Friday, June 15
EID EL-FITR
The Vancouver Muslim Community Centre marks the end of Ramadan with a morning event at Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way, east of Lafarge Lake) from 9 a.m. to noon. The public is invited to the prayer and festival, which includes carnival games and kids’ activities. Call 604-779-7771 or 604-897-9349.
SOLO PIPERS
If you’ve ever wondered what classical music sounds like through a bagpipe, head over to the newly rebranded TD Community Plaza at Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way, east of Lafarge Lake) for the piobaireachd, a solo piping competition that’s part of this weekend’s BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival. Admission is free; the event starts at 5 p.m. Afterward, walk over to Percy Perry Stadium where Ruckus Deluxe will rock the beer garden, until 9:30 p.m. Visit bchighlandgames.com for tickets to the ceilidh.
CHURCH BASH
Choral Connections and Collage are the musical guests at a fundraiser at St. Andrew’s United Church (2316 St. Johns St., Port Moody). The event, called Celebrating Transformation, starts at 7 p.m. Tickets, by donation, are at the door. Visit sauc.ca.
POLISH JAZZ
The Mateusz Smoczynski Jazz Quintet whips up the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody) for a show presented by the Polish Canadian Jazz Society, at 8 p.m. Admission is $30. Call 604-469-4722 or visit portmoody.ca.
Saturday, June 16
MEN WEAR KILTS
Go on a haggis hunt, watch the Highland dancers, hear the massed bands, learn about clans, tour the British cars and take a sip of whisky at the annual BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival, running all day — from 8 a.m. — at Percy Perry Stadium at Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way). Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the fest attracts up to 10,000 visitors and competitors from around the Pacific Northwest. Visit bchighlandgames.com for the full lineup and tickets.
GARDEN STROLL
Take a walk through downtown Port Coquitlam — and the Donald pathway — with members of PoCo Heritage, which is marking its 30th year with a BBQ after the walk at Leigh Square Community Arts Village. The hour-long trek starts at 12:30 p.m. from PoCo Heritage (2248 McAllister Ave.). Visit pocoheritage.org.
TENNIS ANYONE?
The Port Coquitlam Tennis Club serves an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. today and Sunday, at the Gates Park tennis courts (2300 Reeve St., Port Coquitlam). Bring your racket and balls to try your hand at the game. Visit portcoquitlamtennisclub.ca.
AT RISK YOUTH
Access Youth Outreach Services has its sixth annual Evening of Inspiration Gala at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam) from 6 to 11:30 p.m., a fundraiser sponsored in part by The Tri-City News to help youth at risk in the Tri-Cities. Visit accessyouth.org/gala.
DANCE DECADE
Alberto Gonzalez and Teresa Szefler of Hot Salsa Dance Zone celebrate 10 years of the company, with a free anniversary party in the rehearsal hall of the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). The pair has a salsa, bachata and merengue lesson at 8 p.m.; the bash heats up an hour later, until 12:30 a.m. No partner or experience is needed. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
Sunday, June 17
FARM FRESH
Take dad to the Coquitlam Farmers Market, in the parking lot of Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam) and load up on produce for tonight’s meal! The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. Visit makebakegrow.com.
WOOL WEAVING
Alice Buss (Tsawaysia Spukwus) teaches how to weave wool in the traditional First Nations style, at 1 p.m. in the Port Moody Station Museum (2734 Murray St., Port Moody). Call 604-939-1648 or visit portmoodymuseum.org to save a spot.
TREE TOUR
Walk off your lunch at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, where members of the Riverview Horticultural Society will lead a tour of the grounds that includes the very fragrant linden trees. The trek starts at 1 p.m.. from the upper entrance of the Henry Esson Young building. Call 604-290-9910 or visit rhcs.org.
ROCK OUT
Spend the afternoon at Rocky Point Park (2800-block of Murray Street, Port Moody) where musicians will play for seven hours to raise money and build awareness for people living with autism. The second annual Rock for Autism is at the PCT Performance Stage, starting at noon. Visit rockforautism.ca.
PIANO MUSIC
Hear Place des Arts’ piano chamber music students finish their inaugural season with a free recital at the Maillardville venue (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) under the direction of faculty member Barry Tan. The young musicians —Jeffery Guo, Gabriel Kennedy, Mimi Kim, and Audra Rantawan — will performs tango and fusion styles including an arrangement of the Bach inventions for two pianos with jazz accompaniments. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. A reception follows. Visit placedesarts.ca.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
