FRIDAY, DEC. 21
JERSEY DAY
Sport your favourite hockey jersey today to show support for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, which happens at Rogers Arena in Vancouver (and Victoria) from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. More than 300,000 visitors from around the world will be in Metro Vancouver to watch the sold-out tournament. Visit iihf.com/en/events/2019/wm20.
LAST-MINUTE GIFTS
If you’re searching for handmade wares to give as Christmas presents, Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) and the Port Moody Arts Centre (2425 St. Johns St.) have plenty in store. The Maillardville venue has glorious trinkets in its Christmas Boutique, open until Saturday, while PMAC has its Winter Treasures artisan market open until Sunday in the Ann Kitching Gallery and Blackberry gift shop. Visit placedesarts.ca and pomoarts.ca.
LANTERN WALK
Port Moody artist and author Joyelle Brandt will renew her winter solstice lantern festival in the city by leading a Noons Creek watershed lantern walk to mark the longest night of the year: Dec. 21. The event starts at 5 p.m. and live music, art making and snacks at the hatchery (behind the Port Moody recreation complex at 300 Ioco Rd.) while the procession gets underway at 7 p.m. at Port Moody city hall (100 Newport Dr.). Brandt last hosted a winter solstice lantern event two years ago. Visit noonscreek.org.
UGLY SWEATER PARTY
Coquitlam’s only microbrew, Mariner Brewing, host its 2nd annual Ugly Sweater Party in its lounge (H-1100 Lansdowne Dr.) from 6 p.m. to midnight. Prizes will be awarded and DJ tunes will be spun. Visit marinerbrewing.ca.
HOLIDAY ROLLER DISCO
If you’ve got your teenage roller-skates gathering dust in the closet, pull them out for a Holiday Roller Disco at the Poirier Forum (618 Poirier St., Coquitlam). From 7 to 10 p.m. the Rolla Skate Club invites you to don your skates and ugliest Christmas sweaters or PJs for a spin, with tunes provided by DJ K-Tel. All ages welcome. Admission is $10 in advance via rollaskateclub.com/product/rollerdisco or $15 at the door. Skate rentals are available (kids’ sizes limited). Proceeds support the Terminal City Rollergirls, Vancouver’s roller derby league. Visit rollerskatevancouver.com.
ALL TOGETHER NOW
Last year, more than 1,000 people flocked to Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way) to sing Jingle Bells in unison. Now, the city wants to beat that number and, at 7:30 p.m., will stage another sing-along during Lights at Lafarge — an annual event sponsored in part by The Tri-City News. Meet at the TD Community Plaza (on the east side of the lake) from 7 to 8 p.m. and grab a carol sheet, glow necklace and a cup of hot cocoa. On-street parking along Pinetree and Pipeline Road will be limited so hop on the Evergreen Extension and stop at Lafarge Lake-Douglas. Visit coquitlam.ca/parkspark.
OPEN MIC
Grab an instrument for the open mic night for youth in the Gathering Place at Leigh Square Community Arts Village (beside PoCo city hall) from 7 to 9 p.m. Hear local performers, meet new musicians and jam. No cost. Visit portcoquitlam.ca.
SATURDAY, DEC. 22
HERITAGE TREE
Take the kids to the PoCo Heritage Museum and Archives (2248 McAllister Ave., Port Coquitlam) for Christmas Under the Big Tree, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Join Karla for a storytime, sing songs with Bill and Kate, and make crafts while sipping hot cocoa and enjoying candy canes. The event is hosted by the PoCo Heritage Tree team in partnership with PoCo Heritage. Visit pocoheritage.org.
FATHER FROST
Wonderlandarts hosts a Russian-themed Christmas Fair and family activities with Santa at Port Moody city hall (100 Newport Dr.) starting at 3:30 p.m. And, at 5 p.m., is the Wizard of Oz. Tickets are $25 via wonderlandarts.ca or call 778-878-2003.
PUBLIC SKATE
Drop into the Port Coquitlam recreation complex (2150 Wilson Ave.) from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. for an ice skate in the Green Arena. Regular admission and rental rates apply. Visit portcoquitlam.ca.
LAKESHORE HUNT
Meet at the TD Community Plaza on the east side of Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way) for the Lights at Lafarge scavenger hunt. Participants have a chance to win a prize if they correctly complete the search, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit coquitlam.ca/parkspark.
MERENGUE
Move your hips and feet to the Latin beat sounds in the rehearsal hall of the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) hosted by the Hot Salsa Dance Zone. A beginner’s class is at 8 p.m. while the party heats up at 9 p.m., ending at 12:30 a.m. Parking is free or take the Evergreen Extension to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas station. Admission is $10. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
SUNDAY, DEC. 23
MARKET DAY
Kids can decorate Christmas cookies — for free — at the Port Moody Farmers Winter Market, held at the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enter a draw for a chance to win $100 in market money and sing carols with Norine Braun and Alice Fraser. Visit makebakegrow.com.
SELFIE!
Take a break from the holiday rush and tour Lights at Lafarge, the largest free outdoor lights display in Metro Vancouver. Tonight, from 6 to 8 p.m., the city of Coquitlam’s Park Spark team will stage pop-up photo locations around Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam Town Centre Plaza (1299 Pinetree Way). Meet at the TD Community Plaza, on the east side of the lake. Visit coquitlam.ca/parkspark.
WIN A HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Spend $20 for a ticket to the Coquitlam Firefighters Charitable Society raffle for a chance to score a 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Bob, a 2018 Honda Civic or $17,000 — on Christmas Day! The second prize isn’t so shabby either: a flight for two anywhere Westjet flies. Only 3,000 online tickets are for sale in the Dec. 25 draw. Visit coquitlamfirefighterscharity.com.
