After months of staying inside where the warmth was, it’s time to see what’s changed and what events are happening in our city. There are countless events, concerts, and markets happening almost every day, but we compiled the top-six list of must-visit May events in Vancouver.
Maplewood Farm’s Sheep Fair — Sunday, May 26, 2013
405 Seymour River Place, North Vancouver
Maplewood Farm is a 20-minute drive north from downtown Vancouver and spreads out across the beautiful two hectares of a rural heritage setting. It is a fun and educational destination for the whole family. The farm has an amazing history. Its tradition has been kept for decades, and now more that 200 domestic animals call it home. At Maplewood, spring celebrations start on Sunday, May 26, when you can watch sheep professionally shorn and worked by a border collie dog, and then you spend some time playing with the domestic animals or take a ride on a pony.
Vancouver International Children’s Festival — Monday, May 27, 2013, to Sunday, June 2, 2013
Cartwright Street, Granville Island, Vancouver
The Vancouver International Children’s Festival has been educating, entertaining, and inspiring young audiences since 1978 and has become a world-renowned festival of performing arts for kids of all ages.
There are a lot of different performances and plays planned for this year. One of the highlights of the festival is Cirque Zuma Zuma, a group of performers from Kenya and Tanzania thrust into stardom by their appearance on America’s Got Talent. This unique African circus troupe boasts jugglers, contortionists, acrobats, music, and dancers. They’ve literally travelled the world, wowing audiences with magic, fun, and excitement set to the rhythmic beats of Afro-jazz.
From toddlers to tweens, kids of all ages can get creative or just have some fun at one of the many creative art stations. If your kids loved Cirque Zuma Zuma, they can join the African Dance and Music station, Making Music with Found Objects, or Circus Skills. Other activities include Face Painting, Shadow Puppetry, Bicycle Spin-Art, A Kaleidoscopic Outdoor Weaving Experience, Origami, Magical Mystery Maze, Sock Puppets!, and Twist & Toddle.
Come down on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, for an exclusive weekend activity — Me On The Map. Make your mark on the city’s first kid-co-created multi-media installation!
SOS Children’s Village BC Run & Walk 2013 — Sunday, May 26, 2013, 8:00 a.m.
6111 River Road, Richmond
Did you know that…
Only 25 per cent of youth in foster care graduate from high school?
Up to 40 per cent become involved in the youth justice system?
Over 50 per cent of the homeless are in or from the social welfare system?
Join the crowd and run on behalf of local kids in need and experience Richmond’s stunning Olympic Oval Plaza while running or walking along the beautiful middle arm of the Fraser River. There are free on-site activities for friends and families and a Kids Zone. You can run as an individual, family, corporate group, community, or school team. Everyone is more than welcome to join, help, and increase our shared value.
Bike To Work Week — Monday, May 27, 2013, to Sunday, June 2, 2013
Bike lanes and roads throughout Vancouver
Healthy lifestyle promotion is taking places everywhere, but HUB — a charitable organization that works to make cycling attractive to everyone — has taken words into action. Bike to Work Week encourages new and keen bikers alike to sign up, log their daily commutes, and win great prizes. Cycling to and from work has many undeniable advantages for your health as well as for the environment. Riding a bike to work and leaving your car in the garage improves air quality and reduces road congestion — to name just a few benefits. So, are you up for the challenge?
To participate in Bike to Work Week, you will need to register here.
Vancouver Craft Beer Week — Friday, May 31, 2013, to Saturday, June 8, 2013
1441 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
The third year of the annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week is back, featuring larger events, more breweries, and special local and visiting guests. The festival consists of a series of signature festival events and independently organized satellite events at venues around town. The festival starts on Friday, May 31, at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver. You will get a taste of what is to come in the Vancouver brewing scene, as many of BC’s newest craft breweries will be featured together with a number of old favourites. Canapés will be served by presenting partner Craft Beer Market, and as usual there will be a lot of fun stuff including raffles, door prizes, and music. Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre.
EAT! Vancouver, Food & Cooking Festival — Friday, May 24, 2013, to Sunday, May 26, 2013
777 Pacific Boulevard , Vancouver
Popular local restaurants, wineries, food and beverage manufacturers, cookbook authors, retailers, artisans, celebrity chefs, and everyone else fascinated by the culinary world will meet together for a three-day public extravaganza at the newly refurbished BC Place Stadium. You will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn behind-the-scenes culinary magic from professional chefs, witness dynamic entertainment through celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, and watch exciting culinary competitions. The festival brings fantastic shopping opportunities to 250 exhibit booths and diverse food, beverage, and cooking-related exhibits.
The festival will open EAT! Vancouver’s Bites of Vancouver restaurant pavilion, where the chefs of favourite Lower Mainland restaurants will serve up appetizer portions of their signature recipes. For a nominal charge ($1.00 to $4.00) per item, you will be able to savour the flavours of diverse celebrated eateries.
Tasting Pavilion will be serving a selection of beer, wine, and spirits. Hosted by Daenna Van Mulligen, Vancouver’s Wine Diva, the Grapes & Hops Stage will feature presentations and tastings of local and regional beers and wines by industry experts.