🛵From motocross to arts and crafts

Hey, I know you’re gearing up for Black Friday, so you need to take those kiddos out on the cheap, and we bring you the good options.

We sifted through 300+ events happening around Vancouver this week (you better believe it) and picked only the best of the best so you don't have to.

Here's what made the cut:

🕐 2:30 PM • 📍 Brighouse

Demystifies your pay stub, then walks you through setting goals, building a budget, understanding everyday banking, filing income tax, and getting started with saving and investing. Register for it, not many spots left!

🕐 4:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse

Scratch is back. Why? Because it's the most fun way to start learning to program. Do you want your kid to actually want to write and use math to have fun? This is a way.

🕐 5:30 PM • 📍 Mount Pleasant Branch

Kids love dinosaurs (me too), dads love Scarlett Johansson, moms ... were kids too, so they might still like dinosaurs. This movie is pretty new, it was in the theatres one of these days. Good opportunity to still watch it on a big screen, OR sneak a break.

🕐 6:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse

Well, if you can't have the good stuff because your kid is scared when dinosaurs chomp live people, you can bring them to this one.

🕐 8:00 AM • 📍 Science World

Considered by the folks at Science World their "most exciting event of the year" that includes nothing less than "300 participants with over 150 different STEAM professionals and organizations for a day of hands-on learning, exploring and discovery.".

🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 South Arm Community Centre

"Get into the holiday spirit with over 80 talented vendors offering one-of-a-kind gifts, festive crafts, and seasonal delights at South Arm's Christmas Craft Fair – a must-visit event for all your holiday shopping".

🕐 10:12 AM • 📍 Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
Shop from a selection of curated goods from 69+ (👀, they said that) local BC Makers comprised of artists, designers + producers of family fashion, jewelry, art, home decor, skincare, wine + spirits, gourmet treats, + more, while learning about their crafting process! Featuring free live music + entertainment for the whole family! Also happens on Sunday!

🕐 10:12 AM • 📍 All City Athletics
Comedy show where comedians roast audience-submitted petty complaints and pet peeves at random!

🕐 10:30 AM • 📍 RPL Brighouse Branch
Drop-in for a demonstration of a variety of knitting and crocheting styles! Demonstrations will include knitting, crocheting, loom knitting, and Tunisian crocheting. Vancouver has a similar event a bit later.

🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 Marpole Branch
Put your out-of-the-box thinking skills to the test by opening one of the library's mystery boxes and inventing a solution to its funny challenge. For Grades K-7. Drop-in.

🕐 5:00 PM • 📍 BC Place
This is a fun one, a good opportunity to watch a Supercross race close by. I'm actually interested, might see you there!

🕐 10:00 PM • 📍 Kitsilano Neighbourhood House
If you feel like your family needs to do something great for the community instead, this is a a good pick. Bring warm, comfortable clothing. Catch basin clearing equipment will be provided. They will gather inside Kitsilano Neighbourhood House to warm up and have light refreshments after the clearing.

🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 West Point Grey Branch
Children can practice read-aloud skills in 15-minute, one-on-one sessions with a therapy dog and their human companion. Registration is required. Rush and click to save a spot.

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse
This is your chance to meet Anya Taylor-Joy. Ok, not exactly, but do you really think that you would stand a chance if can't even checkmate a few 6 year olds? Participants are welcome to bring their own chess board, pieces, or clock, but there will also be plenty available at the library.

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Ironwood
Stop by the Ironwood Launchpad to learn about and try our brand new Sphero Indis! These fun little cars are a great way to introduce coding and robotics to children 4+.

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Iona Beach Regional Park
Join Birds Canada for an engaging outdoor session at Iona Beach Park. Discover the fundamentals of birdwatching and explore local avian life with the provided resources.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 VPL Strathcona Branch

Come experiment, craft and get creative with fun activities as we explore science, technology, art, engineering and math (S.T.E.A.M). The activity changes each week. For Grades K-7. Drop-in.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Champlain Heights Branch

Come and be inspired by our library materials and have some hands-on fun with simple art activities. Please dress to get messy. For Grades K-7.

🕐 6:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse

Connect with family and friends or make new ones over board games, trading card games, and video games! You can bring your own or select something from their collection. Find some players and start playing. They will provide some consoles, you can also bring your own.

🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 Vancouver Convention Centre West (1055 Canada Place), Vancouver, BC

This one is a repeat, but it was a big success. Western Canada's largest craft fair with 300+ Canadian artisans under one roof, offering handmade jewelry, art, textiles, specialty foods, and more.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Brighouse

Come hang out, learn, draw, and discuss what makes graphic novels so special! Whether you’re looking for a place to share what graphic novel you want to read again and again or try out making your own comic, this is the club for you! Ideal for kids 9-12 years old.

🕐 4:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse

Minecraft club. Because we made games with good graphics, but kids like them looking like they were made to run on your old Nokia phone.

🕐 6:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse

Last chance to see Tom Cruise before he became a Madame Tussauds attraction. But seriously, he's still doing impressive stunts, and it's a fun movie. 18+.

🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 Kerrisdale Branch

For the foragers and wildlings around here. Explore wild, edible and medicinal plants, learn about their powers, uses and probably how not to die eating random mushrooms. They will take a nature walk after the presentation, weather permitting. Dress for the weather.

🕐 11:30 AM • 📍 Britannia Branch

Teens aged 13-18 can explore their creativity by designing and painting custom stickers. This drop-in event offers supplies and snacks for a fun afternoon of artistic expression.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Kitsilano Branch

Participate in trivia and engage in crafts that celebrate your favourite films. Express your fandom with creative crafts inspired by animated films like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, and more! For Grades 2-7. Registration is needed, click the link!

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Hastings Branch

Meet other teen artists, discuss creative projects and exchange ideas at this weekly in-person meet-up. Get your creative juices flowing with art prompts, explore new media using our supplies, and learn new techniques from guest artists. ages 13-18. Drop in. All supplies provided.

🕐 6:30 PM • 📍 Central Library

Writing is a great mind exercise: "In this workshop, we will explore journaling as a tool for furthering your creative practice and generating new ideas. We will engage in self-reflection, creative prompts and visual exploration to investigate voice ...". Click to learn more.

🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 Lansdowne Centre

If you love art but can't pay much, you don't need to settle for that Campbell's Soup bathroom painting. In this art show, all of these thousands of pieces are under $100.

🕐 10:12 AM • 📍 Heritage Hall

Discover 21 inspiring low-income entrepreneurs at Make Change Market.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Oakridge Branch

Children in Grades K-7 can create and illustrate their own books, comics, or zines. Finished works will be added to the library collection for others to enjoy.

🕐 3:45 PM • 📍 Terry Salman Branch

Children in Grades K – 7 can explore their creativity by designing miniature buildings and collaboratively planning a town layout. This drop-in event encourages teamwork and imaginative play.

🕐 6:00 PM • 📍 Science World
Perfect date night: "Wander with wonder through our galleries and get spellbound by live magician performances and uncover the secrets behind the tricks in our Puzzles & Illusions gallery. Feel the pull of physics in Eureka, where real forces create seemingly magic effects". 19+, booze is allowed.

Know a fellow parent who always says, "there's nothing to do"?

Forward them this — it might just save their weekend.

Catch you next week ✌️

Nat, from Nothing To Do

Awesome cover photo by Freddie on Unsplash