There's no shortage of entertaining events taking place in New Westminster on the Labour Day long weekend. Here are our top suggestions for Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
1 Exercise your vocal chords at this Friday's showing of Grease on the big screen at Queen's Park Stadium. If you're getting a feeling of déjà vu, that's because this event was included in last week's Top Five Things to Do in New Westminster last weekend, but wasn't shown because of technical issues. Community members are invited to take in the movie and sing along to the 1978 musical featuring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta. The movie starts at dusk, which is about 8:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chairs to sit on and some snacks and enjoy the last Friday before the kids head back to school.
2 Help out Honour House (and other local organizations), at the Re-Up BBQ on the Beach, which features smoked meats and other treats by Re-Up BBQ, including appetizers, dessert and a drink. The event takes place on Sunday, Sept. 1 starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 and available at reupbbq. com or at the Re-Up BBQ shop at River Market (810 Quayside Dr.) The event includes music and dancing, roving performers from Vancouver Circus School, party games, a kids area and three meat draws. Proceeds from the cash bar and meat draw will be donated to A Beef With Hunger, a charity that donates beef to various local nonprofit groups including Honour House.
3Bake your best pie and take it to River Market, which is having a pie contest on Saturday, Aug. 31. Pies will be judged on flavour, crust, originality and use of local ingredients. To enter the contest go to www.rivermarket. ca/events and click on the link under Pie Contest.
4 Explore the way bugs and birds use plants and other materials to create shelter and camouflage. ArtStarts is presenting two sessions of the free art workshop for kids with Rebecca Graham on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The workshop is targeted at kids aged three to 11 but everyone is welcome. No pre-registration is necessary. Each session lasts 45 minutes and takes place at River Market, 810 Quayside Dr. For more information, visit www.artstarts. com/free-weekendworkshops.
5 Enjoy the battle for BBQ supremacy at River Market on Sunday, when four teams will compete in the market's second annual BBQ Battle. Teams from Tre Galli Gelato Caffe (last year's champ), Crepe Des Amis, Donald's Market and Wild Rice will vie for the top prize. They'll be barbecuing chicken starting at noon, veggies at 1:30 p.m. and salmon at 3 p.m. Everyone is invited to watch the teams in action - and taste the creations for a minimum donation of $2 (proceeds will go to Royal City Farmers Market).
6Get a peek at award-winning New Westminster artist Frank Bennett's Looking Out My Window exhibit before it's too late. The exhibit, a collection of landscapes, figurative and landscape works, wraps up on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Arts Council Gallery in Queen's Park. The gallery, located in Centennial Lodge, is open from 1 to 5 p.m.
7Open your mind to magic, when the Society of American Magicians takes to the stage at the Queen's Park Bandshell on Sunday at 2 p.m. While you're there, drop by the petting farm before the animals bid farewell to their summer homes on Labour Day.
Email your Top 5 ideas to calendar@royalcityrecord. com or send them to tmc [email protected]. You can also check out listings at www.royalcityrecord. com. - compiled by Theresa McManus
