Festive offerings abound this weekend, but they’re not the only thing in town. Here are our Top Five (or More) Things to Do in New Westminster this weekend for Dec. 5 to 7.
1. Head to Queen’s Park Arena for this year’s Hydrant Cup, a hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks alumni and the New Westminster firefighters. Country singers Chad Brownlee and Aaron Pritchett are also expected to suit up for the alumni team, whose roster often includes the likes of Kirk McLean, Cliff Ronning, Darcy Rota and Jyrki Lumme. Face-off is at 7 p.m., but pre-game action such as a barbecue, fire trucks and more gets underway at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for a family of four (two adults and two kids) or $5 per person. They’re available at the door.
2. Get inspired at Pecha Kucha New West, where 10 presenters will share their passion in short presentations featuring 20 images. The seventh instalment of this popular event takes place on Friday, Dec. 5 at River Market, 810 Quayside Dr. The presentations get started at 8 p.m., but the fun gets underway at 6:30 p.m. with drinks and musical entertainment. Tickets are $7. For tickets or information about the event or the speakers, visit www.pechakucha.org/cities/new-westminster.
3. Bundle up and head downtown to welcome Saint Nick when he comes to town in the Santa Claus Parade. The parade takes place along Columbia Street starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.
4. Soak up some holiday ambience at a variety of events taking place at several downtown locales following the Santa Claus Parade. Shops in New West will be offering photos with Santa (noon to 4 p.m.), Fraser River Discovery Centre is hosting Merry Fishmas (noon to 4 p.m.) and River Market is home to the holiday edition of Royal City Farmers Market (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Several events are taking place inside Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.) between noon and 4 p.m., including arts and crafts, children’s story time, performances and the Festival of Trees.
5. Watch the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Hyack Square. The annual event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. at the foot of Eighth Street.
6. Tour six of the city’s heritage homes that are decked out in their holiday finery for this year’s Homes for the Holidays tour. The tour, which takes place on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Queen’s Park Care Centre. Tickets are $20 and available at www.qphf.org or locally at Royal City Colours, Brick & Mortar Living, Champagne Taste and Cadeaux Gifts and Home Embellishments.
7. Enjoy some music of the seasonwhen the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir and Winter Harp take to the Massey Theatre stage on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2:30 p.m. Canada’s largest male voice choir joins the Winter Harp ensemble, which features harps, flutes, percussion and rare medieval instruments, in an afternoon of Christmas music. Tickets range from $26 to $37 and are available at www.ticketsnw.ca.
Email your Top 5 ideas to calendar@royalcityrecord.com or send them to tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com. Check out our full arts and events calendar listings at www.royalcityrecord.com.
Compiled by staff reporter Theresa McManus
