Friday, Dec. 20
RED NOSE
Get a ride home from the pub or a party — in your own vehicle — from volunteers with Operation Red Nose. Ride donations go to KidSport Tri-Cities, a charity that pays for sporting registrations for families in financial need. Supported by ICBC, Coquitlam RCMP, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver and Coquitlam Centre as well as local eateries, the service also runs tonight, Saturday and Dec. 31. Call 778-866-6673 for a lift between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. To volunteer with the campaign, visit operationrednosetricities.com to download an application form.
MINOR HOCKEY
Cheer on the Coquitlam Minor Hockey players in their candy cane initiation/novice tournament, running until Monday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St., Coquitlam). Call 604-927-6027 or visit coquitlamminorhockey.org.
TOONIE SKATE
Don’t spend the afternoon indoors. Pull your skates from your closet and head over to the new Port Coquitlam community centre (2150 Wilson Ave., Port Coquitlam) where a spin on Arena 3 will cost $2 per person. The drop in is from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. Visit portcoquitlam.ca.
JINGLE BELLS
Get your vocal cords ready for a massive sing-along of Jingle Bells led — for the third year in a row — by Noel Reck, the city of Coquitlam’s park operations supervisor. Coquitlam’s Park Spark team wants to see at least 2,000 singers around Lafarge Lake between 7 and 8 p.m. in an attempt to break a record. The song starts at 7:30 p.m. and songbooks (published by The Tri-City News) will be available. And don’t forget to tour the lake afterward to see the show, the biggest free outdoor display of winter lights in the Lower Mainland. Call 604-927-3669 or visit coquitlam.ca/lightsatlafarge to see the Park Spark schedule.
Saturday, Dec. 21
BOXES OF LOVE
Help the congregation at Broadway Church (1932 Cameron Ave., Port Coquitlam) pack Christmas food hampers for 100 families and wrap gifts for children, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the campus. A light lunch will be provided to volunteers. To lend a hand or donate, go to cityreach.org/boxesoflove.
IT’S A GAS
FortisBC is throwing a party to thank commuters for their patience as it installed a new pipeline under Como Lake Avenue in Coquitlam this year. The 30” natural gas line is now servicing more than 210,000 homes and businesses in the Lower Mainland. Talk to officials about the project — and try to win prizes — at the celebration, happening at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St., Coquitlam) from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 604-592-7494 or visit talkingenergy.ca.
BE PROUD
Have a coffee with the Tri-Cities Pride Society at Caffe Divano (101 Klahanie Dr., Port Moody) from 3 to 5 p.m. and learn about what’s happening with the LGBTQ2+ club. Visit facebook.com/TriCitiesPrideSociety.
MASCOT PARADE
Search for hidden mascots at Lights at Lafarge (Town Centre Park, 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) from 5 to 9 p.m. with the city’s Park Spark team. And pose for a snap with the mascots using the social media hashtag #parkspark. Visit coquitlam.ca/parkspark.
XMAS BREWSKIES
Coquitlam’s only microbrewery, Mariner Beer, hosts its third annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party — featuring three holiday craft suds — from 7 to 11 p.m. at the company (1100 Lansdowne Dr., Coquitlam). The bash also includes a live DJ, a photo booth and a sweater contest. Call 604-467-4160. Meanwhile, the Meridian Arms Pub (3261 Coast Meridian Rd., Port Coquitlam) has its Ugly Christmas Sweater bash starting at 7 p.m. with the Patsy Thompson Band. Call 604-941-4711.
OUT OF TOWN
Five Tri-City actors are performing in the Gateway Theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Nathan Piasecki, Julia MacLean, Jocelyn Tsui, Krista Skwarok and Timothy Liu are cast in the show that runs until Dec. 31 at the Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd., Richmond). For tickets, call 604-270-1812 or visit tickets.gatewaytheatre.com. Meanwhile, Coquitlam’s Erin Palm is reprising her role as Mary Hatch Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life by Patrick Street Productions. The musical, which has its opening night tonight, is playing the Anvil Centre Theatre (777 Columbia St., New Westminster) from until Jan. 5. Call 604-684-2787 or visit patrickstreetproductions.com.
SALSA LESSON
Learn to move your hips and feet to the Latin beats spun in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). The Hot Salsa Dance Zone’s Alberto and Teresa will teach a beginners’ class at 8 p.m.; the pre-Christmas party runs from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Entry is $10. Parking is free or hop on the Evergreen Extension to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas station, beside the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
Sunday, Dec. 22
MARKET BOUND
There are lots of Christmas stocking stuffers and handmade goods to grab in the Port Moody Winter Farmers Market, at the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit makebakegrow.com.
NIGHT MARKET
There’s free admission into the inaugural Coquitlam Christmas Night Market, which runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Vendors will be on hand to seek jewellery, woodwork, food, clothing and toys. Guests can also sit for a free family Christmas portrait. Visit facebook.com/events/643765139490989.
