Mix it up this weekend with a "trip" to Hawaii, a great hike and loads of teddy bear action.
TODAY: Friday, June 7
ALOHA
Head to Blakeburn elementary (1040 Riverside Dr., PoCo) for an afternoon of family fun at the Hawaiian carnival, complete with pony rides, bouncy castle, face painting, games, music, a climbing wall and a barbecue. The carnival runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
TOOT TOOT
High school students will be holding their horns high and singing loud and proud at the annual Big Band Night, hosted by the Coquitlam District Music Teachers. Jazz bands and choirs will be making music in the courtyard at Centennial secondary (570 Poirier St., Coquitlam) from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Want to see more talented students in action? Heritage Woods secondary presents Metamorphoses, a stage adaptation of Ovid's classic poem. Tickets for the show on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. are $5 at the door (1300 David Ave.).
Saturday, June 8
HIKE BURKE
Celebrate the 18th anniversary of the creation of Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park with a free guided hike on the Woodland Walk Trail. Burke Mountain Naturalists will take participants through stunning second-growth forest, with highlights including massive stumps, Saw Blade Falls, Woodland Walk Falls and slivers of views to Coquitlam Lake. The moderate walk involves creek crossings and a 300m (985 feet) elevation gain; roundtrip distance is 9 km (5.6 miles). Wear sturdy hiking boots and bring water, lunch and appropriate clothing for the five-hour hike (not suitable for young children). Call Ian at 604-939-4039 to register and for the meeting location at 8 a.m.
POMO PLANS
The Evergreen Line will be bringing a lot of changes to the Tri-Cities, particularly in Port Moody, which is considering updates to its official community plan that will take advantage of transit-oriented development opportunities. Want to have your say on how the city changes over the coming years? Come to a town hall meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr.) and speak up.
HELP FOR DANI
Grab a hot dog, chips and pop at Thrifty Foods (2662 Austin Ave., Coquitlam) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and help out a little girl who was just diagnosed with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a rare genetic disorder with no cure. The disorder comes with a wide variety of complications affecting almost every system in the body. Thrifty's is donating everything for the BBQ; all the money raised goes to Dani's mom, Andrea Lyons, who is raising $5,000 as a participant in the upcoming Scotiabank Half Marathon. The BC Neurofibromatosis Foundation is one of the half marathon's charity recipients.
TEDDY BEAR TIME
Get a jump on the annual Teddy Bear Picnic festivities at an afternoon of kids' concerts at Coquitlam's Town Centre Park. The free show includes Tony Prophet (3 to 3:35 p.m.), Chris Hamilton (3:50 to 4:40 p.m.) and Music with Marnie (5:10 to 6 p.m.). Visit www.festivalcoquitlam.ca for full details.
CLASSICAL CONCERT
The Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble presents Young At Heart, a classical music concert at Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam), featuring a performance by 17-year-old Teresa Lin. Lin is taught by Roger Cole, principal oboist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; she'll be playing Autumn Soliloquy by James Barnes. The show also offers youth-related pieces like Children's March, Hobbits and the Roman Carnival Overture. Tickets are $20/$15/$12, available at 604-927-6555 or www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Sunday, June 9
PICNIC & PARADE
It's time for the 24th annual Teddy Bear Picnic and Grand Parade festivities in Coquitlam's Town Centre Park, a day of non-stop family fun. The parade kicks off from Coquitlam city hall at 9:45 a.m., followed by the Teddy Bear Picnic - featuring live concerts for kids, storytelling, puppet shows, rovers, gymnastics and more - from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 (kids 3 and under are free). Visit www.festivalcoquitlam.ca for full event details.
TOUR DE POCO
Head out for a bike ride and learn about Port Coquitlam's unique history on the third annual Tour de PoCo. The tour takes cyclists through the city's trails and parks with stops focusing on farming, working rivers and the CP railway. The free 26-km ride is a leisurely one and leaves at 11 a.m. from Lions Park (Shaughnessy Street, south of Lougheed Highway) and participants should have a trail-capable bike and helmet. Maps and snacks are provided on the approximately 3.5-hour cycle. Visit www.pocoheritage.org.
