Offleashed, Vancouver’s largest event in support of animals, returns in person on October 15th bringing together hundreds of animal lovers to celebrate the BC SPCA’s lifesaving work.
Offleashed BC SPCA Photos submitted & credit Erich Saide
Two words: Cuddle Lounge! Offleashed will be debuting its largest Cuddle Lounge yet featuring fluffy and fuzzy rescue puppies, kitties, and other animals, and you get to cuddle them all. This approachable fundraising event, where youth can also join in, will have all the staples of a glitzy gala with a great auction and 3-course dinner.
About the Cause
Animals and their people across our province need the BC SPCA’s help every day and over the last few years, demand has skyrocketed. Floods, heat domes, COVID, wildfires, financial insecurity – the reasons for need keep increasing.
But the BC SPCA is a constant community presence, providing vulnerable animals and their guardians with critical support such as pet food banks and vet services, emergency boarding assistance, and by serving as a vital resource across the province.
Your generosity changes thousands of animals’ lives. The millions of dollars raised through Offleashed powers the BC SPCA’s essential programs: sheltering and adoptions, pet food bank and outreach services, veterinary care, wildlife rehabilitation, and summer camps and school programs for kids, to name just a few.
Your ticket is a built-in donation. Each ticket purchase covers the cost of one day of shelter, food, love and basic medical attention for an abandoned mother and her young litter of puppies or kittens. Join Offleashed on October 15th!
This Sunday is the final Vancouver Salsa Cruise of the season (sponsored by Miss604) but it’s the beginning of the Fringe Festival, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, and so much more. Find these events and many other things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
The Fire Dragon Festival will illuminate Vancouver’s Chinatown on September 17th, celebrating and honouring all who call and have called Chinatown their home. This free community event reflects the cultural vibrancy of the neighbourhood with an exciting variety of artisan crafts, games, workshops and more.
Photo submitted
Vancouver Fire Dragon Festival in Chinatown
When: Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 11:00am to late
Where: Vancouver Chinese Cultural Centre (50 E Pender St)
Admission: Free!
The Fire Dragon Festival marks the annual Mid-Autumn celebrations unique to Vancouver’s Chinatown in an inclusive environment. It’s also a great way to explore the historic neighbourhood.
Along with a special seniors morning organized with Yarrow’s Seniors Group, the festival weekend will be filled with fun daytime activities (11:00am to 5:00pm) at the courtyard of the Chinese Cultural Centre featuring collaborations with the Chinese Canadian Museum, Elimin8Hate, The Chinatown Legacy Stewardship Group, the City of Vancouver and Government of Canada.
Festival goers can learn about the history of the Festival via an AR activation along Pender, developed in conjunction with LNG Studios and based on a photo taken of Vancouver’s first Fire Dragon Festival in 1975. The Vancouver Chinatown BIA will have their giant Mahjong tile game set up (lessons are on hand for those who don’t know how to play or need a refresher) alongside many other free activities and workshops.
Evening events (5:00pm to 7:30pm) include a public tai chi flash mob and traditional lion dance performance at Andy Livingston park.
The feature of the evening (starting at 7:30pm) will be the eye dotting ceremony of this year’s Fire Dragon. Festival goers can place lucky incense into the Fire Dragon before it is paraded along Keefer Street.
September 30th marks the second official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to recognize and reflect on the legacy of residential “schools” in Canada.
If you are looking for a way to commemorate and recognize this day of active listening, and action (on top of wearing an orange shirt, which is a good start!) here are a few events in which you can participate around Metro Vancouver:
Watch the sun set over the water as you sip and sample from the best local craft breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries at Brewhalla Beer and Music Festival in North Vancouver. Enjoy the views from The Shipyards, the sounds of local musicians on two stages, and savour food truck offerings all night long.
Brewhalla Beer and Music Festival North Vancouver
When: Friday, October 7, 2022 from 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Where: The Shipyards (125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver)
Performers include CHERSEA, Caleb Hart & Co, The Big Coast, Ryan McAllister Band, Olin Brix, DJ Flipout, Trilogy. And here’s the lineup of over 20 craft breweries and cideries including nine North Vancouver craft beer, wine, cider, and gin makers:
Beere Brewing
Callister Brewing
North Point Brewing
Brewhall Brewing
Windfall Cider
Strange Fellows Brewing
Wildeye Brewing
Backcountry Brewing
La Cerveceria Astilleros Brewing
Valley Commons Winery
Shaketown Brewing
Electric Bicycle Brewing
Bridge Brewing
Humblebee Meadery
Garden of Granite Winery
Five Roads Brewing
Copper Penny Distillery
Studio Brewing
Container Brewing
Northpaw Brewing
Trading Post Brewing
East Van Brewing
Callister Brewing
Dead Frog Brewing
The 2022 Brewhalla Beer & Music Festival in North Vancouver is presented by The Quay Market & Food Hall. The Quay is located right next to the festival site and is a destination for those seeking fresh, local and unique foods. Featuring fantastic vendors, artisans, entertainers and retailers, The Quay is a one-stop-shop and with endless options, there is something for everyone.
Brewhalla events in Langley and Port Moody have sold out, and for good reason! Here’s your chance to experience this incredibly well-run event — and if you can’t make it to North Van they have a Cloverdale event coming up October 29th as well. Follow Brewhalla on Facebook for details.
Update! Enter to Win
I have a four-pack of tickets to give away to the North Vancouver event on October 7th! Here’s how you can enter to win:
