Student actors from eight Tri-City secondary schools will vie for the chance for their school to represent the district at next year’s Sears BC Drama Festival.
METFest takes place at Riverside secondary on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and tickets can be bought for $5 at the door of the school (2251 Reeve St., Port Coquitlam) on show night.
Riverside won last year’s festival with its ensemble show The CT Project under adjudicator Susan Bertoia.
However, this year, Vancouver actor and director Mike Stack takes over to judge the one-act plays.
Among them, an adaptation of The Odyssey (Riverside); Greenman, a show directed by a Heritage Woods graduate; Between Friends (Centennial), a parent-written production; and an adaptation of Everyman (Pinetree).
CRAFT BONANZA
Shoppers looking for unique, handmade gifts can pop into the Poirier Forum (618 Poirier St.) this weekend for the 36th annual Coquitlam Christmas Craft Fair.
More than 100 artisans will sell their wares on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors. No cost for kids aged 12 and under.
The fair is sponsored in part by The Tri-City News and is sanctioned by the city of Coquitlam as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations.
Call 604-842-4619 or visit coquitlamcrafts.com.
FIRST BOOK
Port Moody author C.L. Lynch launches her debut novel Chemistry at a book store in Maple Ridge on Saturday.
Lynch will be at Bean Around Books (22626 Lougheed Hwy.) from noon to 2 p.m. to sign her work, which she describes as a “girl-power response to Twilight.”
CULTURAL LIGHTS
Coquitlam’s many cultures will be celebrated at an annual lantern festival on Sunday.
The free family event, which takes place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Place des Arts and Mackin House, will centre around the theme Light Has No Boundaries.
Place des Arts’ junior musical theatre company — under the direction of Natasha Sengotta — will sing and dance while Iranian musician Arezoo Maleki and Gerardo Avila will perform. As well, Place des Arts’ junior theatre company will have a short radio play called Christmas in Maillardville.
Artists Catherine Dumaine and Sarah Park will lead the lantern-making activities and guests can warm up in the Place des Arts tea salon — a new addition for this year’s fun. Mackin House will also offer hot cider and baking. The festival is sponsored by the Department of Canadian Heritage, Metro Vancouver and Vancity. Call 604-664-1636 or visit placedesarts.ca.
Meanwhile, guests can also buy a raffle ticket as part of a Place des Arts’ fundraiser, which ends Sunday.
Tickets are $10 each.
