Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in vancouver, CN

Surrey Children's Festival

May 28, 2009

This weekend starting Thursday, the Surrey Children's Festival is once again taking over Bear Creek Park and there are some fabulous acts ready to entertain. A great mixture of ticketed performances and free performances and activities there is something for all.

The ticketed performances are geared toward different age groups and tickets can be purchased by phone from the box office or at the door. We are going to see our favourite Vancouver duo, Bobs and Lolo. If you haven't seen them yet make sure to see them this weekend at the Leapfrog Stage. They will also be at the Bowen Island Children's Country Fair. (Click the link, this is amazing!) There are still tickets for Bobs and Lolo's Saturday concert and ticket prices are very reasonable.

There are a ton of other free activities as well including face-painting, a preschool play zone, mehndi stations, circus school, a place to learn how to do some South Asian dance and many more. I fully expect to have a very tired little boy at the end of the day.

To get the most out of your experience here are a few tips:

• If there is a concert you want to see, call the box office and book your tickets for pick up on the day.

• Make sure you have drinks, and sunscreen, and hats for all.

• Pack a blanket to sit on for the free performances.

• Remember your camera.

• Have fun!

Children's Festivals

April 28, 2009

As May comes closer it is really time to figure out when we are going to the children's festivals and what we plan to see to get the most out of our experience. The Vancouver International Children's Festival runs from the 11^th May to the 18^th May 2009 at Vanier Park in Vancouver. Tickets for the venue itself are $10 and tickets to the main stage shows are $16 and include admission to the venue for all other activities on the day. The Surrey Children's Festival runs from 28^th May to the 30^th May 2009 and entrance to the venue is free, main stage tickets are $6 for under 3 years old and $10.50 for regular tickets.

The Vancouver Festival has a number of great performers including Fred Penner, Music With Marnie and several other world acts. Site Activity hours are from 9:30am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday. The site is big and has lots of free concerts and activities, so pack a lunch and bring a blanket to give yourself a place to sit. There are food vendors, but like all festivals the fare is expensive.

The Surrey Children's festival boasts one of our Vancouver faves, Bobs and Lolo. They have concerts on all days. There will be a number of other activities in Bear Creek Park, including free concerts, face painting and crafts.

Get a group of kids and caregivers together and have fun!

Weekend Update

by Gwendolyn Floyd

November 21, 2008

What is happening in the Lower Mainland this weekend? Lets find out. Saturday 22 November Capilano Mall at 11 am, 12 pm, and 1 pm Meet the characters from Beauty and the Beast. Tickets available from the Info Booth by donation. Bobs and Lolo at  Read more...

One Elephant Came Out to Play

by Gwendolyn Floyd

September 25, 2008

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! A very important announcement for the weekend that will be fun for young and old alike! Sharon and Bram (minus Lois) will be playing the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver this  Read more...

Weekend Activities

by Gwendolyn Floyd

August 08, 2008

Happy 08/08/08! There is, as always, a lot going on this weekend all over the lower mainland. The Kitsilano Community Centre is hosting its annual Picnic in the Park on Saturday from 12-4. Tickets are $2 and there should be lots to do for children of all ages including games, a  Read more...

What to Do This Weekend

by Gwendolyn Floyd

July 18, 2008

It is Friday and another weekend is upon us. So what is in store for this weekend? Lots of music and festivals. First up, the Vancouver Folk Festival . While a little expensive for the adults in the household, kids 12 and under are free. There is a ton of family friendly  Read more...

What to do this weekend

by Gwendolyn Floyd

July 04, 2008

As always there are a lot of great things to do this weekend. From dance and stories to festivals it should be a fun and busy weekend. Photo by: Anthony Floyd The All Over the Map dance series kicks off in Ron Basford Park on Granville Island. Silk Road Music and Friends combines central Asian music with Chinese and African dance. The free performance starts at 2 pm. If it  Read more...

Sounds of Summer

by Gwendolyn Floyd

July 01, 2008

Growing up on the east coast bagpipes are always a sound of summer to me. Whether is be in a parade, an outdoor concert or a summer festival, bagpipes are everywhere. When I moved to the west coast the bagpipes were still there (hello, world famous SFU Pipe Band resides here) but not as  Read more...

Festivals, Stories and Jazz, Oh My!

by Gwendolyn Floyd

June 27, 2008

Another weekend is upon us and this one seems to actually have some good weather forecast. This last weekend of June has a number of great events planned with lots of kid friendly activities. First off is GreekFest at Boundary Road just south of 29 th Ave. Running from Friday 27  Read more...

What to do This Weekend

by Gwendolyn Floyd

June 19, 2008

As June starts its wrap-up there are a number of events you can take in with your children. This weekend has a number of free events including the Dragon Boat Festival and the Jazz Festival. The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival runs both Saturday and Sunday the 21 st and 22 nd of June. This year all activities are free, including lots of music including the Trews. The  Read more...