20 things to do in Vancouver this weekend: May 5 to 6

The first weekend of May is here! Make the most of it with our rundown of 20 things to do on Saturday,May 5 and Sunday, May 6, including Playland, Free Comic Book Day, Investors Group Walk For Alzheimer’s 2018, and more.

And for more things happening around town be sure to check out our events section.

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Playland Season Opening

• What: If you’re ready to reacquaint yourself with the rolls, drops, spins, and thrills that only Playland can offer, then you’re in luck! The always-popular amusement park located in East Vancouver opens its doors for weekend operation, beginning this Saturday, May 5. In total, there are 35 rides and attractions to enjoy, 14 of which offer an extreme experience for those who dare to ride them.
• When: Open on weekends starting Saturday, May 5 until June 15 when it will open up during the week as well
• Time: 10 to 6 pm
• Where: Playland at the PNE – Hastings Street just off Highway #1 West – Exit #26
• Tickets: Available online

17th Annual Rotary Wine and Food Fest

• What: An evening of wine tasting, culinary delights, and live jazz music to benefit Rotary Coats for Kids Campaign and other community projects. There will also be a silent auction, 50-50 draw, and local craft beer.
• When: Saturday, May 05, 2018 
  
• Time: 7 pm
• Where: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre – 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby
• Tickets: Online

Free Comic Book Day

• What: The event takes place at independent comic book shops all across North America, with thousands of locations around the continent participating in the celebration. This year, at least 48 different comics will be given out, including well-known titles like the Avengers, Captain America, Doctor Who, Pokemon, Riverdale, the Amazing Spiderman, and Star Wars, to name a few. In Vancouver, several shops will be celebrating with free books and special events.
• When: Saturday, May 5, 2018
• Time: Various times
• Where: Various comic shops across Metro Vancouver
• Admission: Free

Shania Twain

• What: The five-time Grammy Award-winner has sold more than 90 million albums worldwide, with US sales alone topping 34.5 million albums. Being the top-selling female country artist of all time, her most recent album NOW included the new singles “Life’s About to Get Good,” “Poor Me”, and “Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed.”
• When: Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6, 2018, 2018
• Time: Doors at 6:30 pm / Show at 7:30 pm
• Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
• Tickets: Via Live Nation, $59.95 to $189.95.

Vancouver Public Library Book Sale

• What: With so many different titles available, it’s safe to say you’ll be able to find your next favourite work of fiction, or non-fiction, at a storybook price. Prices start at just 50 cents for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers. Everything remaining will be half price on Saturday Attendees are asked to bring their own bags to carry their new reads home in. Proceeds from the book sales support special library programs and projects.
• When: Now to Saturday, May 5, 2018
• Time: 10 am to 5 pm
• Where: Vancouver Public Library central branch – 350 West Georgia
• Admission: Free

Curious by Nature: Bears

• What: Curious about bears? Wondering how to share the park with them or how to avoid them? Ask a park interpreter at the pop-up displays.
• When: Saturday, May 5, 2018
• Time: 9:30 am to 11 am
• Where: Minnekhada Regional Park – Meet at Quarry Rd parking lot, Coquitlam
• Admission: Free

Burnaby Artisan Farmers’ Market

• What: Burnaby Artisan Farmers’ Market features locally grown conventional and organic produce, prepared foods and crafts. There will also be live music every week, a used book exchange, a children’s play tent, games table and sitting area with local newspapers. Plus there are also food trucks featuring all kinds of delicious foods to eat right at the market.
• When: Every Saturday from May 5 to October 27, 2018
• Time: 9 am to 2 pm
• Where: North Parking Lot of Burnaby City Hall (4949 Canada Way at Deer Lake Pkwy)
• Admission: Free

The Pull of the Net: A Multicultural Celebration

• What: Enjoy the cultural displays and performances from a variety of multicultural community groups who have been historically involved in the building of our west coast fishing industry.
• When: Saturday, May 5, 2018
• Time: 11 am start
• Where: Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site – 12138 Fourth Avenue, Richmond
• Admission: Free

Cinco de Mayo at VENUE

• What: VENUE celebrates Cinco de Mayo all night long with resident DJs Rashad Rawkus, J-traxx and Downlowe at Embrace Saturdays.
• When: Saturday, May 5, 2018
• Time: Doors 10 pm
• Where: VENUE – 881 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, Free RSVP until 11:30 pm

Trout Lake Farmers’ Market

• What: Visitors come from near and far to sample artisan breads and preserves, stock up on free-range and organic eggs and meats, get the freshest, hard-to-find heirloom vegetables and taste the first Okanagan cherries and peaches of the season.
• When: Every Saturday from Saturday, May 5 to Saturday, October 20, 2018
• Time: 9 am to 2 pm
• Where: Lakewood Drive and 13th Avenue, Vancouver
• Admission: Free

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Investors Group Walk For Alzheimer’s 2018

• What: Join fellow Vancouverites in the Investors Group Walk For Alzheimer’s. It’s a five-kilometre walk departing from Athletes Way which you can join as an individual participant, as part of a team, or donate if you can’t make it. Vancouver will be one of 23 locations across the province uniting for the Investors Group Walk For Alzheimer’s – Canada’s biggest fundraising event for the disease and other dementias.
• When: Sunday, May 6, 2018
• Time: Registration 12 pm | Walk 1 to 3 pm
• Where: Creekside Community Recreation Centre – 1 Athletes Way
• Price: Register or donate via alzgiving.ca

Rhododendron Festival

• What: The City of Burnaby in collaboration with the Burnaby Rhododendron & Gardens promotes the long-term sustainable, ecological health of our communities. It presents a unique venue for both horticulture and arts groups. Events will be held at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and Burnaby Art Gallery.
• When: Sunday, May 6, 2018
• When: 11 am to 3 pm (Shadbolt Centre for the Arts), 1 to 3 pm (Burnaby Art Gallery)
• Where: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts –  6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby; Burnaby Art Gallery – 6344 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
• Admission: Free (Shadbolt Centre for the Arts), by donation (Burnaby Art Gallery)

Kitsilano Farmers’ Market

• What: At Kitsilano Farmers’ Market, shoppers will find a great selection of just-picked, seasonal fruits and vegetables, ethically raised and grass-fed meat, eggs, and dairy, sustainable seafood, freshly baked bread and artisanal food, local beer, wine, and spirits, and beautiful, handmade craft. Kids and parents alike can enjoy entertainment by market musicians, a nearby playground and splash park, and coffee and food truck offerings each week.
• When: Every Sunday from Sunday, May 6 to Sunday, October 21, 2018
• Time: 10 am to 2 pm
• Where: Parking lot of Kits Community Centre – 2690 Larch Street, Vancouver
• Admission: Free

Fleurs De Villes at Metropolis at Metrotown

• What: Fleurs De Villes Mannequin Series combines high fashion and fresh florals through inventive and artful displays showcased at Metropolis at Metrotown. Each exhibit features a collection of floral-dressed mannequins, in a gallery-like setting, which grows from a partnership between a local florist and a leading brand.
• When: Now to Sunday, May 6, 2018
• Time: Regular Mall Hours
• Where: Metropolis at Metrotown – 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby
• Admission: Free

Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg

• What: The Vancouver Art Gallery presents Canada’s first-ever retrospective of international art icon, Takashi Murakami. The collection is set to feature more than 55 works of art, from Murakami’s earliest paintings to his recent large-scale projects, including a newly-created five-metre-tall sculpture, as well as two multi-panel paintings created especially for the Vancouver exhibition.
• When: Now to Sunday, May 6, 2018
• Time: 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesdays until 9 pm
• Where: Vancouver Art Gallery – 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online

Burnaby Festival of Learning

• What: The Burnaby Festival of Learning celebrates lifelong learning in creative, unconventional ways, and features a week-long series of free events for everyone that will inspire, engage and spark creativity. Enjoy a variety of events happening throughout Burnaby, including performances, lectures, discussions, tours, and more.
• When: Sunday, May 6 to Saturday, May 12, 2018
• Time: Various times
• Where: Various venues
• Admission: Free

Rain Barrel and Backyard Composter Sales

• What: Have a water-wise garden this spring. Make your garden happy with chlorine-free, ambient temperature water from a rain barrel and nutrient-rich soil from a backyard composter. Pre-ordering is recommended.
• When: Sunday, May 6, 2018
  
• Time: 10 am to 3 pm
• Where: VanDusen Garden- 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
• More Info: Online

Kids Help Phone Walk So Kids Can Talk 

• What: Walk So Kids Can Talk is a fun and inspirational 5-kilometre walk that will bring together the community to raise money for Kids Help Phone — a leading Canadian charity offering the only national professional counselling service that kids can trust and access at any time. The walk will take place at the Kids Help Phone sites in Vancouver and Surrey. There will be plenty of onsite activities and entertainment including, a giant bouncy castle, face painting, performances from band X-Ray Ted, Boogaloo Dance Academy, glee club Showstoppers, local crooner Stephen Scaccia, and keyboardist Mia Lancaster.
• When: Sunday, May 6, 2018
• Time: Registration opens at 9:30 am, walk starts at 11 am
• Where: David Lam Park – Yaletown 1300 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver; Surrey – 13428 Old Yale Rd, Surrey
• Register: Online 

Steveston Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market

• What: The Steveston Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market is a place for the community to meet farmers and artisans in an open, fresh-air environment. Find fresh locally grown produce, artisan-processed foods, local arts and crafts, music by talented local musicians, ready-to-eat food and refreshments, kids’ craft and activities, and entertainment throughout the season.
• When: Alternate Sundays starting Sunday, May 6 to September 16, 2018
• Time: 10:30 am to 3:30 pm
• Where: Easthope Parking Lot (across the street from the Steveston Community Centre) – 4111 Moncton Street, Richmond
• Admission: Free

High Tea For Hospice

• What: Celebrate an early Mother’s Day at this special fundraiser for the Surrey Hospice Society. At High Tea For Hospice, guests can expect delicious teas, refreshments, fine china, special linens, the sounds of harp and violin, and flowers arranged with love.
• When: Sunday, May 6, 2018
  
• Time: 12:30 to 3 pm
• Where: Surrey City Hall – 13450 104 Ave, Surrey
• Tickets: Online, $23-$38

BC CacheCon 2018

• What: A free family fun day for everything geocaching and outdoor exploration related. Run in partnership with British Columbia Geocaching Association and the Metro Vancouver Geocachers. BC CacheCon 2018 is suitable for all ages.
• When: Sunday, May 6, 2018
• Times: 9 am to 3:30 pm
• Where: Richmond Nature Park – 11851 Westminster Hwy, Richmond
• Admission: Free

See also

• Last chance to see 'The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg' at the Vancouver Art Gallery
• Vancouver's croissant-centric bakery opens next week
• Beautiful photos of Vancouver's cherry blossoms in full bloom