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Welcome to the Victoria Day Long Weekend, everyone! Get out and enjoy our list of 20 things to do in Vancouver on Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20! There’s the Vancouver Aquarium pop-up at Tsawwassen Mills, Vancouver Comic Arts Festival, Russ, and more for all interests.
And for more things happening around town be sure to check out our events section.
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Vancouver Aquarium pop-up during May Long Weekend at Tsawwassen Mills
Vancouver Aquarium pop-up/Tsawwassen Mills
- What: The aquarium’s pop-up at the mall will include live marine animal touching sessions, as well as artifacts like polar bear and grizzly pelts. There’s also going to be a marine-themed colouring area, marine-themed face painting, and photo opportunities with Ollie the Otter mascot at select times. Plus, you can enter to win one of two family packs to Vancouver Aquarium while you’re there. You can also download the e-savings booklet online for shopping throughout the mall, enjoy other entertainment, and more.
- When: Saturday, May 19 to Monday, May 21, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 9 pm (Saturday and Monday), 10 am to 7 pm (Sunday)
- Where: Tsawwassen Mills Mall – 5000 Canoe Pass Way, Delta
- Admission: Free
Fort Langley Beer & Food Festival
- What: Celebrate and enjoy the best of the Fraser Valley with live music, craft breweries, local food vendors, and much more right outside the wooden walls of the Fort Langley National Historic Site.
- When: Saturday, May 19, 2018
- Time: 12 to 6 pm
- Where: Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada – 23433 Mavis Avenue, Langley
- Tickets: Online, $31.50 – $120
Vancouver Virtual Reality Film Festival
- What: This year YVRFF, will once again be featuring a wide array of acclaimed films from 19 countries around the globe, including some of the best VR studios on the West Coast. A definite highlight of the festival will be the showing of “Coco VR” – Pixar’s debut of its first VR film.
- When: Now to Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: Various times
- Where: CBC Studio 700 – Hamilton Street, Vancouver
- Tickets: starting at $25, buy online
Forest Fairy Gathering
- What: Visit the “Gnome Depot” to get construction material for your fairy home. Enjoy free face painting and be prepared for a magical time. Fairy attire welcome.
- When: Saturday, May 19, 2018
- Time: 11 am to 3 pm
- Where: Burnaby Lake Regional Park – Meet at Burnaby Lake Nature House, 4519 Piper Ave, Burnaby
- Admission: Free
Tagore Spring Festival 2018
- What: The 4th Annual Tagore Spring Festival is a multicultural celebration of spring through live music, dance, and poetry. Artists from different backgrounds will perform presentations highlighting their traditions and heritages. The event is inspired by Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s idea of cultural diversity and pluralism.
- When: Saturday, May 19, 2018
- Time: 7 to 9 pm
- Where: Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall – 13450 104 Ave, Surrey
- Admission: By donation / Pay-it-forward
2018 Vancouver Comics Arts Festival
- What: A two-day celebration of comics and graphic novels and their creators, including an exhibition and vendor fair featuring hundreds of creators from around the world.
- When: Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 5 pm
- Where: Roundhouse Community Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Talent Time: Fundraising Party & Screening
- What: A Talent Time party with a screening of the 10 Year Polka Party episode, live performances, silent auction, and music by show-runners Ace Martens and Paul Anthony. The event will help raise funds for the hopeful relaunch of the show in September.
- When: Saturday, May 19, 2018
- Time: 8 pm
- Where: China Cloud Gallery – 524 Main Street, Vancouver
- Admission: $5-$10 sliding scale
Shred for a Cause Ski Day
- What: Shred for a Cause Ski Day is raising funds for Zero Ceiling, a non-profit which makes a difference in the lives of youth experiencing homelessness, through providing opportunities including mountain experiences and sports. The full-day event, which takes place on May 19, includes transportation to and from Whistler Blackcomb, ski lift pass, lunch with a beer (for 19+ participants only), a raffle ticket with incredible prizes, and a day filled with end of winter fun.
- When: Saturday, May 18, 2018
- Time: 8 am to 7:30 pm
- Where: Whistler Blackcomb
- Tickets: Online, $79 to $150
The Science Behind Pixar Vancouver 2018
Mike and Sulley from Pixar’s ‘Monsters, Inc.’ at The Science Behind Pixar exhibition. (Pixar Animation Studios / Museum of Science, Boston)
- What: The Science Behind Pixar, featuring over 40 interactive elements, was created by the Museum of Science, Boston and Pixar Animation Studios. The upcoming exhibition in Vancouver will be broken into eight distinct sections, with each focusing on a step of Pixar’s filming making process: modelling, rigging, surfaces, sets and cameras, animation, simulation, lighting, and rendering. The activities and exhibits are inspired by some of Pixar’s most acclaimed films, including Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, and WALL-E. Attendees will also have photo opportunities with human-size recreations of famous Pixar characters, such as Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode, and WALL-E.
- When: Saturday, May 19, 2018, to Sunday, January 6, 2019
- Time: Various times
- Where: Science World – 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
- Tickets: Online
Vancouver Kpop Con
- What: The Vancouver Kpop Con is the first expansion of the popular Toronto convention that’s been held annually since 2015. The two-day convention is a celebration of all things Kpop. Fans will be able to gather together to hang out, access official merchandise, and listen to performances by Korean artists.
- When: Saturday, May 19 to Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: Various times
- Where: Hard Rock Casino Vancouver – 2080 United Blvd, Coquitlam
- Tickets: Online
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Russ
- What: Russell Vitale, known by his stage name Russ, will kick off his See You Tour Part 1 in Vancouver. The Atlanta-based hip-hop artist’s breakout success over the past year, began with his entirely self-penned debut album There’s Really A WOLF, released in May 2017. His hits “What They Want” and “Losin Control” have both landed double-platinum success. The popularity of There’s Really A WOLF helped Russ surpass 1.1 billion audio streams in the U.S. in 2017, making him one of Nielsen Music’s 30 most streamed artists of the year.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm
- Where: Pacific Coliseum – 100 N Renfrew St, Vancouver
- Tickets: Via Live Nation, $59.95
In the BAG: Family Sundays
- What: Get your mind humming with a tour of the gallery and then into the studio for family-friendly art projects. May’s theme is Photo Abstraction. All ages welcome.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 1 to 4 pm
- Where: Burnaby Art Gallery – 6344 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
- Admission: Free
Jimmy Carr
- What: Jimmy Carr has been on the stand-up scene for a decade and a half. In that time he’s performed nine sell-out tours, playing nearly 2,000 shows to over two million people across four continents including performing at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival 12 times. He’s won the British Comedy Award for “Best Live Stand-Up Tour” and been nominated for the Perrier Award.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 7 pm
- Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
- Tickets: Online, $55.50
Whistler GO Fest
- What: The fifth annual GO Fest, Whistler’s Great Outdoors Festival, returns on the Victoria Day Long Weekend. Spend four days trying different outdoors activities in a beautiful outdoor setting, and also enjoy music, arts and culture events, and more.
- When: Now to Monday, May 21, 2018
- Time: Various times
- Where: Various venues in Whistler
- More Info: Online
Rufus Wainwright
(Rufus Wainwright/Facebook)
- What: Juno award-winning American-Canadian singer and composer Rufus Wainwright is coming to Vancouver for a show this May. Wainwright has recorded seven albums over the course of his career, as well as writing a classical opera and setting Shakespearean sonnets to music. He is perhaps most famous for recording a cover of Leonard Cohen’s song Hallelujah! for the soundtrack of the movie Shrek in 2001.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm
- Where: UBC Chan Centre for the Performing Arts – 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver
- Tickets: On UBC, $49.50-$69.50
Wilderness at your Doorstep
- What: Nature and history live together in this beautiful wilderness park. Join BC Mills Hosts to find out more about some of its secrets.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 2 pm
- Where: Lynn Headwaters Regional Park – Meet at BC Mills House, north end of Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Bells and Whistles Dip Into Summer Party
- What: Bells and Whistles kicks off their first official summer season by serving up drink features like ‘fishbowls’ of Pink Sangria (rosé, brandy, fresh citrus, and berries) and live entertainment on their brand new patio.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 2 to 7 pm
- Where: 3296 Fraser Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Sufi & Qawwali Music Experience with Anandita Basu
- What: Experience the connection between music and meditation with Anandita’s fusion of Sufi and Indian Classical vocals. Anandita’s exhilarating vocals and interactions with the audience helps to understand the ancient origins of this music as well as experience the subtle effects it has on our being. Sangeet Moksha, a local music group will also be performing with Anandita. This unique group includes artists who studied music in India as well as North American artists who have incorporated music from India into their musical repertoire.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 1 to 3:30 pm
- Where: Richmond Library and Cultural Centre – Performance Hall – 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond
- Admission: Free
Chicken Fight VII
Photo courtesy Gastown Chicken Fight.
- What: Patrons can head to The Lamplighter to judge the wings that have been prepared by cooks from participating restaurants and teams. There will be drink deals like $5 Hornitos tequila and $5 Phillips 18oz draughts to get in on as well. Final votes are then tallied, and winners are chosen based on the combined votes of the public and the judging panel. After this exciting event wraps, the Long Weekend afterparty continues all night long.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 4 pm
- Where: The Lamplighter – 92 Water Street, Vancouver
- More Info: Online
AR Play
- What: Anime Revolution presents a day of LAN and console gaming. Show off your skills and establish yourself among the local gaming community. Make new friends and new rivals, all while shooting for the grand prize pool.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 8 pm
- Where: LaSalle College Vancouver – 2665 Renfrew Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Abburlesque – ABBA Live Band Burlesque
- What: Kitty Nights closes out their 10th Anniversary Season with a Live Band Burlesque tribute to the music of ABBA. Featuring the Hot & Heavy Band with Burgundy Brixx, Cass King, Doug Thoms, and Mark Richardson with burlesque performances by EmpeROAR Fabulous, April O’Peel, Chastity Twist, Draco Muff-Boi & Ginger Femmecat, Kitty Glitter & Rocket Sauce, Jayne Fondue and Violet Fiori. Plus go-go by Daisy Sapphire.
- When: Sunday, May 20, 2018
- Times: Doors 8 pm, show 9 pm
- Where: Biltmore Cabaret – 2755 Prince Edward St., Vancouver
- Tickets: Online, $12-$15