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

Vancouver International Jazz Festival

June 19, 2009

One of the great things about living in Vancouver is realizing that at the end of June you have a whole host of free concerts to take in. The Vancouver International Jazz festival has been around forever and every year has a multitude of fantastic free concerts around Vancouver. From June 26th to July 5th and also at special venues on Granville Island on Canada Day (July 1st), you have a chance to take in great jazz artists from around Vancouver and the world.

On June 27th and 28th you have the Gastown concerts set up in two venues, the Maple Tree Square at Water and Carrall, and The Steam Clock stage at Water and Cambie. Starting at noon and going till after 6 both nights, you can choose the best time for you kids and check out who is playing. The nice thing is because it is outside and free, so if the kids act up all you need to do is walk to another stage or head home. There are a number of kid friendly restaurants and coffee places nearby for the inevitable caffeine fix/bathroom break.

On July 4th and 5th the venues move to the Roundhouse Community Centre or close by. There are 4 venues, but I would suggest going to the venue at David Lam Park stage. This stage is around a big open field with several playgrounds in hearing distance of the concerts. It's a way for you to get some time listening to some good music while giving the kids a place to run, jump and play without bothering anyone.

Canada Day at Granville Island is a whole experience in itself. With all kinds of things for the kids to do from face painting, to activities at the False Creek Community Centre, they also have a number of free jazz concerts to end the festival.

For more information about the ticketed venues please visit the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society.

Another Summer Weekend

June 04, 2009

With the warmer weather comes tons of fun for the weekends. With so much to choose from I will highlight a few things.

West Vancouver is having its community day with a parade starting at 9:45 am, and other activities in the Civic Centre. From personal experience the floats are very competitive, and a lot of the schools put together floats. For more information check the website.

There may still be tickets available for A Day Out With Thomas for this weekend, but there are definitely tickets left for next weekend. If you have a Thomas obsessed tot Squamish is the place for you next weekend. Make sure to get your tickets now so you are not disappointed.

I have already mentioned the Bowen Island Children's Country Fair, and that this is where we will be this Sunday. If you have a yearning to take a short ferry ride, Bowen is beautiful place to be.

In case you haven't heard the Vancouver Museum has been re-branded as the Museum of Vancouver. As part of the re-branding they have a new exhibition VeloCity, exploring the history of bicycle transportation in Vancouver. To celebrate the opening come take a self-guided Tour de France themed scavenger hunt and art activities that explore Vancouver's cycling revolution.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Books, Stories, and Baseball

May 01, 2009

Stories are the theme of this weekends what to do list. With three literary events for kids and a concert featuring baseball, a fun and educational time can be had by all.

Starting Friday 1 May, the West Vancouver's Children's Literary Festival Booktopia runs until Saturday 9 May. The opening reception of the art exhibit is Friday May 1^st with an exhibition of art work created by local youth. From preschoolers to graduating students there is a wide variety of work. The exhibition runs until May 31^st. Next Saturday, 9 May, there is a presentation of the Jungle Book with puppets. Ticket are $5 and are available at the door or in advance at the Kay Meek Centre or the West Vancouver Memorial Library.

There is the Spring Book Hatching at the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library on Saturday 2 May in the Alice MacKay room on the lower level. A celebration of the release of the latest books by local children's authors and artists. The afternoon will feature presentations, displays, a book sale and the chance to meet your favourite BC author or illustrator.

Agent Story is making a visit to Once Upon a Huckleberry Bush. On Saturday 2 May from 1pm to 3pm Agent Story will entertain the troops with storytelling at 4387 Main Street,Vancouver. Come and cheer on these made in BC stories written and performed by Laura Thomas. This is gear to the 3 to 8 crowd.

As a part of Music in the Morning's Family Musik series, Play Ball is the brainchild of Composer, conductor and commentator Rob Kapilow. Using the poem Casey at the Bat as the basis for this concert, Play Ball is a major blend of music, comedy, audience participation. Having heard Rob Kapilow interviewed you are in for a big treat, all the while enjoying an engaging musical education. The concert starts at 3pm Sunday 3 May at the Chan Centre. Tickets can be purchased through the Chan Centre box office (in person only) from 12pm to 5 pm Monday to Saturday, and on performance days from 12pm until intermission. You can also purchase through Ticketmaster.

Spring Weekend

April 23, 2009

This Saturday the 25^th is a busy day in False Creek. Two major events are happening, one on Cambie and another on Granville Island. I am hoping we will attend both, though the one on Granville Island has more appeal for my truck loving son.

Ocean Concrete will be having their annual open house. Made for kids of all ages you can climb into big concrete mixers, big and small earth moving machines and play in the huge sand pit with all the other children. We go every year and my 4 year gets more excited every year. The first year he was a little intimidated by the huge trucks up close, but last year was running to line up to get into those bad boys. Open from 9 am to 5 pm this is a great chance to get up close and personal with the big trucks.

Best Buy and Canada Line are celebrating the completion of local Canada Line Construction with a huge street party, "Cambie All Access." Merchants from Broadway to the Cambie Street Bridge will be celebrating with food, concerts (including 54-40 at 3:30 pm) and other fun activities. Come and celebrate the relief that is an open Cambie Street. Festivities start and 11 am and go till 5 pm.

Have fun in False Creek!

Free Celebrations on Sunday: Lunar New Year

by Gwendolyn Floyd

January 29, 2009

In Celebration of the Lunar New Year's Festival there are a number of free family activities. The first is the famous Chinese New Year Parade through Vancouver's Chinatown. It starts at noon at the Millennium Gate on Pender to Gore to Keefer back to Carrall. Photo by  Read more...

Music, Junkology and Lights

by Gwendolyn Floyd

November 28, 2008

Are you up in the air as to what to do this weekend? Well you have lots of different things to choose from. How about a trip to Science World on Saturday? Junkology with Dr. Recycle Creative re-use of man-made refuse. Come join Dr. Recycle and his imaginative  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...

Word on the Street

by Gwendolyn Floyd

September 24, 2008

I let you know earlier in the fall that this Sunday is The Word on the Street. A sure sign of fall and fun for the whole family. Starting at 11 am until 5 pm all around the Vancouver main branch of the public library downtown. The Kid's Tent and The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader  Read more...

What's Up for 23-24 August

by Gwendolyn Floyd

August 22, 2008

We again have a lot of activities that might interest you for this weekend, especially if we can get rid of the rain. The events are happening all over the lower mainland so there should be something for everybody. There is still The Fair at the PNE Vancouver . Open from August 16 th to September 1, 2008 from 11 am to 11pm or so. Fair Gate passes are free for those under 6 and  Read more...

What's Up This Weekend: 16-17 August

by Gwendolyn Floyd

August 15, 2008

While I may wish I was on the other coast this weekend, (two birthdays and a wedding I would love to attend) there is still a lot to do this weekend in Vancouver. The biggest thing happening this weekend is the opening of The Fair at the PNE Vancouver . Open from August 16 th to  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...

Bonus Activities for the Three Day Vancouver Guide: Sports Teams

by Gwendolyn Floyd

July 11, 2008

Vancouver has a number of professional and semi-professional sports teams to go see in any season. I like to go to some of the football games and the Western Conference Final we went to a couple of years ago was fantastic. Depending when you are here you can take in Canadian football, hockey  Read more...

What to Do this Weekend

by Gwendolyn Floyd

July 11, 2008

There are not as many festivals this weekend but there are still a lot of things to do in and around greater Vancouver. Marpole Summerfest, July 12, 11 am to 3 pm. A free family friendly community celebration. With a children's zone, music and street entertainment. Granville Street  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...

Canada Day Events Tomorrow

by Gwendolyn Floyd

June 30, 2008

As we celebrate the 141st anniversary of Confederation, what is happening for Canada day in the Lower Mainland tomorrow? The answers is lots, though not as much as in Ottawa. One of these years I plan to take a family Vacation to Ottawa around Canada Day. I think it would be a blast. Here in the lower mainland there are things to do in almost every municipality. Photo by: Anthony  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...

Vancouver International Jazz Festival

by Gwendolyn Floyd

June 13, 2008

One of the great things about living in Vancouver is realizing that at the end of June you have a whole host of free concerts to take in. The Vancouver International Jazz festival has been around forever and every year has a multitude of fantastic free concerts around Vancouver. From June 20th to 29th and also at special venues on Granville Island on Canada Day (July 1st), you have a  Read more...