Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for February 24 to March 2

This week: spruce up your home, sip beers and brews, run with the dogs + more

1. B.C. Home + Garden Show — Wednesday, February 21 to Sunday, February 25

Over 425 exhibitors and features will be on hand at the 47th annual show, which includes the unveiling of the Tiny Home Village presented by Mint Tiny House Company. Portobello West will be providing retail therapy and there will be plenty of cooking demos to provide inspiration for your next dinner party. HGTV’s Carson Arthur from Home to Win, will be joined by Brian McCourt and Sarah Keenleyside of HGTV Canada’s Backyard Builds, Danielle Bryk of HGTV Canada’s Home to Win and contractor Kenny Gemmill of HGTV Canada’s Love It or List It Vancouver.
B.C. Place Stadium, 777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver; Various times; Tickets $13 advance or $16 at the door

2. 2018 Coastal First Nations Dance Festival — Tuesday, February 27 to Sunday, March 4

Produced by the Dancers of Damelahamid in partnership with the Museum of Anthropology, this festival celebrates the stories, songs and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America, focusing on British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska and Washington State. National and international guest artists will also be demonstrating the relevance and popularity of traditional dances today.  
Museum of Anthropology at UBC, 6393 N.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver; Tickets vary

3. RunGo Dash for Dogs — Saturday, February 24

Do your bit for B.C. and Alberta guide dogs and take part in a guided two, five or 10 kilometre run or walk through the beautiful trails of Stanley Park. You don’t need a dog to join in—although well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome—and the race is a fun, non-competitive fundraiser. After the run, there will be pancakes, prizes and plenty of pooches!
Brockton Pavilion, 1151 Stanley Park Drive Vancouver; Start times from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Registration $20 to 40

4. Vancouver International Wine Festival — Saturday, February 24 to Sunday, March 4

Raising funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society, VanWineFest returns for its 40th year, showcasing wines from 16 countries with a special focus on Spain (with 38 wineries) and Portugal (with 20 wineries). Check out the seminars, vintage tastings, winery dinners, lunches, brunches and wine minglers, alongside the popular Tasting Room, where vino lovers can taste 763 wines at four International Festival Tastings. 
Various locations; Tickets vary

5. Vancouver Pet Lover Show – Saturday, February 24 & Sunday, February 25

Have some family-friendly fun with your four-legged friends at the Vancouver Pet Lover Show. Take a pic with the props in the Giggle Photo Booth or enter your dog in the President’s Choice SuperDogs Star Search to showcase their secret talents and win the chance to perform at the PNE. Check out DockDogs—as seen on ABC and ESPN—and watch the incredible pooches do ‘big air’ long jumps, ‘extreme vertical’ high jumps and speed retrieval experiences. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but you will need to sign an online waiver before arrival.
Tradex Abbotsford, 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford; Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tickets $14 (senior and youth $10, family $34)

6. Hopwired Festival — Saturday, February 24

Booze-meets-buzz for the first annual Hopwired Festival, which will feature dozens of craft beer and ‘third wave’ coffee vendors as well as tasting panels, collaboration beers and coffee awards. Bells and Whistles will be hosting the after-party for those who want to keep the brews flowing.
Croatian Cultural Centre, 3259 Commercial Drive, Vancouver; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tickets $52, with a waitlist currently

7. Comedy at Big Rock: Ryan LaChance – Sunday, February 25

Beer and belly laughs abound at Big Rock’s comedy night featuring headliner Ryan LaChance. Screaming in on his hot wheels, Ryan is a dynamic performer who happens to have Cerebral Palsy and uses a power chair to get around. But he is not here to be your perfect “disability inspiration.” He has plenty of hilariously wild adventures to share. Support comics include Valerio Maconi, Amber Harper-Young, Jacob Samuel, Anjie Mittlehotlz and Jo-El Oxales.
Big Rock Urban Brewery & Eatery, 310 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver; 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tickets $7

8. Vancouver International Dance Festival — Thursday, March 1 to Saturday, March 24

Celebrating the diverse and dynamic nature of dance, this three-week festival features internationally celebrated artists and local favourites in a program of performances, workshops and activities. Participating dance companies include: Shen Wei Dance Arts, Amber Funk Barton and the response, Dancers Dancing, EDAM, Goh Ballet, White Wave Dance Company, Ferenc Fehér, Lucie Grégoire Danse, the Biting School, Compaña de Danza Experimental de Lola Lince and pataSola dance.
Various venues; Tickets vary

9. Growing Room: A Feminist Literary Festival – Thursday, March 1 to Saturday, March 4

Room Magazine’s annual feminist literary festival is a celebration of diverse Canadian writers and artists. This year’s festival is bigger than ever with parties, seminars and panel discussions covering everything from the issues surrounding intersectional feminism to writing about trauma. Except for the opening night party (featuring sibling music duo Too Attached), manuscript consultations and all workshops, other events are by donation or pay-what-you-can.
Various locations; Tickets vary

10. Just for Laughs Northwest — Thursday, March 1 to Saturday, March 10

Featuring big names like Trevor Noah, Bill Burr and Maria Bamford, the Just for Laughs comedy festival also brings stand-ups like Rachel Feinstein and Nikki Glaser, along with other favourites like the “Jake & Amir: If I Were You Live” podcast, to the city for 10 days of top-notch comedy in the city.
Various locations; Tickets vary