Inside Vancouver

Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade – January 29, 2012

by Dana Lynch in Events on January 16, 2012

Of all the Vancouver Chinese New Year events celebrating the Year of the Dragon, there’s one that stands out from the rest: the annual Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade, one of the largest annual parades in the city.

Over 3,000 people take part in the Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade (as in: are actually part of the parade itself)! Featuring the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada, the parade also boasts multicultural dance troupes, the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands, and more. Every year, the parade draws over 50,000 spectators—it’s loads of free fun for all ages!

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Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade – January 29, 2012

Free Ice Skating at Robson Square Returns December 1

by Dana Lynch in Outside on November 15, 2011

Free Ice Skating at Robson Square

Since its re-opening for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the Robson Square Ice Rink (located at 800 Robson Street, across from the Vancouver Art Gallery) has reclaimed its spot as a beloved Vancouver winter tradition. The open-air ice rink is the only spot for outdoor ice skating in Vancouver (the next nearest outdoor rink is on Grouse Mountain), and it’s completely free!

Weather permitting, the Robson Square Ice Rink’s 2011 grand opening will be December 1, 2011.

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Free Ice Skating at Robson Square Returns December 1

Free Halloween Movies at the Vancouver Halloween Drive-In on October 28 & 29

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on October 20, 2011

Update: After I posted this piece, I was contacted by Fresh Air Cinema and asked to remove the titles of the films being shown due to licensing restrictions. So to find out what’s playing, please visit the Halloween Drive In site.

Just in time for Halloween, Fresh Air Cinema is erecting a four-story-high drive-in movie screen at 200 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver, (just east of the Cambie Street Bridge, formerly the ‘Cavalia’ venue site) to show two classic, family-friendly Halloween movies on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29.

Called the Halloween Drive In, this outdoor venue will be a traditional “drive in” movie theatre: cars will be parked in front of the screen, just as they would at any old-fashioned drive-in movie. It’s $20 per car, but the movies are FREE for anyone walking in or on their bikes. (It’s just a few blocks to the Halloween Drive-In from the Broadway-City Hall Canada Line station, so walking in will be easy!)

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Free Halloween Movies at the Vancouver Halloween Drive-In on October 28 & 29

10 “Must Do” Summer Activities for Labour Day Weekend 2011

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on August 30, 2011

Beaches, water parks, outdoor concerts, summer night markets–Have you “done” everything on your summer-in-Vancouver to-do list?

Labour Day (September 5) is the traditional end-of-summer, which means the long Labour Day Weekend is the perfect opportunity—and, in some cases, last chance—to do those quintessential Vancouver summer activities we all love—and might not get a chance to do again until next year.

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10 “Must Do” Summer Activities for Labour Day Weekend 2011

TaiwanFest 2011 & Vancouver’s First-Ever Street Banquet

by Dana Lynch in Events on August 23, 2011

Vancouver TaiwanFest. Photo: TaiwanFest.ca

The 2011 TELUS TaiwanFest returns to Vancouver Labour Day weekend with loads of free fun for the whole family.

A cultural celebration of all things Taiwanese, TaiwanFest aims to burst stereotypes by showcasing the rich diversity in both modern and traditional Taiwanese music, dance, film, food, and arts. This year’s festival includes fusion concerts, Techno Prince dance, Taiwanese Aboriginal artisans, inspiring documentaries, fabulous culinary shows, games for all ages, Chef Hung’s “best beef noodle on earth,” and Vancouver’s first-ever street banquet in honour of Vancouver’s 125th birthday.

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TaiwanFest 2011 & Vancouver’s First-Ever Street Banquet

Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade – January 29, 2012

Free Ice Skating at Robson Square Returns December 1

Free Halloween Movies at the Vancouver Halloween Drive-In on October 28 & 29

10 “Must Do” Summer Activities for Labour Day Weekend 2011

TaiwanFest 2011 & Vancouver’s First-Ever Street Banquet

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