It's the long weekend! Yay! And as usually there are a bijillion things to do around Vancouver. If you are in town, I recommend checking out the downtown Vancouver's first ever BBQ and Chili Festival! The Telus TaiwanFest is also a great festival to attend and on Sunday, you can rock out to bands at the Victory Square Block Party or pig out at the LAST Street Cart Fest at the Waldorf. It is also the last days the Klahowya Village in Stanley Park will be open for the 2012 season AND it's the last days for Fair at the PNE! Isn't it so hard to choose which events to go to? Enjoy the long weekend, everyone!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Olympic Village London Drugs Grand Opening
9:00am
1622 Salt Street, Vancouver
Come on down and join in the fun, there will be coffee and treats beginning at 8:30 and the ribbon cutting will happen at 9:00am. There’s even a special prize for the first person in line!

Shiseido Event at Granville London Drugs
Aug29 - Sept1. 12:00pm - 6:00pm
710 Granville Street, Vancouver
Free Make Overs, Gifts, Door prizes and more~ See store for details

Serbian Days 2012 Festival
Aug 31st - Sept 2nd (see schedule of events here)
Siberian Orthodox Church, 505 E 63rd Avenue, Vancouver
22nd traditional Serbian Day 2012 Festival, organized by Church-School Congregation “Sveti Sava”. Music, dance, food sport, fun for the whole family.

11:00am - 5:00pm
Stanley Park, Vancouver
It is the last few days of the Klahowya Village 2012 season. Last day open is September 3, 2012! General admission to Klahowya Village is free and includes the Artisan Marketplace, storytelling and weekend performances. Face painting is by donation.  Spirit Catcher miniature train tickets are now only $5 per person and include unlimited train rides for the day. Children 2 and under ride the train for free.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

11:00am - 3:00pm
1622 Salt Street, Vancouver
The festivities won’t stop on just the Friday. Come down (same location) Saturday September 1st between 11:00am and 3:00pm to further celebrate the Grand Opening! Lots more snacks and refreshments available, along with entertainment from Jack FM, Sonic FM and CityTV will also be on location! There will be lots of giveaways and street teams handing out swag.  

Shiseido Event at Granville London Drugs
Aug29 - Sept1. 12:00pm - 6:00pm
710 Granville Street, Vancouver
Free Make Overs, Gifts, Door prizes and more~ See store for details

2012 Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival
Sept 1st, 1:00pm - 8:00pm (BBQ Competition, Public tasting ends at 5pm),
Sept 2nd 1:00pm - 7:00pm (Chili Competition, Public tasting ends at 5pm)
Carrall Street, between Cordova Street and Water Street
Downtown Vancouver’s FIRST ever BBQ and Chili Festival! Saturday, September 1, and Sunday, September 2, The Blarney Stone, and 11 other Gastown Restaurants, will be hosting a two-day, outdoor, block party and festival. The weekend will feature BBQ and Chili Competitions, Live Music, Pig Roast, Fire Dancers, and other events. A portion of the weekend’s BBQ and Chili sales will go directly to Athletics 4 Kids, a local charity that helps underprivileged kids participate in Sports. The BBQ Competition will be held on Saturday and the Chili Competition on Sunday. Celebrity Judges, along with the General Public, will vote on their favourite flavours and recipes. The Celebration reaches is finale on Sunday Evening, with the awards being handed out during a Labour Day Luau Party hosted by the Blarney Stone, which includes a pig roast, Live Band and DJ.  At the awards, a cheque, for funds raised over the weekend, will be presented to the Athletics 4 Kids Charity. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Aug 31st - Sept 2nd (see schedule of events here)
Siberian Orthodox Church, 505 E 63rd Avenue, Vancouver
22nd traditional Serbian Day 2012 Festival, organized by Church-School Congregation “Sveti Sava”. Music, dance, food sport, fun for the whole family.

11:00am - 8:30pm (see schedule of events here)
Vancouver Art Gallery & Granville Street, Downtown, 801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Robson Square Plaza, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
The annual TaiwanFest sponsored by Telus is happening starting this Saturday September 1st to Monday September 3rd.  This free event is dedicated to promoting Taiwanese Arts and Culture. There will be dance performances, lectures, music, food, games and many other fun things to do! 

11:00am - 5:00pm
Stanley Park, Vancouver
It is the last few days of the Klahowya Village 2012 season. Last day open is September 3, 2012! General admission to Klahowya Village is free and includes the Artisan Marketplace, storytelling and weekend performances. Face painting is by donation.  Spirit Catcher miniature train tickets are now only $5 per person and include unlimited train rides for the day. Children 2 and under ride the train for free.

The Tiffin Project Launch Party
9:00pm - 12:00am
The Noodle Box, 839 Homer St., Vancouver
The event will feature a talk by project Founder and Director Hunter Moyes, music by Hip Hop Eh Documentary Filmmaker and DJ Joe Klymkiw, free food from the project's partner restaurants (to the first 100 people who show up), a tiffin lottery, a chance to get 1 of 100 tiffins for $6 below their regular price, and door prizes from all sorts of local businesses! Doors will open to the party at 9:00PM. Food will be serve between 9:30 and 10:30. Drinks will run from start to finish. Presentations, door prize raffle, and an address by project director Hunter Moyes will start around 11.


Reoccurring:

9:00am - 2:00pm each week from May 12 - October 20
North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake, Vancouver
North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake Between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley Please note: There is no parking in the North Lot and no parking on 13th Avenue. Please park away from the area & walk in. Or better yet: walk, cycle or take transit if you can!

9:00am - 2:00pm each week from May 12 - October 20
1100 Block of Comox Street across from Nelson Park at Mole Hill
Buy fresh produce from local farmers!

10:00am - 2:00pm each week from July 7 - October 6 
East Boulevard between 37th and 41st Avenue - near Kerrisdale Arena
The farmers market will feature over 40 vendors selling farm produce, prepared foods and craft items from across BC.



Sunday, September 2, 2012

11:00am - 8:30pm (see schedule of events here)
Vancouver Art Gallery & Granville Street, Downtown, 801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Robson Square Plaza, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
The annual TaiwanFest sponsored by Telus is happening starting this Saturday September 1st to Monday September 3rd.  This free event is dedicated to promoting Taiwanese Arts and Culture. There will be dance performances, lectures, music, food, games and many other fun things to do!


12:00pm - 6:00pm 
1489 East Hastings Street Vancouver
It is the LAST DAY of the Waldorf, Yelp, Food Cart Festival! Join them for a series of free and family-friendly events. 

Sept 2nd 1:00pm - 7:00pm (Chili Competition, Public tasting ends at 5pm)
Carrall Street, between Cordova Street and Water Street
Downtown Vancouver’s FIRST ever BBQ and Chili Festival! Saturday, September 1, and Sunday, September 2, The Blarney Stone, and 11 other Gastown Restaurants, will be hosting a two-day, outdoor, block party and festival. The weekend will feature BBQ and Chili Competitions, Live Music, Pig Roast, Fire Dancers, and other events. A portion of the weekend’s BBQ and Chili sales will go directly to Athletics 4 Kids, a local charity that helps underprivileged kids participate in Sports. The BBQ Competition will be held on Saturday and the Chili Competition on Sunday. Celebrity Judges, along with the General Public, will vote on their favourite flavours and recipes. The Celebration reaches is finale on Sunday Evening, with the awards being handed out during a Labour Day Luau Party hosted by the Blarney Stone, which includes a pig roast, Live Band and DJ.  At the awards, a cheque, for funds raised over the weekend, will be presented to the Athletics 4 Kids Charity. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Victory Square Block Party 2012
2:00pm - 9:00pm
Victory Square Park (Cambie & Hastings), Vancouver
If Music Waste welcomes the start of summer in Vancouver, then the Victory Square Block Party is the ultimate way to say good-bye.  An afternoon of fundraising, bands, comedy, nature, random sprinkler attacks and music in an historic setting with all your friends. Music by The Ballantynes || Indian Wars || Mode Moderne || Korean Gut || Manik 1derful || Too High Crew || Weed || Love Cuts

Aug 31st - Sept 2nd (see program of events here)
Siberian Orthodox Church, 505 E 63rd Avenue, Vancouver
22nd traditional Serbian Day 2012 Festival, organized by Church-School Congregation “Sveti Sava”. Music, dance, food sport, fun for the whole family.



Reoccurring:

10:00am - 2:00pm each week May 20 - October 21 
2690 Larch Street at 10th Avenue, Parking Lot of Kitsilano Community Centre
Shop for organic and conventional product, meat, cheese, seafood and plants as well as tasty baked goods, beautiful crafts while being entertained by local musicians. Hot coffee and hot food available on site each week.

Monday, September 3, 2012 - Labour Day!

11:00am - 6:00pm (see schedule of events here)
Vancouver Art Gallery & Granville Street, Downtown, 801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Robson Square Plaza, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
The annual TaiwanFest sponsored by Telus is happening starting this Saturday September 1st to Monday September 3rd.  This free event is dedicated to promoting Taiwanese Arts and Culture. There will be dance performances, lectures, music, food, games and many other fun things to do! 

11:00am - 4:30pm 
Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Mark the end of the summer and the last day of the season for the Burnaby Village Museum at the Fall Fair. Transport yourself to the 1920's at this living village and experience life the way it used to be in Burnaby. From visiting the blacksmith or a ride on the vintage 1912 CW Parker carousel to a treat from the ice cream parlour, there's something for everyone at the Burnaby Village Museum. This year's Fall Fair includes games and races, corn shucking and a watermelon-eating contest to name a few. There will also be the fan-favourite Baking, Jams & Preserves competition as well as the Best of the Summer Harvest Vegetable Competition!

11:00am - 5:00pm
Stanley Park, Vancouver
It is the last few days of the Klahowya Village 2012 season. Last day open is September 3, 2012! General admission to Klahowya Village is free and includes the Artisan Marketplace, storytelling and weekend performances. Face painting is by donation.  Spirit Catcher miniature train tickets are now only $5 per person and include unlimited train rides for the day. Children 2 and under ride the train for free.




The annual fair at the PNE is currently in full swing and everyday attendees can enjoy hundreds of performances, exhibits, rides, food, music, and all around fun! Going to the fair is a yearly tradition in my family. I can't remember a time where we missed going and this year was no exception. 

This year there are a couple of new additions to see the most exciting being the Star Trek exhibit, which  gathers long lineups regardless of the time of day it is. 

My friends and I tried to fit as many shows in our day as possible starting with the Peking Acrobats.


They are a returning act and are very entertaining. The act doesn't change much though so if you have seen it the previous years and have somewhere else you want to be, then you can safely skip it without missing too much.


This act always gets me feeling anxious. I'm afraid for his safety!


New this year is Canfor's Playhouse Challenge. These playhouses will eventually be auctioned off to benefit the Habitat for Humanity organization.



 This airplane playhouse is my favourite!




 Walking further down, we encountered the Sand Sculpture Competition.







 And also the Container Art display presented by Port Metro Vancouver.




This my favourite out of all of them! The empire strikes back at Port Metro Vancouver! So awesome. The artist should totally make a t-shirt out of this! I'd wear it!



Salty the Seagull, the mascot of Port Metro Van gave a little pose for me!


Next show! What is a trip to the PNE without going to see the SUPERDOGS? Go early if you want to snag the good seats! We had to sit way at the end since we got in only 10 minutes before the show started.




One of the other things I enjoy is taking a look at the Prize home. It was decorated by The Bachelorette and Extreme Makeover's Jillian Harris!







The master bedroom has this massive walk in bathroom. There isn't actually a door to the bathroom so you'll have to close your bedroom door for any privacy.


After the prize home, we went to see the farm animals where there was a Rabbit Hopping obstacle course set up! This was not here during the previous years so I was delighted to stay and watch a while.







 Peace is a Belgian Hare.

Once she discovered that she can just hop through the bars, there was no convincing her to hop over them. Smart!




 Ha I love this llamas' mullet!




The Evolution of Extreme is an exciting show! These daredevils show no fear as they soar way above the ground on their machines!

They also like to do ground tricks at high speed! They have so much control!







Our last stop was the Star Trek exhibit. It's a pity that we aren't allowed photos inside. It takes a long time to go through the entire exhibit since it's so large. There are models, costumes, and other props from all of the Star Trek series to see and there are also three photo stops where you and your friends can pretend to be on the bridge and transporter room. Don't wear green or any colour similar to green if you want a decent print out of the photo, which will set you back $15.

There is still time to check out these shows and exhibits yourself! The PNE is open everyday from 11am - late. Tickets for general admission are $20 at the gate but you can buy them online for $15. What are you most excited about at the PNE?