Who would have thought that my first time on a hoverboard would be at an ice rink in New Orleans? I was getting a sneak peak of Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party which brings skating skills to new heights with your favourite characters from Disney-Pixar’s Coco, Frozen, Moana, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Toy Story and The Little Mermaid.

Behind the Scenes at Disney on Ice

Getting a behind the scenes tour of a fantastic show I just witnessed, with jaw-dropping stunts and adorable sing-alongs with the crowd, was quite the thrill (check out my Instagram story highlight for video).

The hoverboards are used by the Toy Story army men in the show, on the ice. It’s just one of many stunts that I didn’t expect, but I was thoroughly impressed.

One of my favourite moments was when performers Brendan and Jessica Hatfield (Eric and Ariel) were lifted above the skating surface during Kiss the Girl.

“These dots mark where we need to skate before we get lifted,” Brendan said as they took position. There are 67 marks all over the ice that aren’t noticeable to the audience but are crucial for the performers.

The Sway Poles come out during the Coco number, and while they’ve been used in the circus before, this is the first instance of them being used in an on-ice show.

“My favourite part of the show is the army men – the precision, the choreography – and Coco, boy is that colourful, it’s a beautiful number,” Alex Allen, the live host from the show introduced himself. “I’m a skater too but today I’ll be the setter for the Spanish Web,” his colleague Ara Kocharyan climbed the 25-foot rope to demonstrate the apparatus, which is a two-person operation operation.

The show has 48 performers, ranging from 17 to 45 years old, with acrobats that learned to skate, and skaters that have learned acrobatics. It’s an artistic and athletic showcase – set to some of Disney’s most memorable tunes!

If you want to check it out in person, tickets are on sale now (starting at $18) for Mickey’s Search Party in Vancouver, November 28 to December 1, 2019 at the Pacific Coliseum.

Follow Disney on Ice on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more #DisneyOnIce #MickeysSearchParty info and stay tuned for an exciting giveaway opportunity coming up next month!

After the harvest comes the STOMP! Registration is now open for the Grape Stomp at Township 7 Vineyards & Winery in Langley. This event usually sells out, so act fast!

Grape Stomp at Township 7

Where: Township 7 Vineyards & Winery (21152 16th Avenue, Langley)
When: Saturday. October 26 & Sunday, October 27, 2019 12:00pm to 4:30pm
Register: Entry fee is $33 (per teammate). Tickets include a tasting and a glass of wine. Send an email here with the following info:

Gather your 6 member team and enjoy a friendly competition with prizes for fastest stomp, best costumes and more. Enjoy live music and award winning wine at the scenic south Langley winery.

All “stompers” must be 19 years of age and up, a minimum of 6 team members and maximum of 8, rain or shine.

Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Proudly Supports Ronald McDonald House British Columbia & Yukon. Partial proceeds raised at the Grape Stomp event will be donated to the organization.

Township 7’s vineyards are located in the south Langley countryside, the picturesque Naramata Bench and throughout the southern Okanagan Valley. They make award winning wines from renowned vineyards of the Black Sage Road area, vineyards that are ideal for growing grapes for the more full-bodied Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons, Syrahs and Chardonnays. Their wineshops in Langley and on the Naramata Bench are open daily in season.

Follow Township 7 on Twitter and Facebook for more information about special events like this and their latest wine releases.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, are set to soar over British Columbia as part of their biggest-ever tour to North America.  There is a lineup of free public engagement events next week including a full day event at Jack Poole Plaza.

RAF Red Arrows Over Vancouver

It is the first time the Red Arrows have ever visited Vancouver and it comes as part of the team’s most ambitious tour of Canada and the United States. In total, the team will visit more than 20 cities, including 4 in Canada, over 11 weeks. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at Science World
Join an exclusive screening of the UK documentary Red Arrows: Kings of the Skies followed by a Q&A with members of the team. Register here »

Thursday, September 26, 2019 at Jack Poole Plaza
Aviation Day with the Red Arrows 10:00am to 6:00pm
Discover the world of aviation and learn more about the UK during a full-day of celebrations for the Red Arrows visit. From past to present, visitors can also get an up-close look at an iconic Sopwith Camel kindly provided by the Canadian Museum of Flight and then don a VR headset to take a ride in the cockpit during a Red Arrows flypast.  Science World and the H. R. MacMillan Space Centre will also be on-location to explain the science behind flight with interactive demonstrations including a friendly rocket launcher competition. 

This full-day event will culminate in back-to-back non-aerobatic flypasts by the Red Arrows over Victoria and Vancouver. The Red Arrows will first take to the skies of Victoria, passing over the provincial capital’s historic inner harbour and the British Columbia Parliament Buildings at approximately 4:40pm. Then at 5:00pm, they’ll do a flypast along the iconic Vancouver waterfront, trailed by their signature red, white, and blue smoke.

Red, White and Blue
To celebrate the Red Arrows visit, iconic Vancouver landmarks will be illuminated in red, white, and blue. These include Science World (September 24 & September 26), BC Place (September26), the Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza and the Vancouver Convention Centre (September 26) and the five sails at Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver (September 24-25). 

As part of their visit, the Red Arrows will make a special visit to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice for a chance to connect with the young children receiving care.

They will also meet with local students to promote careers in aviation, science, and technology. Taking place over four different sessions, the Red Arrows will showcase the importance of STEM in their work with students from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Templeton Secondary, Britannia Secondary and an organization aimed at inspiring female leaders from shop floor to top floor in high-tech STEM fields, Achieve Anything Foundation.

Follow the RAF Red Arrows on Facebook and Twitter for more info about these #RedArrowsTour events.

Hockey is back, and it’s back in Coquitlam! The Coquitlam Express kick off their season this weekend at the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex vs Chilliwack (home opener Saturday) and Prince George (Sunday).

It’s the heart of most Canadian communities, and there’s nothing like catching a game at the rink (on a rainy day it’s even better) cheering on the local team with family and friends.

Coquitlam Express Hockey

See the NHL stars of tomorrow in your own community! Here’s a bit of background on the Express:

The club entered the BCHL in 2001, and after 4 successful seasons which saw the team begin their climb to the top ranks in the BCHL, the team moved to Burnaby while the City of Coquitlam renovated our home arena, the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex. Their 1st season in Burnaby was a banner year for the franchise winning the 2006 RBC Cup National Jr. “A” Champions. Assistant Captain, Kyle Turris, was selected 3rd overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest Jr. A player ever selected.

In 2010, Coquitlam’s team returned home to a beautifully renovated Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex and in 2014 they captured the BCHL Championship. The Express has helped many players begin their journey to the NHL. Their most recent NHL draft pick is Alex Kerfoot who graduated with the Express and captained Harvard University. He currently plays in the NHL for Colorado.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the both games this weekend: Chilliwack (Saturday, September 21) and Prince George (Sunday, September 22). Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

Follow the Coquitlam Express on Facebook and Twitter for more info about their season. I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 10:00am on Friday, September 20, 2019.

UPDATE The winner for Saturday is Becky @didyoumeditate, and Sunday is Laurel!

With over 50 exhibitors to visit, the Snowbird RV Show and Sale (happening September 19-22, 2019 at the TRADEX in Abbotsford) has something for everyone. Exhibitors include destinations, camping gear, travel accessories, truck customizing, diesel engines and hitches, and so much more.

Snowbird RV Show

• Where: TRADEX (1190 Cornell St, Abbotsford)
• When: Thursday, September 19 to Saturday, September 21 from 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday, September 22 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
• Tickets: $9 adult (19 – 59); $7 senior (60+); $6 youth (13 – 18); FREE child admission (12 and Under)

Experience the RVing lifestyle and discover all the new and exciting RV trends. With over 200 RVs to explore, you will find the latest models, products, and have the opportunity to talk to the experts all under one roof.

Over 120,000 square feet of display space, both indoors and outdoors. All kinds of new recreation vehicles on show and for sale. Plus over 50 booth exhibitors including parts and service exhibitors, resorts, accessories, truck customizing, diesel engines, hitches and more. There is also an area for Private Sales of RVs by the public.

Include The Seminar Stage in your visit, where experts discuss techniques for making your life on the road that much easier. Speakers will share their interesting insights on cross border travel, RV maintenance, and more. You will have the chance to see brand new RV’s up close and personal and can also visit the Private Sales RV lot to find used RVs for sale by owner.

The closest to an RV experience I’ve had was when John and I recently camped in the Yukon – and as lifelong tent-camper, I felt really, really spoiled. How dreamy it was to have a well-equipped vehicle/home on wheels for our adventure!

Win Tickets

Here’s how you can enter to win a 4-pack of tickets from Miss604:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

Connect with the RV Shows BC on Facebook and Twitter for more info. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

UPDATE The winner is Ron!