Saturday, Dec. 23
O tannenbaum!
The fifth annual Christmas tree festival continues at the Port Coquitlam Heritage Museum and Archives, 150-2248 McAllister Ave. More than 60 trees decorated by businesses and community groups adorn storefronts, city hall, the Leigh Square Community Arts Village, Terry Fox Library and the Hyde Creek recreation complex. You can even vote online for your favourite tree at pocochristmasfestvial.ca, up until Dec. 31.
Get dressed
The Mackin House Museum will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, so this is your last chance this year to catch Raising Hemlines: An exploration of 1920’s fashion. The exhibit examines women’s fashion in this decade of opulence and how it reflected changes in technology and the place of women in society. The museum is located at 1116 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam.
Into the rabbit hole
A musical presentation of Alice in Wonderland is the featured fairy tale at the Carnival of Fairy Tales at the Inlet Theatre, 100 Newport Dr., Port Moody. The show, by Wonderland School of Arts, features costumes, games, contests and gifts for children as well as a craft fair. Showtime is 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $25 for children and tickets are available online at www.wonderlandarts.ca
In the dark
Vancouver Iranian Film presents a screening of The Girls House, in Farsi with English subtitles, at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, 1205 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam. Bahar and Parisa are shopping the day before the wedding of their friend, Samira, when they receive a call the bride is dead and the wedding is cancelled. For tickets, www.evergreeculturalcentre.ca
Holiday groove
Salsa and latin dance away the night before the night before at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, 1205 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam, from 8 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Instructors will be on hand and Alberto Gonzalez and Teresa Szefler will provide the music. Admission is $10 at the door.
Sunday, Dec. 24
Shop local
If you’ve got some last-minute gift buying still to do, the Port Moody winter farmers market will be at the Port Moody recreation centre, 300 Ioco Rd., beginning at 10 a.m. with a selection of local produce and food products as well as artisan crafts. The market runs until 2 p.m., leaving you enough time to get home and wrap your late gifts.
Get lit
No, not that way. But what better way to await Santa’s arrival than a family stroll around Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam amidst tens of thousands of colourful lights. The lights are turned on at dusk until 11 p.m. every night. It’s a popular attraction, and with parking at Town Centre Park at a premium, visitors are uged to use transit. Fortunately the Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station is only meters away.
Get fit
Work off that Christmas turkey before you eat it with a free fitness class in the fitness studio at the Hyde Creek recreation centre 1379 Laurier Ave. in Port Coquitlam, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. The class is run by student instructors doing their practicums.
Take a turn
Around the ice, that is. A special Christmas eve skate will be held at the Port Coquitlam Rec Complex from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and another from 12:45 to 2 p.m. Regular admissions apply.
Port Moody will also be hosting a Christmas eve skate at the Port Moody Arena, 300 Ioco Rd., from 12 to 3 p.m. Admission is $3.50 per person and there will be hot chocolate and games on the ice.
Santa hoops
Nothing like a little basketball to get into the Christmas spirit. Drop in hoops for youth and adults runs at the Hyde Creek recreation centre from 4 to 6 p.m.
