BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for May 26 – June 1

Celebrity Chef David Rocco will be at this year’s EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival

What to do in BC this week

Make an Investment in the Fraser Valley Retirement Planning and Healthy Living Show – May 25 – 27
Adopting a healthy lifestyle and sticking to a retirement plan can add years to your life. That’s the message behind the first annual Fraser Valley Retirement Planning & Healthy Living Show, held May 25 to 27 at Chilliwack Heritage Park (44140 Luckakuck Way). This new expo takes a holistic approach to retirement planning with tips on health, stress and financial management, featuring displays, demos and guest speakers, including Global TV’s Dr. Art Hister.

Catch the Maple Leaf Singers – May 26 – 27
No stranger to Vancouver music fans, the Maple Leaf Singers have been entertaining audiences across the Lower Mainland for 44 years. Never had the pleasure? Catch the group’s next gig on May 26 and 27 at Massey Theatre (735 Eighth Ave, New Westminster), site of an annual Spring Show that will see the singers belting out everything from Broadway tunes to classic pop to folk songs, at 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. Tickets are $20, with discounts for students and seniors, available by calling 604-521-5050.

Discover Premier Designers at Portobello West  – May 26 – 27
Attention, fashionistas: you won’t find any cookie-cutter clothes at Portobello West, showcasing all the latest in spring styles from some of Vancouver’s top designers, including old favourites like Irit Sorokin and new vendors like Marian + Hazel and Happy Yellow Dress. Held May 26 and 27 at Creekside Community Centre in Vancouver’s Athletes Village, this one-stop shop is the place for locally made art, clothing, accessories and sweets. Check it out from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $2 at the door.

Bike to Work – May 28 – June 3
With gas prices spiking, do we really need another excuse to curb the car? Here’s one anyway: From May 28 to June 3, Bike to Work Week encourages commuters across B.C. to get in gear for the good of the planet. Sign up in locales ranging from Terrace and Tofino to Shushwap and the Sunshine Coast, and you’ll have a chance to win great prizes while racking up other big pluses like reducing road congestion, improving air quality and boosting your fitness level.

Take the Kids to the Vancouver International Children’s Festival – May 29 – June 3
For any cheeky child who has ever complained that there’s no Kids’ Day on the calendar, the next best thing just might be the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, unfolding at Granville Island from May 29 to June 3. This 35th annual fair features theatre, puppetry, films, storytelling, dance and music from around the world, along with Aquabus shows like Ferry Tale Theatre’s take on Little Red Riding Hood.

Check out Gene’s Genes – June 1
Nepotism may have made them famous, but Sophie and Nick Tweed-Simmons — stars of A&E’s Gene Simmons Family Jewels — are attracting critical acclaim all on their own. The up-and-coming vocalists are set to prove that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, talent-wise, when they make a one-night appearance at River Rock Casino Resort (8811 River Rd, Richmond) on June 1. Despite their rocker roots, the two will roll out a repertoire of blues and jazz classics, beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Savour Flavours at the EAT! Vancouver Food and Cooking Festival  – June 1 – 3
When it comes to food, are you the type who eats to live or lives to eat? Either way, you’ll find something that hits the spot at the 10th annual EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival, running June 1 to 3 at BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific Blvd). As Canada’s No. 1 consumer food and cooking show, this three-day eat-athon invites you to savour the flavours with over 250 vendors showcasing a smorgasbord of food, wine, beer and spirits, along with demos by celeb chefs like David Rocco and Bob Blumer.

Celebrate Canadian History – June until March 2014
The 200th anniversary of a milestone in Canadian history is being commemorated at Canada Place (999 Canada Place, Vancouver) with The War of 1812 Experience. Using state-of-the-art technology, this interactive and immersive experience takes you right onto the battlefields of 1812 to replay a key moment in Canada’s quest for political independence. This free exhibit opens in June and runs until March 2014.

Sign up for Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes – until July 18
Sure, you could always pick up culinary tips by watching the Food Network, but why bother when you can sign up for personalized lessons with top chefs instead? That’s the deal with Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes, a foodie fundraiser for the Arts Club Theatre that features hands-on meal-making with renowned Vancouver chefs in gorgeous private homes, until July 18. Tickets for the three-hour classes, led by the likes of Ned Bell and Anthony Sedlak, sell out fast, so book yours early by e-mailing specialevents@artsclub.com.

Support Local Produce at Vancouver Farmers Markets – Saturdays and Sundays until Autumn
If you are what you eat, be prepared to meet your maker at the Vancouver Farmers Markets. Open on selected dates until autumn, these food fairs sell only the best of B.C. bounty — handpicked and sold by the growers and producers themselves. Check it out at Trout Lake (John Hendry Park, 3350 Victoria Dr) on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at Kitsilano Community Centre (2690 Larch St) on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with other locations opening soon.

Visit the Vancouver Aquarium’s Penguin Point – anytime
Contrary to popular belief, not all penguins live in the Antarctic. You’ll find some as close to home as the Vancouver Aquarium (845 Avison Way), where a newly opened exhibit called Penguin Point invites visitors to take a gander at the flightless flock imported from the shores of South Africa. While there, check out the penguin-themed crafts and family-friendly activities, too.

Warm Up at Walnut Beach Resort – anytime
Why are tourists going nuts for Walnut Beach Resort (4200 Lakeshore Dr, Osoyoos)? The family-friendly hotel – winner of a 2012 Travelers’ Choice award – is considered one of “the hottest stretches of sand” in the Okanagan, thanks to luxe designer suites, spectacular sunset views and a private sandy beach on the shores of B.C.’s warmest lake. And, right now, if you book at least 14 days in advance, you’ll save 20 per cent off your spring and summer vacays. Call 1-877-936-5400 for more details.

Originally published in TVW. For daily programming updates and on-screen Entertainment news, subscribe to the free TVW e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.