Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for February 17 to 23

This week: celebrate with Chinese lanterns, dance up a Brazilian storm + more

1. Lanterns in the Garden — Friday, February 16 to Sunday, March 4

Marking the first full moon day in the lunar calendar, the 2000-year-old festival sees families heading out to celebrate with lanterns in the moonlight. Take part in riddle-solving, lantern-making, face-painting, calligraphy and sugar-painting, or enjoy yuan xiao and other Asian delicacies such as roasted chestnuts, pork buns and Chinese-style pancakes.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tickets $12 to 45

2. A Steady Rain — Friday, February 16 to Saturday, March 3

A Steady Rain will be performed in the rarely-opened private rooms above the gentleman’s club at The Penthouse, where artists like Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Sammy Davis Jr. once played. Directed by Bill Devine and featuring Seven Tyrants co-founders Daniel Deorksen and David Newham, A Steady Rain tells the gritty story of two Chicago cops and the complexities of a lifelong bond tainted by domestic affairs, violence and the rough streets of their hometown.
Penthouse Studio Theatre, 1019 Seymour Street, Vancouver; 7 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. on February 17th and 24th and no shows Mondays or Tuesdays; Tickets $25

3. 24 Hours of Winter — Saturday, February 17 & Sunday, February 18

Hit the slopes from sunset to sunrise with 24 Hours of Winter at Grouse Mountain. Dance or skate the night away under starry skies as DJs spin your favourite tracks (7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday) or check out one of the special events, including a sunset chocolate fondue, a S’mores snowshoe tour, a torch parade (9 p.m. Saturday) and even winter yoga (Sunday 10 am. to 11 a.m. Sunday).
6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver; Various times; Rates apply to some activities with info online

4. The Wellness Show — Saturday, February 17 & Sunday, February 18

Live your best life at this all-encompassing wellness expo, which features a host of vendors and presentations on nutrition, fitness and physical/emotional well-being. Check out the Celebrity Cooking stage to see some of Vancouver’s top chefs, including Executive Chef Josh Gonneau from Cibo Trattoria, who will demo his handmade roasted sweet potato tortelloni. Tickets include free admission to all seminars, demonstrations and workshops. 
Vancouver Convention Centre, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver; Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tickets $14.50 or $20 for a two-day pass, $12.50 for seniors/students and kids under 12 free

5. 45th Annual Chinatown Spring Festival Parade — Sunday, February 18

Celebrate the Lunar New Year and follow the parade’s 1.3-kilometre route from the Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street). The colourful celebration will head east along Pender Street, south onto Gore Street, turn west onto Keefer Street and then end at Abbott Street.
11 a.m.; Details online

6. The Jazz Epistles: Abdullah Ibrahim with guest Terence Blanchard — Sunday, February 18

More than a half century after South Africa’s Jazz Epistles recorded their first and only album, legendary keyboardist alumnus Abdullah Ibrahim will revisit their apartheid-era songbook in a rare tribute concert, with Grammy-winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard, backed by his own stellar band Ekayu.
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Road, Vancouver; 7 p.m.; Tickets from $54

7. Farm Friends — Thursday, February 22

“The only beef is on the table” at this collaborative dinner, which pairs B.C. wine and Albertan beef and bison at Edible Canada. Wine principals will be present from participating wineries including 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Haywire, Liquidity, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery and Summerhill Pyramid Winery, as well as Mireille Sauvé with the Dames Wine project. All proceeds will be donated to the B.C. Hospitality Foundation.
Edible Canada at the Market, 1596 Johnston Street, Vancouver; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tickets $55

8. Tacofino Beer Dinner Series with Tofino Brewing Co. — Thursday, February 22

Tacofino and the Tofino Brewing Co. team up for a five-course dinner at Tacofino’s Hastings Sunrise location. With seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the dinner will showcase Tofino Brewing beer paired with brand new Tacofino dishes created by Executive Chef Stefan Hartmann and Head Chef James You.
Tacofino, 2327 East Hastings Street, Vancouver; Seatings at 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.; Tickets $50

9. DanceHouse presents Toronto Dance Theatre: House Mix — Friday, February 23 & Saturday, February 24

Toronto Dance Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary with House Mix, a retrospective program showcasing five diverse works by choreographer Christopher House. The program showcases three decades of masterful works by Artistic Director Christopher House, and offers Vancouver audiences the chance to travel through time and witness an evolution of movement, form and style through 25 plus years.
Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; Pre-show chat at 7:15 p.m. with show at 8 p.m.; Tickets from $35

10. Carnaval 2018 — Friday, February 23 & Saturday, February 24

It’s time for Carnaval! Celebrate Brazilian culture with live music and lots of caipirinhas to fuel the party spirit. Dance the night away with BOM Brazil when Commercial Drive gets a Mardi Gras makeover.
Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Dr, Vancouver; 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Tickets $20