Inside Vancouver

Vancouver Easter Events & Egg Hunts 2013

by Taraneh in Family Friendly on March 19, 2013

Photo credit: Donar Reiskoffer

Easter is coming up on Sunday, March 31. The Great A-mazing Egg Hunt at VanDusen is sold out. But not to worry; There are many more opportunities for creative Easter fun in and around Vancouver including classic egg hunts, wild scavenger hunts, craft events, train rides and even hanging out with Easter bunnies/chicks/salmon.

If you’re on the hunt for family-friendly Easter events, here’s what Vancouver has to offer.

Vancouver Easter Events & Egg Hunts 2013

1) Easter Train at Stanley Park, March 23-April 1
Hang out with the Easter bunny and sidekick: Easter Chick. There’s also the chance to partake in Easter craftacular acitvities. And Easter egg hunts are staged throughout the day near the start of the miniature rail line. Just be sure to bring your own basket.

2) Easter at Gulf of Georgia Cannery, March 30
Forget the Easter bunny. Open your mind to new options, like the friendly pink(ish) Easter salmon. Hunt for roe while learning about fishing on the West Coast. There’s also Easter-themed crafts, games and a prize draw for a chocolate. Continue reading:
Vancouver Easter Events & Egg Hunts 2013

Free Movie at David Lam Park, July 29, from Vancity Fresh Air Movie Tour

by Dana Lynch in Events on July 25, 2012

Free outdoor movies are a summer tradition in Vancouver. This week, along with the ongoing summer movie series in Stanley Park, Fresh Air Cinema is teaming up with Vancity to bring a free outdoor screening of The Princess Bride to Yaletown’s David Lam Park this Sunday, July 29.

Called the Vancity Fresh Air Movie Tour, the July 29 event includes the free Princess Bride screening at 9pm plus a mini-festival before the show. The pre-movie fest features Vancity’s Mobile Community Garden (where you can plant a seedling that will grow in the garden to be harvested for local schoolchildren to eat in their school cafeterias) and a showcase for local non-profits and Vancity members. Vancity will also be handing out $5 gift certificates for use at Vancouver Farmers Markets.

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Free Movie at David Lam Park, July 29, from Vancity Fresh Air Movie Tour

Surrey Fusion Festival 2012

by Dana Lynch in Events on July 16, 2012

Surrey Fusion Festival. Photo: Tourism Surrey

Metro Vancouver’s multiculturalism is on display at the annual, free Surrey Fusion Festival this weekend, July 21 – 22, 2012.

A huge festival that attracts 60,000+ people every summer, the Surrey Fusion Festival is part music festival—the 2012 line-up includes performances by Los Lobos, Good for Grapes, two-time JUNO award nominee Jeremy Fisher and multiple world music fusion groups like Ranj Singh and The Discriminators and Delhi 2 Dublin—and part multicultural fest, featuring 38 “cultural pavilions” that let you experience food and culture from around the world.

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Surrey Fusion Festival 2012

East Van’s Sunrise Summer Kickoff Festival This Saturday, July 7

by Dana Lynch in Events, Family Friendly on July 6, 2012

Sunrise Summer Kickoff in East Van. Photo: Hastings North BIA

Commercial Drive has long been the cultural hub of northeast Vancouver, but there are interesting things afoot in the “East Village” (the Hastings North BIA’s new branding for North Hastings). The Waldorf Hotel is emerging as a party destination–witness last week’s Canada Day Block Party as evidence–and this weekend the annual Sunrise Summer Kickoff festival on East Hastings is expected to attract more than 3,000 people.

A tradition in North Hastings, the Sunrise Summer Kickoff is a free, all-ages event that’s grown over 11 years to become one of the biggest street festivals in East Van. The festival includes live music, dozens of performers, lots of food and BBQ, a mini-carnival, and street hockey for kids (over 260 kids took part last year).

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East Van’s Sunrise Summer Kickoff Festival This Saturday, July 7

Free Outdoor Movies in Stanley Park Start July 3, 2012

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on June 19, 2012

Get ready to grab a blanket and pop the popcorn: July and August are the months for free outdoor movies—a summer tradition in Vancouver.

Free outdoor movie season kicks off Tuesday, July 3, at Ceperley Meadow in Stanley Park, thanks to Fresh Air Cinema. Check out the list of cult-faves (“I’m being repressed!”) and Gen-X classics scheduled for summer 2012:

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Free Outdoor Movies in Stanley Park Start July 3, 2012

Free Ballroom Dancing in Robson Square Starts Friday, June 29, 2012

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on June 15, 2012

Photo: DanceSportBC

When it comes to free summer events and activities, Robson Square is the place to be! Not only will Robson Square host the free, two-day kick off of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012 (Downtown Jazz Weekend, June 22 – 23), it will also host free ballroom dancing every Friday starting June 29 and free salsa every Sunday starting July 1.

The free, Friday-night ballroom dancing is organized by DanceSportBC and includes a ballroom dance lesson at 8pm, show dances at 9pm and 10pm, and a chance to dance the night away in the heart of downtown Vancouver. It’s all free, and all skill levels are welcome; you don’t have to have any prior ballroom dance experience to participate!

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Free Ballroom Dancing in Robson Square Starts Friday, June 29, 2012

Free Vancouver Water Parks for Kids: Granville Island & Stanley Park

by Dana Lynch in Family Friendly on June 11, 2012

Granville Island Water Park. Photo: Dana Lynch

As usual, summer weather is taking a while to heat up in Vancouver. But even if the weather isn’t super hot, beautiful sunny days are warm enough for most kids to have fun running, splashing, sliding, and getting soaking wet at Vancouver’s two free water parks for kids.

Open in the summer season only (June 1 – September 3), Vancouver’s free kids’ water parks are both located in hotspots that are full of other kid- and family-fun activities, making it easy to enjoy a day full of outdoor play.

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Free Vancouver Water Parks for Kids: Granville Island & Stanley Park