Long weekend time 🔥

Hey you, the long weekend is here, and we don’t want to leave you hanging. This time we sifted through 200+ events happening around Vancouver this week (yes, I do deserve a break) and picked only the best of the best so you don't have to.

I’ll start by mentioning that the biggest event this weekend is Vancouver Pride, there’s a lot going on there, and if you’re looking for the full experience you should see the full agenda here.

This issue includes 30 total gems organized by day of the week.

Here's what made the cut:

🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 Millennium Park, West Vancouver

Imagine a place where your kids can unleash their inner Picassos while you pretend to enjoy the art. Free concerts, food, and enough activities to keep them busy while you sip something strong.

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 VPL Renfrew Branch

Celebrate your favourite characters with fun crafts and games inspired by Dog Man. Why? No reason at all. Join the canine capers with crafts and games that would make even a cat laugh.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 RPL Brighouse Branch

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. We emphasize collaboration, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Because after celebrating Dogman, your kids will need something more useful in their brain.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Renfrew Branch

If celebrating Dogman was not enough, you might as well go watch it ... or take that beautiful break while your kid is busy with high art.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 VPL Firehall Branch

I could say "Dive into the delightful world of goo and grime. Perfect for kids who think being messy is a badge of honor. Bring your inner scientist and prepare for some squishy fun.". But honestly, if they're gonna do gross stuff, do it somewhere out of the house.

🕐 7:30 PM • 📍 Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park, Vancouver

We mentioned this last week, it's high-quality theatre, under the stars (🤔... technically, there are stars on the other side of the planet too, but whatever). This time you can watch not only Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but also Legally Blonde. Open the link for the whole schedule.

🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 The Polygon Gallery, North Vancouver

Unleash your inner Picasso while dodging the chaos of family life. Perfect for kids aged 5-12, because who doesn’t need a little messy creativity on the weekend?

🕐 10:30 AM • 📍 RPL Brighouse Branch

Ever wanted to learn the art of creating sweaters for your pet goldfish? Join this crafty crew at Brighouse Library and unleash your inner yarn wizard. All skill levels welcome.

🕐 10:30 AM • 📍 Brighouse

Ever wondered if robots will take over the world? Here’s a chance to get ahead of the curve. Perfect for future tech wizards and aspiring overlords.

🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 Marpole Branch

If your goblins are feeling crafty, come to this 'book maker space' and learn how to make fun pop-up books. For Grades 2-7.

🕐 11:30 AM • 📍 Oppenheimer Park, Vancouver

Come on, it's everything Japanese. Festival of Japanese-Canadian arts with taiko drumming, sumo wrestling, calligraphy demos, 50+ vendors, and over 40 performances. Held in historic Japantown. I might see you there!

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Kerrisdale Branch

Chill fun! Create your own recipes, start a mini herb garden and make a seed necklace.

🕐 1 PM • 📍 Davie Street

A city-wide celebration of LGBTQ2+ pride, culminating in the famous Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday, Aug 3. The weekend features family-friendly festivals with live music, drag shows, vendors, and interactive activities.

🕐 1:00 PM • 📍 VPL Hastings Branch

If a parade is not your thing, go find your calm. Bring your crafty chaos and join fellow stitchers for a session of yarn tangles and thread mishaps.

🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 Town Centre Park, Coquitlam

A new BC Day celebration with live music, cultural pavilions, food trucks, wine garden, and family activities celebrating BC's heritage.

🕐 4:00 PM • 📍 Ironwood

Drop in to the Ironwood Branch for some fun with after-school gaming! Play games like Mario Kart, Switch Sports, and Tetris with friends on our Nintendo Switch. We're beginner and family-friendly!

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 VPL Central Library

From the shortest TikToks to the latest Hollywood blockbusters, every great video starts with a bit of planning. In this session, we’ll go over the key things you’ll want to consider before you hit record. You'll learn how to plan the content for your video and decide which types of cameras, microphones, and lights to use.

🕐 3:00 PM • 📍 RPL Brighouse Branch

This is a recreational reading program intended to stimulate your child's love of reading and practice their reading and pronunciation. This program is for children in Grades 1-4.

🕐 4:00 PM • 📍RPL Ironwood Branch

I know, the idea sounds funny, but keep reading. This program helps struggling readers in grades 1-3 (ages 6 to 8) by providing a positive, non-judgmental environment to encourage good reading habits.

🕐 8:45 PM • 📍 Ceperley Meadow, Stanley Park, Vancouver

It's an old outdoor movie with a beautiful view and cool family vibes. Screening Mamma Mia!, so you and the kids can dance and jive, and have the time of your life.

🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 Fraserview Branch

Experience the world of exotic animal rescue with Urban Safari Rescue Society. Their live animal presentation will feature approximately 10-12 animals and artifacts including insects, arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Make sure not to transfer your phobia to your kid, don't freak out.

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Marpole Branch

Yes, more D&D, because it is fun, it's social, it helps creativity, and it creates great moments for your little kiddo.

🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Britannia Branch

Join other kids in creating miniature buildings and then work together to lay out your town.

🕐 2:30 PM • 📍 South Hill Branch

Go, go, go! Design and build your own canoes, trains and planes and explore the many ways people have travelled throughout history.

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Fraserview Branch

Meet other kids to make crafts, complete STEM challenges, and play with LEGO®. Come for new crafts and challenges each week!

🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 West Point Grey Branch

Give your kid a chance to do what you can't. Challenge yourself or other kids to a cube-tacular showdown! Twist your way into solving these brain-challenging puzzles in ways you never thought possible.

🕐 7:00 PM • 📍 Ironwood

Drop by the Ironwood Branch for a demonstration of the new Cricut Maker 3. Staff will demonstrate the machine’s capabilities and participants will take home a sample Cricut craft. You gotta register to show up, click the link!

🕐 9:00 AM • 📍 Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver

Sports and arts festival with basketball and volleyball tournaments, sunset yoga, dance, chess, and free movies. Includes a Family Fun Zone. (If weather treats us right).

🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 Kensington Branch

Another one of those to bring your mom/grandma/stubborn person who keeps asking to have their identity stolen. Learn how to protect your digital identity, secure your online accounts with two-step verification, and recognize online threats like phishing. AKA learn to live in this decade.

🕐 7:00 PM • 📍 Lansdowne Mall

Ok... it's a rainy day (most likely), this one is indoors, it's in the mall, easy parking, cozy seating, AC, food without crazy lineups. I wanna go to this one.

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

Slap them in the face and forward them this.

Catch you next week ✌️

Nat, from Nothing To Do

"Early Bird gets the Worm." — Fred Rogers