Playland was once known at Happyland when it was part of the Vancouver Exhibition almost 100 years ago. Since that time, it has brought smiles and laughter to millions through midway games, attractions, and rides. It’s now open for the season with two new rides along with family favourites.
1929: Entrance gate to Happyland on Renfrew. VPL # 7925. Photographer: Leonard Frank
New this year are The Teacups and Balloon Explorers. Spin the teacups or soar 42 feet above the park in a hot air balloon ride. These two join the line-up of over thirty rides and attractions at Playland, including the iconic 1958 wooden roller coaster.
Playland Hours
May 4 to June 30 (Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays): 10:00am to 6:00pm
June 14 to June 26 (Monday to Friday): 10:00am to 3:00pm
July 1 to July 28 (Saturday, Sundays and Holidays): 10:00am to 7:00pm
July 2 to July 31 (Monday to Friday): 10:00am to 6:00pm
August 1 to August 16 (Monday to Sunday): 10:00am to 7:00pm
September 7 to September 22 (Saturdays and Sundays): 10:00am to 5:00pm
Playland Pass Prices
Playland One-Day PlayPass (over 48” tall): $32.50
Playland Junior One-Day PlayPass (under 48” tall): $23.75
Playland Season PlayPass (over 48” tall): $91.75
Playland Junior Season PlayPass (under 48” tall): $53.75
Playland Guardian Pass (max 2 adults per child 12 and under): $18.50
All prices include tax
Save when you book your passes online or receive the same promotional prices when you shop at Lower Mainland 7-Eleven, Safeway, Save-on-Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Cooper’s Foods and Urban Fare stores.
If you would like to check out the amusement park (plus the new Teacups and Balloon Explorers), I have a family 4-pack of tickets to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming your favourite Playland ride, past or present (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 12:00pm. For more information about Playland’s season, the PNE, ride passes, etc. follow the amusement park on Facebook and Twitter.
Update The winner is @zojirushi!
Vancouver’s outdoor pools open this weekend for the season, serving up refreshing summer fun and swimming lessons in our communities. The best part about Vancouver Park Board outdoor pools is that they are heated and they have one-of-a-kind seaside locations.
Opening Saturday, May 18, 2013: Kitsilano Pool; Second Beach Pool in Stanley Park; New Brighton Pool.
Hillcrest Aquatic Centre (not seaside but still a great facility) opens on Saturday as well and Maple Grove Pool will open Saturday, June 22, 2013. Full swimming schedules for all Vancouver Park Board pools, both indoor and outdoor, can be found online.
Victory Square Park will be the site of a free, family-friendly community festival as it Central City Foundation hosts Fair in the Square next weekend.
Celebrate your neighbours in the inner city, from dozens of social enterprises, artists and community organizations to terrific local bands and musical artists, who will donate their talents to entertain us from the Victory Park stage.
Fair in the Square will have free food, music, a craft market, and offer good times with neighbours and community members. Several community organizations will also have booths on site, from Boys and Girls Clubs to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, Aunt Leah’s, and more.
A BBQ, cupcakes, beverages, and more will be served up by faculty, staff and students from Vancouver Community College’s Culinary Arts program.
Stop by Victory Square (Hastings at Cambie) to partake in the fun from 11:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday, May 26, 2013. The day will be hosted by CITY TV’s Thor Diakow and musical guests include singer-songwriters Christine Magee and Bodhi Jones, teen rockers The Bank Dogs, children from the performance group at Project Limelight, Aboriginal women’s group M’Girl, Uzume Taiko Drummers, the Town Hall, the Portage Freedom Fighters.
Central City Foundation has been around for over 100 years. “With your support, Central City Foundation is able to provide grants and assistance to a wide range of inner city organizations whose programs and activities enhance the lives of men, women, children and families in need in the inner city.”
The beauty of television these days is that you can view your favourite shows live (and participate in chats about what’s happening using a Twitter tag) or they can be available and waiting whenever it’s convenient for you to watch them.
John and I are currently trying out Shaw’s new Shaw Gateway Whole Home HDPVR that allows you to record up to six shows at once, and much more. It’s already come in handy for hockey playoff games and MLS matches we don’t want to miss when the sun is shining and we’re out of the house.
The best part about my trial Gateway is that Shaw has offered one up for a lucky Miss604 reader to try out, and keep along with a programming prize package. This includes:
A) One Shaw Gateway Whole Home HDPVR
And two Gateway Portals to link two TVs with one HDPVR
- Watch, record and manage shows from any TV in your home using just one HDPVR
- Record six HD shows at once
- Stop a recorded show in one room, pick it up in another
B) Three months of complementary Premier TV
- Up to 48 HD channels
- Up to 99 SD channels
- Up to 60 digital music channels
- Access to live Pay Per View (PPV) events, including UFC and WWE
- Access to 10,000 movies and TV shows with Shaw On Demand
C) Four months of complementary Movie Central (where available)
- Includes hit HBO Canada TV show Game of Thrones
- 6 movie channels, 3 in HD
- Access to all of Movie Central’s movies and TV shows via Shaw On Demand
Here’s how you can enter to win this ultimate Shaw Gateway Whole Home HDPVR prize pack:
- Leave a comment here naming a program (or six) that you would record (1 entry)
Contest closes at 12:00pm on Thursday, May 30, 2013. Winner must reside in an area serviced by Shaw Cablesystems G.P. and be at least 18 years old. Residents of BC only. This contest complies with Miss604 Contest Policy.
Update The winner is clayton!
The nominees for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards have been announced and the ceremony is officially sold out but there’s still time left to vote in the Connecting the Community award. Every nominee is eligible for this award which is tabulated by way of a public online vote.
The nominee with the most votes will be awarded the Connecting the Community Award and Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to her chosen YWCA program area. Nominees have selected YWCA program areas that they are interested in or passionate about:
- Early learning and child care
- Reducing child poverty
- Safe and affordable housing
- Healthy choices for youth
- Preventing violence against women
Voting for the Connecting the Community award ends at 12:00pm on Friday, May 17, 2013 so be sure to log your pick today. The 30th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards will take place on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Westin Bayshore. Follow @YWVanWODA for Twitter updates leading up to the event and during the ceremony.
YWCA Metro Vancouver is dedicated to achieving women’s equality. Their mission is to touch lives and build better futures for women and their families through advocacy and integrated services that foster economic independence, wellness and equal opportunities.
I proud to be the Social Media Sponsor of the awards for the fourth year.
