We’re in the thick of summer, the weather is nice and this weekend there’s a half marathon, a concert by the beach, and free outdoor movies (this Saturday it’s The Lego Movie 2 in Holland Park) and more! Your full list of things to do in Vancouver this weekend is below:
The rain didn’t stick around for long at Town Centre Park in Coquitlam, which was good news for Kaleidoscope Arts Festival vendors like Rocky Point Ice Cream – whose line grew with each parting cloud. It was another sunny Saturday in Coquitlam for the annual arts festival, filled with crafty wares, music, and entertainment.
This year’s free festival took place on Saturday, August 10th with the Lafarge Lake fountain splashing behind the main stage where acts like Royal Canoe, Terra Lightfoot and Current Swell performed.
Vancouver loves its bikes, and we love our late summer nights! On Saturday, September 7th, join 5,000 people on bikes to form a luminous parade through Vancouver’s city streets during Bike the Night. This family-friendly event kicks off at Sunset Beach with a festival featuring live music, food trucks, free snacks and tune-ups, games and tons of giveaways and prizes.
Bike The Night
When: Saturday, September 7, 2019 – 6:00pm pre-ride festival Where: Starts and Ends at Sunset Beach Tickets: Register and pay fees online. Youth 16 and under ride free.
Deck out your bike in your brightest lights because when the sun goes down you’ll be joining thousands of cyclists on a car-free ride through city streets. Enjoy music, food trucks, games, and tons of giveaways. Costumes are encouraged! Plane a group costume with friends and family. Outfit your ride with lights, reflectors, and stickers, the brighter, the better.
Volunteer
Volunteers are needed to help make this year’s Bike the Night the best yet! There are loads of positions for all skills and interests, including Volunteer Champion roles for those looking for more responsibility. Volunteer Champions are eligible for a $100 honorarium. Contact Hub for more info »
HUB Cycling is a charitable no-for-profit organization that has spent over 20 years removing barriers to cycling in Metro Vancouver, while cultivating the health, environmental, and economic benefits that active transportation can bring.
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival (“VanTap Fest”) takes place August 26 to September 1, 2019 with three premiere performances, a line up of free events, and more!
The 2019 VanTap Fest includes three premiere performances: Max Pollak’s All in One on Aug. 29th, Andrew Nemr’s Rising to the Tap on August 30th and the 20th Anniversary Gala Celebration on August 31st – all are at 8:00pm at the Orpheum Annex, 823 Seymour St.
Additional events include a Social Tap Jazz Jam on Wednesday August 25th at Frankie’s Jazz Club (765 Beatty St) and FREE events including a Film Screening on Monday August 26th, a Community Conversation about Tap Dance in Mediaon Tuesday August 27th, and an Open House on Sunday September 1st, all at the VanTap Cultural Arts Centre (2775 East Hastings St). This year, festival participants may choose from eight 5-day courses and over 30 weekend workshops.
The newly inducted Artistic Director of the Vancouver Tap Dance Society and Artistic Director of the 2019 VanTap Fest is Andrew Nemr, who according to the legendary Gregory Hines, “is one of the dancers to bring tap dance into the new millennium”. Andrew was born in Canada and has recently returned after a successful career as an independent artist in New York City.
Headlining the festival and featured on-stage, in-class, and at improvised jams, will be some of the most respected and in-demand tap dancers in the world today: Max Pollak, an international star known for his unique combination of Afro-Cuban rhythms and tap dance; Demi Remick who tours internationally with the incredibly popular Postmodern JukeBox; Andrew Nemr, dubbed “A Masterly Tapper” by the New York Times; and Danny Nielsen one of Canada’s most sought-after tap dancers.
Additional artists include solo jazz dancer Nathan Bugh (New York City), Bboy Gomo (Calgary), Estefanía Porqueras Ocaña (Barcelona), and Terry Brock (Seattle).
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to two shows at the festival: Max Pollack’s All in One (August 29th) and Andrew Nemr’s Rising to the Tap show (August 30th) both at the Orpheum Annex.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
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I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Follow the VanTap Fest on Twitter and Facebook for more info.
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by Jen MurtaghDisclosure: Sponsored Post — This is not a paid post. Views and opinions are those of the author. Jen received media passes to write the review of her experience. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Guest post contributed and written by Jen Murtagh.
Have you ever watched videos of people whizzing by, often hanging upside down, in the high gnarly trees of Whistler? I have been seeing those videos for years and often wondered, could I do that? I am not going to lie, I have a bit of a height aversion so when I told my family I wanted to try ziplining, everyone was a little surprised. Ziplining has secretly been on my “must do” list for both personal and family experiences for years and this past week all six of us ticked it off our respective bucket lists.
Zipping from Whistler to Blackcomb Mtn over 2400′. Photo: Joern Rohde/joernrohde.com
Zipline with the Family in Whistler with Ziptrek Ecotours
Photo courtesy of Ziptrek Ecotours
As a mom and stepmom to four kids ranging in ages from 7 years old to 15 years old – it’s not always easy to find activities that appeal to everyone. After reading Ziptrek Ecotours stellar reviews on Google and learning more about this multi award-winning adventure ecotourism business, renowned for delivering awareness and appreciation of the natural environment, we locked it in.
Ziptrek offer thrilling tours which provide an entertaining combination of aerial adventure and ecological exploration. Ziptrek Whistler is also home to the longest zipline in all of Canada and the USA –The Sasquatch®! At over 2 kms long and screaming fast, guests will experience spectacular views and over 7,000 feet of pure eco-exhilaration. With 11 ziplines in total, the company offers 4 distinct zipline tours, providing something for everyone. Your inspiring journey also takes you through a true old-growth temperate rain forest via a combination of suspension bridges, treetop observation platforms, and ground based trails. An adventure not to be missed, brought to you by the pioneers of zipline tours in North America.
Getting the kids ready to zip! Photo by Jen Murtagh
As the ages of our kids are diverse, we decided to opt for two tours. I took our two youngest on the Bear Tour and my husband and the two eldest participated in the Eagle Tour.
If you are considering which one to book first – you should know that any child under 65 lbs has to do the Bear Tour. You need to be at least 75 lbs to do the Eagle Tour which is a bit higher and a little more heart-pounding. The Bear tour offers 5 ziplines which will take you around 2.5 hours. It’s perfect for first time zippers with jaw dropping scenery. Even my most cautious child had no problem and was comforted and supported by our two outstanding guides, Cian and Lauren.
If you are a bit more adventurous then you may want to consider the Eagle Tour, which also includes five different ziplines. If you like to get your adrenalin going, their 2400 ft zipline with a 30 storey descent should help get the blood pumping!
Expect to learn about the land you are ziplining on as well as nature-based learning is part of Ziptrek’s mission. I definitely appreciated the land acknowledgement to the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and understanding more about how Ziptrek care deeply about their impact on the land and how they operate as sustainably as possible.
Family zipline photo by Jen Murtagh on the Bear Tour
Although we didn’t get the opportunity to try the Sasquatch, this video says it all! One monster zipline, spanning a mind-blowing distance of +2 Kms, you will experience spectacular views and 7,000 feet of pure eco-exhilaration. Adrenalin junkies – this ones for you!
Ziptrek tops my “must do” adventures in Whistler. Ziplining definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and left me feeling more confident and excited about new adventures to take on with our family. My kids are already asking when we can go back and try the other lines. Whether you are a bunch of friends, a couple or a large family like ours – Ziptrek will appeal to all levels of thrill-seekers.
More about Ziptrek Ziptrek has been voted ‘Best Adventure Tour’ for multiple years running and has also been the recipient of 2 ‘Whistler Excellence Awards‘ in Whistler since beginning its operation. On Ziptrek tours you enjoy an unforgettable opportunity to explore, learn and delight in the thrill of an aerial adventure in natural environments that lend themselves perfectly to an enlightening ecological curriculum.
