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Things to Do: Food truck fest, Polish fete

Weekend guide for Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
Polish
The annual Polish party is in downtown Port Coquitlam on Sunday afternoon and evening.

Friday, May 25

TRUCKS, TRACTORS
Take a look around the city of Port Moody’s works yard (3250 Murray St.) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during Public Works Week. Admission is free; donations collected for the Share food bank. Visit portmoody.ca.

SCHOOL FAIR
Enjoy carnival games and pony rides and take part in a cake walk at Cape Horn elementary (155 Finnigan St., Coquitlam) for its carnival fundraiser from 3 to 7 p.m. Call 604-526-4428.

AROUND THE WORLD
Folk, American and Irish tunes will be performed by the Maple Ridge band Shades of Green — made up of Lucy Rowley, Caden Knudson, Bryan Barrow and Darren Exley — at the Crossroads Coffeehouse, a fundraiser for the Crossroads Hospice Society. The event at the Gathering Place in Leigh Square Community Arts Village (beside PoCo city hall) is from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission at the door is $5. Visit crossroadshospicesociety.com.

YOUNG STARS
Students with Coquitlam’s Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts show their acting, singing and dancing chops at the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody) in Aladdin Jr. and The Odd Couple tonight at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 for both productions. Call 604-777-2211 or visit lindbjergacademy.com.

BROADWAY BOUND
The Putnam County Spelling Bee is the spring offering by students at Port Coquitlam’s Broadway Bound studio, running at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets at $25/$20, call the box office at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.

 

Saturday, May 26

TREASURE HUNT
Search for great deals in the front yards of Coquitlam residents during the annual city-wide garage sale, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. A map of the participating householders can be found at coquitlam.ca/garagesale.

PUBLIC WORKS
Do you know where our drinking water comes from? Learn about pipes and major capital projects at the city of Port Coquitlam’s public works yard during Public Works Week. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can tour the yard (1737 Broadway St.), take part in hands-on displays, check out heavy machines and enjoy the free family-fun activities including tractor-pulled hay rides. Funds raised from the hot dog BBQ will be donated to the Tri-City Transitions Society. And there will be a shred-a-thon and recycling drop-off, with proceeds for Share. Don’t forget to enter an idea for names for the city’s new street sweeper on social media, by tagging @cityofpoco and using the hashtag #pocopublicworks. PoCo residents can also pick up a free bag of compost (proof of residency required). Visit portcoquitlam.ca/PWweek.

GIRL POWER
Women can learn how to get into the electrical trades at an open house at the Electrical Joint Training Committee (1405 Broadway St., Port Coquitlam), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 604-571-6540 or visit ejtc.org.

TUNE UP
Bring your bike to the Coquitlam Centre Aquatic Complex (1210 Pinetree Way) where HUB Cycling rep Jel Kocmaruk will give you a free lesson on how to maintain your two-wheeled vehicle at one of the city’s new public bike stations, from 10 a.m. to noon. Register at signmeup.coquitlam.ca (bar code 631126).

MAILLARDVILLE FUN
Place Maillardville takes over Laval Square (1200 Cartier Ave., Coquitlam) for its family fun days with Will Stroet and the Backyard Band, and Dianna David: Red Ball Movement headlining the entertainment. Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. Call 604-933-6166 or visit placemaillardville.ca.

FOOD TRUCKS
About two dozen food trucks roll into Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way, east side of Lafarge Lake) for the second annual Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival in Coquitlam. The feast runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes bands, an artisan market and kids’ fun (including a visit from Paw Patrol at 3:30 p.m.). Visit fvfoodtruckfestival.com.

NEW PARK
Burke Mountain Pioneer Park (3000 Highland Dr., Coquitlam) officially opens to the public — and the city hosts a celebration of the new 4.4-acre green space from 1 to 3 p.m. Originally owned by the Hoigaard family and known as the Ranch property, the land was redeveloped into a park for $3.1 million, with the city and Wesbild Holdings sharing the bill. Visit coquitlam.ca.

ALL TOGETHER NOW
Choral Connections, an 80-voice choir under the baton of conductor Ingrid Gay, has its annual spring concert at 2 p.m. in the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, Port Coquitlam. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com.

FOR TEENS
Teens can grab a paint brush and create glow-in-the-dark art, learn hip hop moves and build animated flip books using Post-It Notes at Art After Dark!, an gathering hosted by the Youth Arts Council at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Snacks and prizes will be handed out. Admission is free. Register by calling 604-664-1636 or visit brownpapertickets.com.

LATIN MOVES
Alberto Gonzalez and Teresa Szfler of Hot Salsa Dance Zone rip up the dance floor in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) for their weekly party; a lesson starts at 8 p.m. with the dance continuing from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Parking is free or hop on the Evergreen Extension to Lafarge Lake-Douglas. No partner needed. Admission is $10. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.

 

Sunday, May 27

BATTER UP!
Support the Major A division of Coquitlam Little League at their tournament finals today at Mackin Yard in Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). Visit coquitlamlittleleague.ca.

HERE FISHY
Bring your rod, tackle and bait to Como Lake in Coquitlam for the annual fishing derby hosted by the Coquitlam Festival Society, Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam, PoCo District Hunting and Fishing Club and the city. The free event, from 7 a.m. to noon, is geared to kids 16 and under; a pancake breakfast will be served for a nominal charge. Visit festivalcoquitlam.ca.

MARKET FRESH
Grab a grocery bag and fill up on fresh produce and meats at the weekly Coquitlam Farmers Market, running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot at Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave.). Visit makebakegrow.com.

BOTTLE DRIVE
Hand over your empties to the 1st Port Coquitlam Scouts, which will set up their bottle drive from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Kilmer elementary school (1575 Knappen St., Port Coquitlam). For pick-up, call 604-704-5972.

NATURE HIKE
Join members of the Friends of DeBoville Slough on a leisurely walk along the north side of DeBoville Slough to the Pitt River, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. And don’t forget your binoculars to view the wildlife. Meet at the kiosk on the north side of the slough. Visit fodbs.org.

REV UP
Motorcyclists with a valid Class 6 licence can work on their slow-speed control drills with the Port Moody Police Department, Coquitlam RCMP and ICBC in the Tri-Cities Motorcycle Challenge, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ICBC Driver Licensing Office (1930 Oxford Conn., Port Coquitlam). The event is staged during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. A street-legal motorcycle and safety gear are required. Call 604-461-3456 (Sgt. Travis Carroll) or 604-945-1550 (Cpl. Nancy Joyce).

MS WALK
Start the week off right by exercising and supporting a great cause. The MS Walk to raise funds for Canadians living with multiple sclerosis (MS) starts at 10:30 a.m. at Rocky Point Park (2800-block of Murray Street, Port Moody), with registration for the family-friendly trek opening at 9 a.m. Visit mswalks.ca.

NAP TIME
Get tips from Agnes The Mama Coach on how to get your newborn or toddler to sleep. Her free talk is in Room 137 in the City Centre branch of the Coquitlam Public Library (1169 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) from 11 a.m. to noon. Visit themamacoach.ca.

OAKDALE BASH
It’s neighbours day in the historic enclave of Oakdale and Coquitlam residents can meet at Oakdale Park (835 North Rd.) for the 7th annual get-together from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to hear the music and build a bird house. Admission is free.

POLISH FEST
Costumed dancers and musicians will liven up Leigh Square Community Arts Village (2253 Leigh Sq., beside PoCo city hall) from 1 to 9:30 p.m. for the annual Polish Culture and Heritage Day. Presented by the Polonez Tri-City Polish Association and supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and the city of Port Coquitlam, the event also includes the White Eagle Band from Victoria and an outdoor dance party with DJ Tym, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Traditional food and beverages will be available for purchase. Visit poloneztri-city.org.

STAGE AND SCREEN
Hear some of the best songs from the movies and musical theatre shows over the past 50 years at a spring concert by the Dogwood Songsters. The show starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam). Tickets are $6 (free for kids under 10). Call 604-927-6098 or visit dogwood50plus.com.

OFF-ROADING $
TORCA, a non-profit mountain bike advocacy group based in the Tri-Cities, hosts its annual fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Burrard Public House (2414 St. Johns St., Port Moody). Tickets at $25 support the local trail network. Visit torca.ca.


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