The long weekend is here! There’s all sorts of things I will NOT list in these emails, PNE with cool concerts (because everyone knows about them), anything very instagramable (because in the best outings you forget to take pictures), cash-grabs and events that are not worth the hassle (* cough * Celebration of Lights) etc.
We sifted through 130+ events happening around Metro Vancouver this week (summer is still pretty much alive) and picked only the best of the best so you don't have to.
Here's what made the cut:
📅 Friday
🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Renfrew Branch
Chill indoor movie time. Trolls: World Tour Queen Poppy and Branch make an unexpected discovery: other Troll worlds exist beyond their own little village, and etc etc. I know you don't care, but your little buddy might.
🕐 4:00 PM • 📍 Cambie
Calling all trainers and connoisseurs. Must have your own cards and games. Good way to get your kid to socialize and meet the more "serious" players.
🕐 5:00 PM • 📍 Shipyards District (Shipbuilder's Square), North Vancouver
If you happen to be across The bridge, try this night market at North Vancouver waterfront. Food trucks, artisans, live music... and well, beer.
📅 Saturday
🕐 9:00 AM • 📍 Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver
Give it up, wanna say you’re part of a Guiness record? Free hiking event aiming to break Guinness World Record for largest hike. Scenic Cypress Mountain trails, all ages welcome.
🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 VanDusen Botanical Garden
VanDusen Botanical Garden turns 50 – special festival with live entertainment, family activities, food vendors, and guided tours. Admission covers activities.
🕐 10:30 AM • 📍 Brighouse
Your kids will barely remember the world before AI rise. Let them learn more about it in this free session at RPL central branch.
🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 Douglas Park, Langley
Latin American celebration with music, dance, food, and cultural festivities. All-ages community carnival in Langley.
🕐 3:00 PM • 📍 Fraserview Branch
Songs, rhymes and stories are shared. Suitable for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy and learn together.
🕐 7:00 PM • 📍 Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Cheer on Vancouver's women's pro soccer team in Northern Super League. Fun family outing for sports fans at Swangard Stadium. This is soccer practice + drinks + hot dogs + more fun + not caring if the player sucks.
📅 Sunday
🕐 8 PM • 📍 Hollywood Theatre
Who knows, maybe you found a sitter, and it's date night. Jokers Canada returns with a fresh lineup of Canada’s best pro comedians to the incredible Hollywood Theatre in Kits.
🕐 12:00 PM • 📍 Edmonds Street, Burnaby
Street festival with live entertainment, family games, food trucks, community booths, and kids' play zones.
🕐 1:00 PM • 📍 Hastings Branch
Socialize with other knitting/crochet/embroidery masters and newbies. Bring your hand stitching project and join the fun.
🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse
All levels welcome, bring your favourite board or just use one of the library's.
📅 Monday
Le Burger Week (Vancouver) [Culture, Festival]
🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 Various Restaurants, Metro Vancouver
If you’re craving a burger this is a good time. City-wide burger festival where restaurants create special burgers for a week. Families can try unique burgers and vote online for their favourites.
🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby
Old-fashioned Labour Day Fair with live entertainment, heritage games, demonstrations, and carousel rides. Admission and rides are free.
🕐 11:00 AM • 📍 Edmonds Park, Burnaby
Family-friendly picnic hosted by Vancouver & District Labour Council. Includes live music, speakers, face painting, and kids' activities.
📅 Tuesday
🕐 11:30 AM • 📍 Brighouse
Early literacy, connection with other caregivers, and playtime to support your toddler's social-emotional development.
🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Terry Salman Branch
Storytelling is an art, and a great skill to have. This workshop is free and good way to learn how to tell and retell stories.
🕐 6:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse
If you're up for some thriller, and can catch a break without the kiddos. Popcorn will be served. Watch out, this one is 18+ only.
📅 Wednesday
🕐 2:00 PM • 📍 Central Library
Hands-on workshop, learn how to repair and remove imperfections, recover old pictures or simply make them look better. Free, 90 minutes, right there in the Central Library.
🕐 4:00 PM • 📍 Brighouse
For cookbook lovers and the culinary curious! Join this small group for a one-hour discussion, where they will explore seafood recipes from around the world.
🕐 4:00 PM • 📍 Ironwood
Use LEGO® bricks to generate creative ideas and complete challenges. All LEGO is provided by the library, go play and create.
🕐 5:00 PM • 📍 nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona Branch
Go have the time of your life, with this classic that is the great reason 56% of brides faceplant in their own wedding party while trying to reenact Baby's signature dance move. I did not believe the statistics at first either, but then I decided to google it, and remembered I made it up myself.
🕐 6:30 PM • 📍 Mount Pleasant Branch
Book clubs are not dying, they are well and alive. Go share your thoughts and opinions with like-minded folks. Every month a new book.
📅 Thursday
🕐 10:00 AM • 📍 Central Library
This is the best way to find awesome books for cheap. We mentioned the Richmond mini-sale, this is Vancouver's turn. Everyone is welcome, go find some books, DVDs, CDs bargains.
🕐 3:30 PM • 📍 Ironwood
If school barely started and you’re already overwhelmed, here goes another option for some chess fun. Chess boards are provided.
We barely scratched the surface, this is just the family friendly stuff… Still think "there's nothing to do"?
Spread the joy with your friends, don’t let them scramble trying to find the next outing with their kids, forward this email!
Catch you next week ✌️
Nat, from Nothing To Do
“Stephen King has a son named Joe. I’m not joking, he is.”
From the lovely @dadsaysjokes