This mid-June weekend is chock full of family-friendly fun, from inspired art to loads of live music and, of course, the beloved Teddy Bear Picnic, so get out there and enjoy it.
Friday, June 12
CHILDREN’S ART FESTIVAL
This weekend marks the close of the Children’s Art Festival at the Port Moody Galleria (100 Newport Dr.). There are more than 300 works of mixed media and oil paintings by 130 very talented young artists, so be sure to catch the show before it ends Sunday.
OPEN MIC
Have your voice heard at Good Time Joe’s, a new open mic offering at Joe’s Atlantic Grill (2410 St. Johns St., PoMo) from 7 p.m. to midnight. The event will run monthly on the second Friday of each month; more info is on the Good Time Joes Facebook page.
Saturday, June 13
jUST SHRED IT
Who doesn’t have stacks of old bills, tax info and other documents that need to be binned? Dispose of them securely at the Vancity shredding and recycling event at the Shaughnessy Station branch (711-2850 Shaughnessy St., PoCo) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. And if you drop by on an empty stomach there will be food trucks to fill you back up (the first 50 get a $5 food truck voucher).
TO THE RESCUE
Meet the brave volunteers who hit the trails at any hour of the day or night to help those who are lost or injured in the wilderness at an event at Canadian Tire (King Edward Street and Lougheed Highway, Coquitlam) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chow down on a barbecue to help raise money for the new mobile command centre, learn about rescue techniques for both young and seasoned hikers and enter to win a survival back pack.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Shop where you live in Port Moody’s Shop Hop 2015, with a chance to win more than $1,000 in prizes. Pick up a Shop Hop card from any Shop Local business (look for the purple Proudly Local logo), get the card stamped and submit the completed card to be entered for prizes. Visit shoplocalportmoody.ca for details.
MOTHER NATURE’S MUSIC
Enjoy a day of outstanding live performances at the second annual Music for Mother Nature event at the Port Moody Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr.). The party starts at 3 p.m. with street buskers, including Ivy the Pulse, Emmanuel Gonzales and The Bird and the Lion, outside city hall, while inside a free art-making station will be open for all ages. Evening shows start at 7 p.m. with Christie Lee Charles, who will lead the indigenous opening, followed by the the Venezuela-born band Caracas performing their up-tempo mix of Latin and ska punk, while The Carnival Band will keep the crowd hopping. Tickets are $20/$10 at www.portmoody.ca, from local merchants (look for poster in windows) and at the door starting at 3 p.m. Visit musicformothernature.org .
MUSIC FOR CHILDREN
Kids of all ages can get swinging at the Teddy Bear Family Concert at the Coast Capital Savings Stage at Town Centre Park (1301 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The free show includes performances by Tony Prophet, Bobs & LoLo and Charlotte Diamond. Visit festivalcoquitlam.ca for details.
THE WAY TO SAN JOSE
Send off the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble in style as they prepare for the big World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles show in San Jose, Calif. next month. In PSWE’s Hands Across the Border performance tonight at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam), the audience will hear pieces by Samuel Barber, Frank Ticheli, Morton Gould and others that will also be performed in San Jose. Tickets are $20/$15/$12 at 604-927-6555 or at evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Sunday, June 14
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC
It’s a parade of cute and cuddly at the 26th annual Teddy Bear Picnic festival at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park. Stake out a spot for the Grand Parade starting at 10 a.m. at city hall (3000 Guildford Way) and continuing on Burlington, Guildford, Town Centre Boulevard and up Pinetree Way, with events at the park kicking off at 11 a.m. There will be roving entertainers, face painting, curling, gymnastics and loads of performances on the main stage. Admission is $3 (kids under three are free); visit festivalcoquitlam.ca for more information.
NATURE WALK
Take a guided tour by those in the know when the Burke Mountain Naturalists lead a walk through Riverview’s backyard. Check out some of the more natural areas of the Riverview Hospital grounds, including the treasure that is Finnie’s Garden. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Henry Esson Young building. Visit www.rhcs.org or call 604-290-9910 for more info.
