Friday, March 23
POTTERY
Visit Port Coquitlam’s artist-in-residence Ronald Boersen in his studio at The Outlet (behind PoCo city hall) between noon and 6 p.m. as he gives his last public demonstration during his three-month stint at Leigh Square Community Arts Village. Visit portcoquitlam.ca.
FOR THE GIRLS
The Magnificent You Women’s Conference for female business professionals runs tonight and Saturday in the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody). For tickets, visit mywomensconference.com.
NO FRILLS
Lindsay Wills and the No Frills String Band headline the Crossroads Hospice Coffeehouse concert, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Gathering Place at Leigh Square Community Arts Village (beside Port Coquitlam city hall). Entry is $5 at the door. Visit crossroadshospicesociety.com.
CONTRA DANCE
Vancouver’s best contradance ensemble, The Sybaritic String Band, revs up the Grand Chapiteau at Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) to kick off the 29th annual Festival du Bois. The party gets underway at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person via festivaldubois.ca.
Saturday, March 24
PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS?
The north end of Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) will be filled with francophone sounds and smells for the first full day of the 29th annual Festival du Bois, the biggest fete of its kind in western Canada. There are three tents on site: the Grand Chapiteau (main stage), where Gabriel Dubreuil has the first spot at 11:30 a.m.; the Petit Chapiteau (children’s tent), in which Boris Sichon also begins at 11:30 a.m.; and the Ateliers (workshops at Mackin House), starting with a concert by Les Chauffeurs a pieds at the same time. Parking is free on surrounding streets or get out at Ikea (lower level, sections J or K in the southeast corner) and hop on the shuttle to the park. Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the event runs today from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission for a one-day pass is $18 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $7 for kids aged five to 12 (no cost for children under five). Visit festivaldubois.ca.
FOR THE KIDS
Parents with kids aged five to 12 can bring their spring breakers to the Pinetree community centre (1260 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) between 3 and 5 to burn off some energy with games — at no cost. Visit coquitlam.ca.
DRAG SHOW
Coquitlam’s Jakyllyn Hyde and her husband Flannery Pajamas are joined by fellow drag queens for their debut of Spring Queening, a two-hour romp of lip syncing, dancing and comedy, at Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way). The show, which starts at 7 p.m., is for mature audiences only. Tickets at $30 are via evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
PIANO MAN
Doc Fingers shows his magic on the keyboard at Port Moody’s Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke St.) at 8 p.m. The show includes a dinner at 7 p.m. Visit gallerybistroportmoody.com for tickets.
LATIN DANCE
Slip on some comfortable shoes and a sequin top to show your moves under the disco ball in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) with DJ Alberto Gonzalez spinning the salsa tunes until 12:30 a.m. Parking is free or take the Evergreen Extension to Lafarge Lake-Douglas. Admission is $10. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
TURN OFF
From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., switch off your electronics and turn out the lights during Earth Hour, an environmental movement started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 to bring awareness to the health of the planet. Coordinated by WWF and volunteer groups, participants are asked to take the pledge via earthhour.org.
Sunday, March 25
SUPPORT FARMERS
Grab your fabric bags and load up at the Port Moody Winter Farmers Market, running at the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit makebakegrow.com.
FESTIVAL (PART 2)
The francophone party at Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) continues today, starting with a mass at 9 a.m. and followed by a pancake breakfast with maple syrup ($7 for adults, $3 per child) at around 10 a.m. Alouest hits the Grand Chapiteau (main stage) at 10:45 a.m. while Jacky Essombe, Bon Débarras, Mazacote, Les Chauffeurs a pied and Le Vent du Nord add to the roster with their tunes. The event wraps up at 4:30 p.m. Admission for a one-day pass is $18 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $7 for kids aged five to 12 (no cost for children under five). Visit festivaldubois.ca.
JUNOS
The national awards show, emceed by Burnaby crooner Michael Bublé, starts at Rogers Arena in Vancouver at 5 p.m., broadcasted through CBC, and we’ll be keeping an eye on the classical composition category as Jocelyn Morlock is nominated for her 10-minute piece, My Name is Amanda Todd — a tribute to the late Port Coquitlam teen. Visit junoawards.ca.
OUT OF AFRICA
Zimbabwe natives Black Umfolosi bring their dynamic a cappella singing and traditional African dancing to the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) as part of the TD Music Series, at 7:30 p.m. They are often compared to Lady Smith Black Mambazo, of South Africa. Tickets are $29/$15. Visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Please send your Things-To-Do Guide events to [email protected].
