What's Happening

Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for February 11-17

This week: Ski and snowboard all day and night, celebrate Family Day with the kids, check out a winter festival at Granville Island + more

By Amy Watkins /

1. Lanterns in the Garden – Thursday, February 10 to Sunday, February 12

Experience a traditional Yuanxiao Festival (Lantern Festival) at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the first Chinese garden built outside of China. The entire garden will be decorated with authentic Chinese lanterns and special delicacies will be offered by food vendors. Other fun activities include wish-making and riddle-solving.
Dr Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall Street;  6 to 10 p.m; $12

 

2. 24 Hours of Winter at Grouse Mountain – Saturday, February 11- Sunday, February 12

Skate, ski or snowboard the night away when Grouse Mountain stays open for 24 hours to celebrate the snow (that is if you’re not sick of it already). The terrain park and ski runs will be open all night, DJs will be spinning tunes and there will be special events at the restaurants to make the most of winter while it’s here.
Check website for details

 

3. Family Day at Lonsdale Quay – Saturday, February 11 and Monday, February 13

Celebrate Family Day weekend at Lonsdale Quay with a petting zoo, balloon animals and face-painting on February 11, and a special local artisan market at the Quay from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on February 13. Take the whole family to make crafts and learn cooking skills at this seasonal celebration.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver

4. Family Day Festivities – Saturday, February 11 to Monday, February 13

Community centres across the province are hosting special Family Day events and activities, including bouncy castles, skating, art workshops and live music. Check out the BC Recreation and Parks Association website for your nearest community centre schedule.

 

5. Inner Beauty Pageant 2 – Sunday, February 12

Divas! Bring it to The Junction this weekend for the second installment of the Inner Beauty Pageant. Whatever your age, gender or body type, all divas are welcome to strut their stuff for a chance to be crowned the winner. Plus, the event raises funds for community theatre.
$8 + donation, tickets at the door; The Junction, 1138 Davie Street

 

6. Shred for a Cause – Monday, February 13

Monday nights are locals’ night at Seymour Mountain with a special offer for women in support of The Bloom Group, an organization that helps with housing, health and social services in the Downtown Eastside for women and children in need. Women can pay a minimum $10 donation for a life ticket ($5 goes to Bloom) and guys are welcome to come and shred for the standard $33 lift ticket price.
Seymour Mountain; 6 p.m. to10 p.m. every Monday until March 27; ladies pay a minimum $10 cash donation at guest services on arrival

 

7. Valentine’s Decentralized Dance Party – Tuesday, February 14

here

Share the love and take to the streets with Tom and Gary’s Decentralized Dance Party (DDP), a global collective of ‘party revolutionaries’ who believe that dance parties unite humanity. Bring a boombox and tune it to an FM frequency to pick up the DJ’s tunes on this roaming street party to #SaveLove this V-Day.
7 to 11 p.m.; event details here

 

8. Vancouver Mysteries – Tuesday, February 14

Give the romantic dinner a miss and take your date to the streets for an evening with Vancouver Mysteries. The Valentine’s Day Couples Competition pits duos against each other in three different outdoor mystery games (superhero, crime or spy-themed) and the race is on to solve the puzzles in 90 minutes and beat the other couples to impress your date (and win chocolates!).
6:30 p.m., Gastown (location revealed on booking), tickets $25

 

9. Winterruption – Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19

Celebrate the cold months at Granville Island’s Winterruption festival, which features a new hub in The Forge under Granville Bridge. The walls of the old forge will be painted and a stage will be set up to welcome bands and performances. Look out for a yoga film festival, Japanese box-making and bookbinding classes across Granville Island during the festival.
Check the website for a full lineup of events

 

10. Vidlaser Radiohead – Friday, February 17

Every Friday night, the Deep Space Dome at the BCIT Planetarium transforms into a live VidLaser show featuring music from Radiohead and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, with a new improved 360 video projection system, multiple RGB lasers and full concert 360 sound.
BCIT Planetarium, 3700 Willingdon Ave, $22