Kick off the old year and ring in the new with some family-friendly activities and the always chilly — and entertaining — Penguin Plunge in Port Moody. And don't forget, if you're out celebrating on Dec. 31 be sure to plan ahead for a safe ride home.
Thursday, Dec. 31
LAST SKATE
Celebrate the last day of the year with a glide on the ice at the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.), from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be hot chocolate, games and more; admission is $3.50 per person. Keep the fun going in 2016 with more on-ice activities on Saturday, including family-friendly events from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. (for families with kids 10 and under) and from 3 to 4 p.m. (for families with youth aged 10 to 17).
LAST NIGHT
Celebrate the end of the year in style with elegant classical music care of the Quiring Chamber Players — Reg Quiring (viola) and Rosemary O’Connor (piano) — at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). This year’s QuiRING in the New Year will feature violinist Ian Swensen of the San Francicso Conservatory of Music and cellist Olivia Blander of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; the group will play songs including Prokoffiev’s Five Melodies for Violin and Piano and Ravel’s Piano Trio and there will be a bubbly reception after the concert. Tickets are $38/$34/$15 at www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Friday, Jan. 1
PENGUIN PLUNGE
Whether it’s sunny, snowing or somewhere in between, the surefire cure for whatever ails you on New Year’s Day is the annual Penguin Plunge at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody. Get the family and friends together — matching costumes make it much the better — and dip a toe or go for the whole nine yards in this “refreshing” start to 2016. Registration for the Penguin Plunge, hosted by the Pleasantside Community Association, starts at 11:30 a.m. and the race to the water’s edge is at 1 p.m. Your reward? A certificate and hot chocolate, coffee and sweet treats for purchase. Proceeds go to funding programs at Old Orchard Hall.
JAZZ-FUL FUNERAL
Put the concerns of 2015 to rest, and start off 2016 on a musical note, at the New Orleans Jazz Funeral at King of Life Lutheran Church (1198 Falcon Dr., Coquitlam). The Tri-Cities based Creole Jazz Band will be performing New Orleans-style music at the ceremony, starting off with sombre tunes and gearing up to swinging jazz, similar to the progression of a down-south funeral. Participants will be given a piece of paper on which to write their concerns and regrets from the previous year and drop them in a box that will be "buried." All are welcome to attend the event, from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by a light "funeral" tea.
Saturday, Jan. 2
CHIP IT
Pack up the decorations, stow the stockings and haul out what is by now probably a very dry Christmas tree. Get it chipped for a good cause at Art Knapp (1300 Dominion Ave., PoCo) starting today and running through Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a minimum $5 donation. Funds raised go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the mulch is donated to community parks. Each of the cities are also hosting tree chipping events today and tomorrow.
HAPPY 125
Coquitlam kicks off its 125th anniversary celebrations with a day of free recreation and entertainment, including skating, swimming, curling, fitness classes, face painting and much more. Activate Coquitlam 125 runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St.), with an opening ceremony at 11:10 a.m. and live music in the licensed lounge from noon to 3 p.m. Free swimming is also offered at City Centre Aquatic Complex (1210 Pinetree Way) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit ww.coquitlam125.ca/Activate for full details.
Sunday, Jan. 3
SKATING
Get ready for the first week of the year by enjoying some quality weekend family time at the Port Moody arena. There’s a family skate from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and a public skate from 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.
