to take advantage of it. After all, there are only two weekends left in August!
Here are a few awesome ways to fill up the next two days.
1. Experience the excitement of the PNE Fair from the comfort of your car
Yes, you will see SuperDogs at the 2020 PNE Fair 'Drive-Thru' Photo: PNE/Playland
For its 2020 edition, the PNE Fair will be hosting “A Taste of the PNE: Drive-Thru Fair Experience.” Celebrating the very best of the PNE, this drive-thru expedition through the PNE grounds at Hastings Park aims to give guests a sampling of all of their Fair favourites from the comfort of their own vehicles - yes, even SuperDogs! A Dino Drive and will also be on offer, as will drive-thru food trucks.
2. Enjoy a meal paired with fresh air on a Vancouver patio
A couple dines out on a restaurant patio. Photo: Getty ImagesOr picnic blanket - the choice is yours! Organized by Tourism Vancouver, the familiar annual Dine Out is making an unexpected return this summer, with an al fresco twist. Called Dine OutSide, this new seasonal fest will make the most of the city's many regular and temporary patios and public spaces perfect for picnics.
Dine OutSide will find Vancouver restaurants offering up prix fixe menus at $15, $25, $35 or $45 price points, or special promotional offers for diners to enjoy on-site. Don't want to dine in? No problem. Dine OutSide will also feature special take-outside and picnic packs for you to grab and go and enjoy in a park, at the beach, in one of the city's many pop-up plazas, or at home.
Announced at the end of July, Dine OutSide recently revealed all the 161 Vancouver restaurant locations taking part, and we've listed them out here for you so you can make your eating plans.
3. Take a stroll through the city to check out some insanely cool street art
Photo: vanmuralfest / InstagramWith over 60 new murals in nine neighbourhoods across the city (plus a new mobile app to help you discover them all), you likely won't have to venture far from home to discover some stunning street art that's been popping up as part of this year's Vancouver Mural Festival.
4. Snap a selfie in a field of sunflowers
Photo: Maan Farms Are you dreaming of snapping the perfect selfie amidst acres of soaring sunflowers under the golden summer sun?
Maan Farms is inviting the public to prepare for picture-perfect moments with a few acres of shoulder height, premium varietal sunflowers now ready for visitors. Main attractions include photo opportunities, a premium U-Pick sunflower field, special days where dogs are welcome, and farm-fresh dishes at Mama Maan’s Kitchen.
New to the Sunflower Festival this year is Picnic in the Petals, where customers are invited to enjoy food from Mama Maan’s Kitchen, such as farm-fresh concessional eats, berry creations and butter chickens while sipping on a glass of award-winning wine overlooking the sunflower field. Yum!
5. Cheer on the Canucks (safely)
Delta police and Surrey RCMP are reminding Canucks fans along the Scott Road corridor to celebrate safely and responsibly. PHOTO: SANDOR GYARMATI
The Vancouver Canucks are moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 2011. The Canucks beat the St. Louis Blues 6-2 in Friday evening's Game 6 to knock the defending champions out of the race. (It's pretty much the best thing to come out of 2020 so far, if you ask us.) Now, Vancouver is set to face the top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1, with puck drop scheduled for Sunday night.
But as the Cancucks advance, police are warning fans to celebrate safely. That includes those congregating to celebrate playoff wins at the intersection of 72nd Avenue and Scott Road along the North Delta/Surrey border, a tradition Canucks fans have created over several years. “While we understand people naturally want to celebrate Canuck victories, we encourage them to do so within their own homes, or at small gatherings,” says Cris Leykauf, spokesperson for Delta Police.
6. Celebrate all things salmon
Sockyeye salmon being prepared at Victoria's Courtney Room in 2019. Photo by Leila Kwok/courtesy Chefs' Table Society BCEvery August, ticket holders gather in Vancouver for a spectacular meal focused on beautiful B.C. wild salmon. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year's Wild Salmon Celebration has morphed into a province-wide multi-day event, giving salmon fans and B.C. diners several chances to support local restaurants and honour our most iconic seafood. The fourth annual Wild Salmon Celebration is hosted by the Chefs' Table Society of BC and the BC Salmon Marketing Council, and will feature 10 chefs and restaurants in communities across B.C. In its new format, diners will be able to order special Wild Salmon Celebration dishes during the three-day period. Each dish will make B.C. wild salmon the star, and the restaurants will set the price.
7. Visit an adorable rescued baby otter at the Vancouver Aquarium
Photo courtesy of the Vancouver AquariumThe sea otter pup, named Joey, already captured hearts around the world after he was discovered on a beach in Kyuquot, B.C. in July, approximately 10 days old and near a deceased adult sea otter, presumed to be his mother. He was transported to Vancouver's Ocean Wise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, where he has been receiving round-the-clock care over the past few weeks in the hopes that he could be reintroduced to the wild.
While the otter pup is now "stabilized and stronger," following weeks of intensive rehabilitation, he has been deemed non-releasable. The good news? That means Joey will receive long-term care - and frequent visitors - among six other rescued sea otters at the Vancouver Aquarium. According to the Aquarium, "Lucky visitors may catch glimpses of Joey’s bath and feeding times with his care team between his many naps." Cue heart melt.
8. Get lost in a massive, inspiring corn maze
Every year, this corn maze is cut to share a special theme and message. Photo: Chilliwack Corn Maze
It's an annual tradition for many in B.C., but not surprisingly, hitting up this epic Fraser Valley corn maze this year will be a little different. Situated on a 20-acre farm, the Chilliwack Corn Maze is known for taking on a special theme each year, and for a year when a lot of us are focusing on being apart, it's all about the concept of being 'Together.'
The Bruinsma and the Taekema families have operated the corn maze since 1999. Each year, they create a new concept for the maze to delight guests from across the Lower Mainland. Last year, the Chilliwack Corn Maze marked 50 years of the Vancouver Canucks as their theme.
For 2020, however, visiting the corn maze will comes with some key considerations in light of COVID-19. The Chilliwack Corn Maze has put forth their COVID safety plan, and will be requiring attendees pre-purchase tickets to attend.
9. Grab a glass of wine at a brand-new wine bar
Bar Gobo has just opened up at 237 Union Street. The wine bar with snacks is from the team behind Burdock and Harvest. Photo: @bar.gobo/InstagramAfter other plans for the space at 237 Union Street fell through due to COVID-19, it has been transformed - minimally - to house Bar Gobo, a wine bar with small bites. Bar Gobo, in its initial iteration, was the lively pop-up offered at Burdock with wines, snacks from a variety of guest chefs, and tunes on vinyl.
Bar Gobo as a concept has been solidified, and the focus is liquid: Wine. They've even tapped 2020 BC Sommelier of the Year Peter Van de Reep to head things up!
10. Try a new craft brew while admiring this mural showcasing Port Coquitlam's history
Taylor Klassen shows off the mural he recently completed at Patina Brewing Co. in Port Coquitlam. PHOTO: DIANE STRANDBERG
Painting a huge mural on a prominent wall at Patina Brewing Co. in downtown Port Coquitlam was his dream project so the 20-year old just had to find a way to finish it. “My honour is on the line,” he joked in the cavernous barbecue restaurant and brewery that opened in March, just before the COVID-19 lockdown.
There are many references to Port Coquitlam in the painting, including a historical train, heritage building, the Coquitlam river, Terry Fox and local mountains.
Like other PoCo breweries and restaurants, meanwhile, Patina has taken the city up on its offer to expand outdoors and has taken over an area next to the building, where brewery staff are serving up six signature beers, barbecue entrees and sides.
- With files from Lindsay William-Ross, Elana Shepert, Diane Strandberg and the Delta Optimist
