Friday, Nov. 23
WINTER MARKET
Head over to Leigh Square Community Arts Village (behind Port Coquitlam city hall) from 4 to 8 p.m. for the 3rd annual Winter Artisan Market, hosted by the city and organized by Julia Zado and Tabitha McLoughlin. Pick up some early Christmas gifts — made by hand by Lower Mainland craftspeople including pottery by PoCo’s own Laura Giesbrecht of Sister Earth Clay Works — as well as jewlery, wood work, textiles and prepared foods and drinks. The Felice Choir performs at 4 p.m. and there will be family-fun activities such as gingerbread decorating and a Terry Fox Library story time. Free admission. Visit pocochristmasfair.com.
CAMP GALA
Support at-risk youth at the 3rd annual Camp Choice for Kids gala, happening at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam) from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. The event, which raises funds to send kids to Camp Choice BC, a week-long camp at Zajac Ranch for Children, includes a buffet meal, a live and silent auction, a 50/50 draw and music from Dr. Strangelove. Tickets at $115, or $1,000 for a table of 10, can be purchased via campchoicebc.com.
EXPRESS HOCKEY
The Coquitlam Express play their last home game of the month against the Penticton Vees, starting at 7 p.m. at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St., Coquitlam). For tickets, visit coquitlamexpress.ca.
NIGHT BEFORE XMAS
DuffleBag Theatre brings its production, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, to the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) for a 7 p.m. show as part of the venue’s Family Series. For tickets, call 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
CZECH, SLOVAK PLAY
Divadlo Za rohem — better known as Theatre Around the Corner — mounts the George Orwell classic Animal Farm in Czech and Slovak at the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., inside Port Moody city hall) tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. For tickets at $26, visit divadlozarohem.ca.
LATE SKATE
Youth and teens can lace up their skates to circle the Green Arena at the Port Coquitlam recreation complex (2150 Wilson Ave.) from 10:15 to 11:15 p.m. Admission is $3, or purchase a $15 Youth Access Card for the year. Visit portcoquitlam.ca.
Saturday, Nov. 24
GREEN TEAM
Slip on your boots and rain jacket — and pack some gloves and water bottle — to help remove English ivy at Coquitlam River Park with the Lower Mainland Green Team, until 1 p.m. Meet at 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot north of Lincoln Avenue and Shaughnessy Street. No experience is required. Volunteers are asked to sign up in advance via http://goo.gl/WRx6jr.
BAKED GOODS
The congregations of Trinity United and St. Catherine’s Anglican churches (2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam) come together for a Christmas market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sell baked goods and other prepared foods. Free admission. Call 604-942-0022.
LEIGH SQUARE FUN
The Winter Artisan Market, in Leigh Square Community Arts Village (behind Port Coquitlam city hall), continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with 41 vendors lined up to sell their crafts and cooking. Pick up some baking from PoCo Heritage members, have a your picture taken with Santa (by donation) and enjoy the music from the Scrooge Horns at 1 p.m., Silver Chord Choir at 2:15 p.m. and the Beauty Shop Dolls at 3 p.m. And, in the afternoon, the Downtown Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association will keep revellers warm with free hot cocoa. Mayor Brad West and council will light the square at around 4:30 p.m. while PoCo Heritage launches its annual tree festival, which runs until Dec. 31. Visit pocochristmasfair.com.
CHURCH BAZAAR
Homemade baked goods, jams and plants will be offered at the Christmas fair at the Coquitlam Presbyterian Church (948 Como Lake Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission. Visit hiscpc.org.
SEAVIEW FAIR
Students, parents and staff at Seaview community school (1215 Cecile Dr., Port Moody) host their 4th annual holiday market and craft fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is $2 for adults; no cost for kids. Call 604-771-6342.
TINY STORIES
Parents and caregivers can bring their babies and tots under three to the City Centre branch of the Coquitlam Public Library (Room 137, 1169 Pinetree Way) for a 30-minute story time starting at 10:30 a.m. Free admission. Visit coqlibrary.ca.
FURRY SANTA
Leash your dog or cat — bunny or hamster — for a pet photo with Santa, at Korna Natural Pet Supplies (2773 Barnet Hwy., Coquitlam). For $20, donations go to the Small Animal Rescue Society of BC. The photo event runs today and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 604-904-2008.
WHIZ KIDS
Check out the cool inventions and swag made by 18 children — including 10-year-old Alex Jankacky of Anmore — at the KidPreneur Market Day Expo, happening from noon to 4 p.m. in Henderson Place mall (1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Visit buildabizkids.com.
GERMAN TRADITIONS
Learn about Advent, Stollen, Speculatius and Lebkuchen at the Coquitlam Heritage Society’s workshop, from noon to 3 p.m. at Mackin House Museum (1116 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). Admission is $15 per adult. RSVP by calling 604-516-6151 or visit coquitlamheritage.ca.
LIGHTS AT LAFARGE
Circle Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam to see the largest free outdoor light display in Metro Vancouver this holiday season. The party starts at 4 p.m. while the kick-off is at 6 p.m. with entertainment on the TD Community Plaza stage from the Coquitlam-based Coastal Sound Music Academy, Gentlemen of Fortune and Lesismore; don’t miss the Crystal Torch fire and light show for the opening at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, on the West Lake Village/Busker’s Stage is Winsome Kind — featuring Centennial secondary graduate Scott Perrie and his wife, Leora — and Ukuladies of Lulu Island. Take the Evergreen Extension to Lafarge Lake-Douglas or park along Pinetree Way; there is no parking at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the lights are on every night — from dusk to 11 p.m. — until Jan. 20. Visit coquitlam.ca.
TREASURES 25
The Crossroads Hospice Society celebrates the silver anniversary of its Treasures of Christmas gala, at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam) from 6 to 11 p.m. A buffet dinner and entertainment is on the program as well as a live auction. Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the event benefits operations at the Port Moody-based Inlet Centre hospice. For tickets at $125, or $1,250 for a table of 10, visit treasuresofchristmas.ca.
ESTA NOCHE
Bring your dance partner — or come alone — to the weekly salsa and Latin night hosted by the Hot Salsa Dance Zone, from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). DJ Mixx will lead a lesson at 8 p.m. Admission is $10. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
Sunday, Nov. 25
TO MARKET
It’s member appreciation day at the farmers market, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.). Food trucks on site include Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz, Brazilian Roots, and Kara’s Crepes. And hear tunes from musician Larry’s Brother. Visit makebakegrow.com.
JEWISH CRAFTS
The Burquest Jewish Community Association hosts a Chanukah Craft Fair Marketplace at the centre (2860 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Coquitlam) from 2 to 6 p.m. Free entry. Visit burquest.org.
DOGWOOD DRAMA
Have a giggle with the Dogwood Drama Club as it presents the comedies Misconceptions and At Halftime, at 1:30 p.m. in the Mike Butler Room of Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam). Both plays are directed by Bob Costello, a member of the seniors centre. Tickets at $5 are at the door. Visit coquitlam.ca/dogwood.
FOR TEENS ONLY
Teens aged 13 to 17 can have some fun at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) by adding colour to a mural, building a mini terrarium inspired by Su-Chen Wu and Teresa Chow’s exhibition and paint on wood, from 2 to 4 p.m. Free admission. The event is organized by the Youth Arts Council. Call 604-664-1636 or visit placedesarts.ca.
YOUNG STARS
See who will be gain the title in the Youth Talent Search BC competition — happening in the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., inside Port Moody city hall) — as judged by Diana Kaarina, Milo Shandel, Vince Kanasoot, Rebecca Shoichet, Danny Balkwill, Katie Murphy, Paul Anthony, James Strand, Madeleine Suddaby and Maureen St. Pierre. Visit youthtalentsearchbc.com.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
