Welcome to summer! Sure, it’s been around for a week or so, but it doesn’t really feel official until the July sun, Golden Spike Days and festive fireworks come to town.
Friday, July 1
HAPPY 149th, CANADA
Celebrate Canada Day in Coquitlam with a day full of events at Town Centre Park (Pinetree Way), from noon until the fireworks start popping at 10 p.m. There’s an adventure park, loads of food and bevvies, entertainment, art activities and more. Visit www.coquitlam.ca/canadaday for full details. Port Coquitlam gets its party going at 8 a.m. with the Lions Club pancake breakfast (Shaughnessy Street/Lions Way), followed by festivities at Castle Park (Castle Crescent/Citadel Drive) from noon to dusk, with the annual fishing derby, live entertainment, kids’ activities, firefighters’ salmon barbecue (2 p.m.) and a grande finale fireworks display. Visit www.portcoquitlam.ca for more info. Port Moody kicks up its heels with a ceremony at the PCT Performance Stage at Rocky Point Park at 1 p.m., with refreshments at 1:45 p.m. Stop by the city tents from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for fun kids’ games and more.
GOLDEN SPIKE DAYS
It’s the 40th annual Golden Spike Days, and this year’s festivities promise a solid weekend of fun. The kick-off is at 11 a.m. Friday and continues with on-stage and roving entertainment for all ages, plenty of kids’ activities, festival favourites like the can-can dancers and spike driving contest and more until headliner 54-40 takes the main stage at 8 p.m. Visit goldenspike.ca for full details.
NEWFIES IN THE KITCHEN
Celebrate Canada Day the Newfie way — in the kitchen — at the PoMo Station Museum (2734 Murray St.) at 5 p.m. Enjoy an east coast-style lobster dinner and craft brews from PoMo’s Brewery Row, and entertainment by New Fish and The Jimmy Cole Experience with special guest Devon Wells on banjo. Tickets are $30; reserve at 604-939-1648.
Saturday, July 2
PANCAKES, ANYONE?
Nosh on hotcakes served up by Port Moody firefighters at the 39th annual pancake breakfast at the Inlet Centre fire hall (150 Newport Dr.). All funds raised go to the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation and Crossroads Hospice. Drop by today and tomorrow, from 8 a.m. to noon, for brekkie and big, shiny fire trucks.
MORE GOLDEN
Work up an appetite for those firefighters’ pancakes at the Golden Spike fun runs — a 1-km family run at 9:30 a.m. and a 5-km inlet run at 10 a.m. Register at goldenspike.ca/information/fitness. Be sure to catch the Science World demo and the Tri-Cities Got Talent show, try your hand at the spike driving contest and get on board an Indian Arm boat tour, from 1:30 to 7 p.m. Today’s entertainment includes MC Gordy Van, Music with Marnie, Appaloosa, Big Voodoo and Famous Players.
ROSE SHOW
Love roses? You won’t want to miss the annual Fraser Pacific Rose Show and Festival at the Centennial Rose Garden (1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam), running today from 1 to 5 p.m. (catch the Coquitlam Rose unveiling at 2 p.m.) and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check out the exhibits and displays, floral art, photography and vote for the people’s choice awards. Admission is $3.50, kids under 10 are free.
PIANO MAN
Terry Jorden brings the piano bar classics back to life at the Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke St., PoMo). He’ll be singing and playing the old favourites, and mixing in some blues, folk, jazz, pop, country and more. A set dinner is at 7 p.m. ($13) and the show is at 8 p.m. ($12). Call 604-9379-0998 to reserve.
SIMPLY SALSA
Keep the Canada Day party going with a little Latin flair at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) as Hot Salsa Dance Zone hosts a salsa and Latin dance night. Learn a few Dominican bachata steps in a lesson from 8 to 9 p.m., followed by a dance party until 12:30 a.m. Admission is $10 to the licensed event. Visit www.hotsalsadancezone.com for more info.
Sunday, July 3
GOLDEN SPIKE WRAP-UP
Get a relaxing start to the end of a super festive weekend at yoga on the pier at Rocky Point Park from 9 to 10 a.m. (ages 12 and up; bring a mat, towel and water). Cost is $10 and includes an adult beverage ticket or ice cream cone. Register at goldenspike.ca/information/fitness. Today’s entertainment line-up features Big City Soul and the finale performance by O’Hare Lane at 5:15 p.m.
