It centres on a holiday designed to give workers a break from their labours — but, for many folks, Labour Day also marks one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Between social events and last-minute back-to-school shopping, it can be a weekend full of hustle and bustle. To help try to combat the chaos, the newsroom has rounded up this list of five ways to find relaxation in New Westminster this weekend.
Take a dip in a New West pool
With the current forecast showing a high of 27 C and a sunshiny Saturday, tomorrow may be the perfect time to soak and splash your cares away in one of the city's outdoor pools.
Moody Park Pool is open 12:15 to 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. on Sunday and 8:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. on Monday. Hume Park is open 12:15 to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday.
If you want to be certain of a spot, you can sign up for a swim session (1.5 hours long) online — or you can take your chances on a drop-in spot. Registration opens three days in advance for residents.
Find all the details and registration links at the New Westminster parks and recreation website.
Enjoy a picnic in a New West park
New Westminster is blessed with some great parks for picnicking — not the least of which is Queen's Park, with picnic shelters, picnic tables galore and plenty of green lawn for spreading blankets under the trees. Or try out Hume Park, Grimston Park or Ryall Park for other excellent spots that have plenty of space for the whole family. Let the kids loose on the playground while you mellow out with food and beverages.
Want to up your picnic game? Why not indulge in a treat from your favourite local eatery — a charcuterie box from Gastronomia Italia, some treats from Take the Cake, a delightful lunch from Greens and Beans Deli ... the possibilities are endless.
Commune with nature on a New West walk
Get your body moving — but not too fast — with a gentle stroll in some of New West's best natural places. If you're a river lover (and who isn't?), a walk along the Quayside boardwalk, a stroll down Sapperton Landing or a meander along the Port Royal waterfront pathway are excellent ways to soak in the Fraser views.
For some urban forest bathing, immerse yourself in the treed surroundings of Glenbrook Ravine, Queen's Park or Lower Hume Park.
Read the hours away
What better way to unwind than to lose yourself in the pages of another world? Book lovers in New West are blessed with some excellent options for finding literary treasures — try Groove Cat Books and Records uptown, Wildfires Bookshop on 12th Street or Kinder Books at River Market.
Or stop by the library — the fine folks at the New Westminster Public Library's two branches (the main uptown branch and the Queensborough branch) are ready to help you find the perfect book. Note that both branches are closed Sunday and Monday for Labour Day weekend, so be sure to seek out your reading materials in advance.
Soak up the action on the silver screen
If you've somehow managed to miss the Barbenheimer hype, why not catch up this weekend? Both Barbie and Oppenheimer are still playing at New Westminster's Landmark Cinemas, and the crowds are bound to be smaller than they were a few weeks back. Or catch a 30th anniversary reissue of Jurassic Park in 3D, among the many other options. Get tickets and information at the Landmark Cinemas website.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected]
