Summer Fun in the Tri-Cities

The following is a guest post contributed by Amber Strocel from TheV3H.com and Strocel.com.

If you don’t come from the Tri-Cities, you might not know that the term refers to Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody – plus Anmore and Belcarra. So, yes, there are actually five municipalities in the Tri-Cities, but “Tri-Cities and Bi-Villages” is a little long and awkward. Plus, those of us who live here enjoy the slight inaccuracy.

Or perhaps we don’t sweat our name because we’re too busy enjoying ourselves. Summer is officially here, and there’s lots of fun to be had here in the Northeast Sector. Here is just a sampling of the events worth checking out:

What: A Midsummer Fête
When: Sunday, June 26 from 1:00-5:00pm
Where: Colony Farm Regional Park [map]
The skinny: Public Dreams and Metro Vancouver are inviting families to their free eco-art event, A Midsummer Fête. It’s an afternoon for families to get out of the city, spend time with each other and celebrate Nature and all her gifts. And there is a free shuttle operating from Lougheed Skytrain station, so you don’t even need to bring your car.
More info: 604.879.8611

What: Canada Day in the Tri-Cities
When: Friday, July 1
The skinny: Celebrate Canada’s 144th birthday in Anmore, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam or Port Moody – or (if you’re feeling ambitious) all of the above! There will be entertainment, history, crafts, kids’ activities, and of course, Canada Day cake. And to cap it all off, you can check out the fireworks over Lafarge Lake [map] or Castle Park [map] at dusk.

What: Golden Spike Days Festival
When: Friday, July 1-Sunday, July3 from 12:00-11:00pm
Where: Rocky Point Park [map]
The skinny: The Golden Spike Days Festival is one of the oldest and longest running family events in British Columbia. The festival attracts upwards of 40,000 attendees, and will feature live entertainment, events, activites, competitions, food, and of course, Can-Can Dancers. Admission is by donation, and it includes all of the events, including the Friday and Saturday night concerts.
More info: 604.931.8852

What: Heritage Summer Fair
When: Saturday, July 2 from 12:00-4:00pm
Where: Mackin House Museum [map]
The skinny: Join the museum for a day of festivities including storytelling, musical performances, kids’ crafts, heritage hat making, museum and railway station tours, artisan demonstrations, refreshments, a turkey shoot and more! Admission by donation.
More info: 604.516.6151

What: Blue Mountain Music Festival
When: Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 from 1:00-9:30pm
Where: Blue Mountain Park [map]
The skinny: The festival features a great line-up of musicians and entertainers. Plus, there are also face painters, balloon artists and local service clubs selling food and refreshments. Admission is by donation. Plan on arriving early to enjoy the many activities for the whole family. Bring a blanket, a few chairs, sun screen, your smile, and take in the sights and sounds of the Blue Mountain Music Festival. It’s all about the fun! Relax and enjoy a day in the park!
More info: [email protected]

What: Art in the Park
When: Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7 from 11:00am-4:00pm
Where: Minnekhada Regional Park [map]
The skinny: This free family-friendly event transforms the Minnekhada Park and historic Minnekhada Lodge into a creative space for exhibits by talented BC artists. In addition to the unique art exhibits, the event includes live musicians, roving performers, an outdoor cafe, nature walks, and children’s crafts.
More info: 604.520.6442 or [email protected]

What: Downtown Port Coquitlam’s 7th Annual Car Show
When: Sunday, August 21 from 10:00am-6:00pm
Where: Downtown Port Coquitlam [map]
The skinny: Hosted by the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association, Port Coquitlam’s Downtown Car Show provides visitors an incredible opportunity to see a range of unique, vintage and custom vehicles as over 300 cars, trucks and motorcycles line the downtown streets.
More info: 604.464.1490 or [email protected]

That’s far from everything – there are also farmers’ markets, outdoor concerts, movie screenings and a whole lot more. To keep up to date on everything that’s happening in the Tri-Cities this summer, stop by TheV3H.com.

This post was written by Amber Strocel, who contributes to TheV3H.com, a blog that highlights news and events in and around Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. You can also catch up with Amber’s musings on life and parenting at Strocel.com, or find out about her online class on living with intention at Crafting my Life.