5 Reasons to Attend The Kaleidoscope Arts Festival in Coquitlam

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival returns to Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park on August 11th to celebrate all things art at this free family-friendly event. This year, the City of Coquitlam is ​excited to have the Juno award-winning band, The Philosopher Kings, take to the TD Community Plaza stage as the headlining act.

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival in Coquitlam

Where: Town Centre Park next to Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station
When: Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm
Tickets: FREE! All ages.

2018 Kaleidoscope - Miss 604 - Digi Ad - 640 x 425

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival is Coquitlam’s free, full-day celebration of the arts with dynamic live performances across two stages, with Juno award-winning band, The Philosopher Kings, headlining the TD Community Plaza stage.

The schedule includes dancers, multicultural acts and interactive community art, and craft beer and food available for purchase. You won’t want to miss this event, here are 5 (of many) reasons why!

1. FREE CONCERTS
Featured performers on two stages include The Philosopher Kings, Mathew V, Dawn Pemberton, Kytami and The Kwerks. Plus, other unique and engaging artists throughout the festival site. What I loved about the concerts last year, on top of the great views of the stage from all over the amphitheatre, was how engaged everyone was. Young and old people were picnicking, dancing, and singing along.

Kaleidoscope Arts Coquitlam

2. The Spectacular Setting
Town Centre Park’s main feature is Lafarge Lake, but there’s also basketball courts, a spray park, gardens, and more. The festival site is situated on the edge of the lake with a panoramic backdrop that includes Burke and Eagle Mountains. In 2017 it was named, “Best Public Space” by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival 2017 - Coquitlam, B.C.

3. Brew Corner and Food Truck Alley
Your favourite food trucks all in one place along with cold craft beer and cider to enjoy throughout the festival site – there’s no beer garden fence! Grab some food truck fare, picnic by a stage, and enjoy your favourite craft beer or cider right there too.

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival 2017 - Coquitlam, B.C.

4. Spark Your Creativity
Hands-on activities, crafts, and interactive performances will keep you engaged with the arts aspect of the festival. Join artist TaraLee Houston at The Studio as builds her interactive textile art “Weave Community Circles.” Using a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors from recycled fabric and ribbon you can join in the creation of this giant art installation. Visit the Eco Art, Writers’ Corner, and Improv exhibits too!

5. FREE! And Easy to Get To
Town Centre Park is located right next to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station. There’s also plenty of parking available throughout the entire park area.

Don’t miss out! RSVP to the Facebook event to get all the latest info about the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival in Coquitlam on August 11th.

Miss604 is the proud Social Media Sponsor of Kaleidoscope Arts Festival

Summer Camp in Stanley Park

Add a Comment by Guest Author

This post has been contributed by Michael Murray, Development Assistant with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”).

Summer Camp in Stanley Park

SPES Sap Tree Camp
SPES day camper investigates sap sucker holes.
Photo by Don Enright.

Blue skies and soaring temperatures can mean only one thing: summer has returned to the Lower Mainland and parents everywhere are wrestling with the age-old question of what to do with their children for the summer holidays.

The Stanley Park Ecology Society may have the answer you’ve been looking for with the Stanley Park Eco Camps. “These camps are a great way to explore parts of the Park that very few people get to see,” says Dylan Rawlyk, SPES School Programs Manager.

Recent Studies have also shown the many benefits of connecting children to nature – from lowering stress levels to improving concentration and increasing physical fitness. If your child is in need of a nature fix, SPES is here to help.

SPES has a wide array of summer day camp programs sure to suit the interests of even the most discerning of nature lovers. Here’s a rundown of SPES’ weekly summer day camps for 7 to 11 year olds in July and August:

Let the forest be your muse with SEPS’ Art in Nature camp running July 16-20. Your child will channel their inner Monet as they paint the lily pads of Beaver Lake and make their very own paper maché nature mask to take home.

SPES Beach Camp
Exploring the beach at Lumberman’s Arch.
Photo by Brian Grover.

Water Wilderness July 23-27, explores Stanley Park’s beaches, creeks and wetlands and the various plants and animals that call these watery ecosystems home.

Another favourite is the Stanley Park Survivor camp teaching children how to camp responsibly, leaving a minimal footprint on the environment. This camp runs July 30 to August 3.

If you prefer to get your hands dirty, then the Stewards of Stanley Park is an excellent chance to explore some of the many varieties of flora found in the Park. Campers will conduct their own Citizen Science tests as they learn about the challenges facing urban parks. This camp is running August 7-10 and is filling up quickly.

SPES Birdwatch Camp
Campers birdwatch at Beaver Lake.
Photo by Anthony Ho.

The Feathered Friends camp is great for the budding ornithologist in your house, running from August 20-24, this camp is an excellent opportunity for children to learn more about the many varieties of birds that call Stanley Park home.

The Park is home to four nesting pairs of bald eagles and an expansive great blue heron colony; it is also a nursery for songbirds, owls, and many other bird species. Campers will learn how to identify eggs, build a nest box and properly use binoculars.

All camps run 8:30am to 4:30pm rain or shine, and after care is available for an additional $20 per week. For the complete list of all SPES day camps and to register, check out the SPES website and enjoy your summer in the Park!

About SPES Saturday

SPESLogoFourLineAs a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”), I wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with my audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.

Richmond World Festival 2018

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Canadian and international music icons Lights and Magic! will headline the 4th annual Richmond World Festival. Presented by Coast Capital Savings, the nationally award-winning festival will once again present a smorgasbord of music, arts, food and culture from around the globe on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 in Richmond’s Minoru Park.

Richmond World Festival 2018

  • When: Friday, August 31, 2018 4:00pm to 10:00pm
    Saturday September 1, 2018 11:00am to 11:00pm
  • Where:Minoru Park & Richmond Cultural Centre Plaza
    (7191 Granville Ave, Richmond)
  • Admission: FREE! RSVP to the Facebook events here »

Richmond World Festival

The festival will feature over 90 artists performing on 9 stages, serving up rich slices of African, Asian, North and South American, European, South Pacific and Caribbean cultures. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Hitting the OpenRoad with the Hyundai Kona

Comments 213 by Rebecca Bollwitt
Disclosure: Review — This is not a paid post, views are my own. I had a Hyundai Kona media vehicle for 1 week courtesy of OpenRoad. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

With my destination set to the Four Seasons (for their epic Thursday night barbecues), I rode up the Sea to Sky in style in the all new Hyundai Kona from OpenRoad Hyundai Boundary.

Hyundai Kona

Michelle parked her own Hyundai next to mine in a Downtown lot and we carpooled up to Whistler in my Tangerin Comet-coloured Kona. “I have to get new wheels,” she said. “Cause these look so good.” I had no idea that would be the first thing she noticed about our ride!

Plugging in my iPhone to activate Apple Car Play, sliding the sunroof back, hopping from Eco Drive Mode in the city to Sport Mode on the highway for more pick-up. This crossover has a lot of pep, and a lot of room – enough for our weekender bags, groceries, and more – and we didn’t even use the organization compartment that sits under the cargo area.

We exited the highway at Porteau Cove for a quite picnic lunch, turning into the parking lot at the same time as car club convoy of booming Italian sports cars. We hopped out to enjoy our feast at the picnic tables, and to also take photos of our hot little ride on the edge of Howe Sound. We got a few looks, and many smiles.

Hyundai Kona Collage

Lumbar support, touch-screen displays, and the Infinity audio system (and the great company I had) made the rest of the road trip a breeze.

Enter to Win

Thinking of hitting the open road for an afternoon adventure? OpenRoad Hyundai has a $250 Cactus Club gift card for me to give away to a lucky Miss604 reader. Dine-in, or take out for your own elevated Sea to Sky picnic.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a $250 @CactusClubCafe gc from @openroadca #HyundaiBoundary #Kona http://ow.ly/93NM30kVnSF” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

For more information about the Kona, get in touch with OpenRoad Hyundai Boundary on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Update The winner is Jocelyn!

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

It’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival weekend at Jericho Beach Park! On top of that there are free outdoor dances, a symphony by the sea, street fairs and markets. Find all of these things to do in Vancouver this weekend and more listed below:

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Friday, July 13, 2018
Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Sister Says: Music and Storytelling Concert
Friday Movie Series at the Richmond Olympic Oval
Echology Chamber Choir
CAG Talk | Ellen Davis on Channa Horwitz
Indigenous Plant Use
Tracey Bell, 13 Divas in 69 Minutes
Fridays on Front, New West
VANS Park Series
Adults Only Playland Nights
BAD A$$ B!TCHE$ – A Cutting Edge Cabaret
Music at the Cannery
Kitsilano Showboat
Richmond Night Market
Shipyards Night Market North Vancouver
Canada Cup International Softball Championship
Indian Summer Festival
Dancing on the Edge Festival
Les Miserables at the QE Theatre
Plastic Orchid Factory Presents: i miss doing nothing
Vancouver TheatreSports: Avocado Toast, Free-Range Comedy
Continue reading this post ⟩⟩