BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for June 4 – 10

Spend a Night at the Aquarium to raise funds for ocean research and conservation

What to do in BC this week

Tip Your Hat in Burnaby – June 4
It’s Hats Off Day on June 4 in Burnaby Heights. But before you toss your topper, here’s a heads-up: this annual summer street party doesn’t have a fig to do with hats but everything to do with tipping a figurative cap at Heights-area merchants and shoppers. And no worries; you don’t have to hail from the ’hood to party hearty at this multi-culti community carnival on June 4; everyone’s welcome to stake out a spot at the street parade or enjoy the food, music and all-ages fun, including a vintage show ‘n’ shine for the grown-ups and interactive activities for the kids. Check out the action along North Burnaby’s Hastings Street, between Boundary Road and Gamma Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sip Tea at the Oak Bay Tea Party – June 4-5
There’s just something oh-so-civilized about sipping tea. So if you’re thinking of priming your pinky to tip a cup, upper-crust style, at the 49th annual Oak Bay Tea Party, you should probably think again. Sure, this Victoria-based bash includes a Tetley Tea tent, but there’s also a beachfront barbecue, bathtub races and kayak paddling. In other words, this cross-generational jamboree on June 4 and 5 serves up more than just tea tasting by delivering a weekend full of live music, carnival rides, a military air show and, of course, oodles of eats. Plus, don’t miss the opening-day Tea Party Parade starting at Windsor Park at 10:30 a.m. and ending at Willows Park, the epicentre of the event.

Do the RONA MS Bike Tour – June 4-5
Whether you’re a dedicated cyclist or looking for a bit of recreation, riding in the RONA MS Bike Tour means you’ll be among thousands of Canadians putting pedal to the metal in the fight against multiple sclerosis. Big-hearted bicyclists can sign up for the June 4 and 5 Fraser Valley Grape Escape, a rural route pit-stopping at local wineries along the way. Can’t make it? You’ve got two more chances at a Grape Escape on August 13 and 14 in the Cowichan Valley and on September 17 and 18 in the Okanagan. Funds raised support research and vital services for people living with MS. To register, go to mssociety.ca.

Ride Thomas in Squamish
 – June 4-5 & 11-12
All aboard! Thomas-loving tots are in for trainloads of fun at West Coast Railway Heritage Park (39645 Government Road, Squamish) this week. That’s because the likeable locomotive is set to chug into the station on June 4, 5, 11 and 12 to whisk kids off on a 25-minute ride, complete with onboard entertainment that includes an appearance by Sir Topham Hatt. Word of advice? If you don’t want to risk facing an enraged rugrat, you’d better snap up your tickets now to secure your seat on the hugely popular Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track, running from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $20 per person. Reserve your seats online or by calling toll-free 1-888-222-6608.


Get a Wheel Deal – June 5

If you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, the first place you’d look is at a car lot, right? Wrong — at least on June 5, when you can meander through all manner of makes and models at the second annual outdoor Car Show at Morgan Crossing (15775 Croydon Drive, Surrey). And while you tire-kick the 100-plus cars and motorcycles, your spouse won’t grouse if you send ’em to check out the food vendors, beer tent and live band, along with special promos offered by some of the 60-plus shops and services. But don’t expect to curb your car in the Crossing ’cause the main street will be shut down to showcase a lineup of classic cars and motorcycles. Need more deets? Call 778-294-2925.

Attend Italian Day – June 5
One thing’s a given at any self-respecting Italian Day — plenty of ciao! And, of course, foodie fans will find plenty of the other kind of chow, too, with pizza tossing, grape crushing and a food fair lining the streets of Vancouver’s self-proclaimed Little Italy. Taking place on June 5 along Commercial Drive, this Mediterranean mash-up invites guests to have a ball playing bocce, amp up their culture quotient at an art exhibit and rev their engines at an auto display. Most of the action, though, will be centred on two outdoor stages showcasing live music from noon till 8 p.m., but be sure to swing by the food competitions, Italian fashion show and Buona Fortuna contest zone, too. Check it out between Venables Street and the Grandview Cut, with more details at thedrive.ca.

Raise Awareness of Skin Cancer – June 7
Did you know that the incidence of melanoma is rising faster than that of any other cancer? We didn’t either, which just goes to show that awareness of the disease is outpaced by the growing risk. That’s why events like Save Your Skin Foundation’s Celebrity Breakfast on June 7 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel (1038 Canada Place, Vancouver) aims to raise awareness, support and funds for all skin cancers. And while we all might be familiar with the old sun-smart saying of “slip, slop and slap,” we also need to know that “early detection of melanoma is crucial to the chances of long-term survival.” For info or tickets, priced at $125 per person, call 604-734-4223.


Spend a Night at the Aquarium – June 10
Not to be nasty, but who among us doesn’t pay lip service to the idea of sustainable seafood? So for a chance to put your money where you mouth is, head to the Vancouver Aquarium (845 Avison Way, Stanley Park) on June 10. A $250-per-person ticket buys you admission to a Night at the Aquarium, a gala fundraiser to support ocean-friendly education, research and conservation plans. This swish soiree, running from 7 p.m. to midnight, features music, entertainment and an auction offering plum picks like a weekend at the Kyuquot Beach House and a custom, hand-painted Herman Miller chair by Sarah McLachlan. And so apropos, you can nibble on sustainable seafood creations by top local Ocean Wise eateries like West and C. Book your ticket by calling 604-659-3527.

Savour the Flavour
 – June 10-12
The only time it’s wise to starve yourself? Well, actually never, but you may want to get good and hungry right before heading to the ninth annual EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival, running this year from June 10 to 12 at the new Vancouver Convention Centre West (1055 Canada Place, Halls B & C). As Canada’s No. 1 consumer food and cooking show, this three-day edible exposition invites you to savour the flavours with more than 250 vendors showcasing a smorgasbord of trendy food, beverage and cooking-related products. Plus, among the many culinary competitions, cheese seminars, wine tastings and restaurant bites is the perennially popular Food Network Celebrity Stage, welcoming former Galloping Gourmet Graham Kerr.

Drink Rosé – This summer
Think Pink. That’s the buzzword these days at YEW restaurant + bar (791 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver, in the Four Seasons Hotel). The reason? Two dollars from the sale of each bottle of Laughing Stock Vineyards’ “In the Pink” rosé wine will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation — a move that definitely puts the “fun” in fundraiser. With just 75 cases of rosé produced, bottles of this extremely limited release are available exclusively this summer at Yew restaurant, where patrons can help battle breast cancer one delicious bottle of B.C. wine at a time (while supplies last). To find out more, call 604-692-4939.


Take the Plunge at Drop Zone – Anytime
We all know most guys are notoriously reluctant to take the plunge. The one exception? Bungee jumping! Just a hunch, but we’re guessing they’ll drop the foot-dragging fast when it comes to committing to an action-packed day at the Bungee Zone, billed as “Whistler’s ultimate adrenaline rush.” And that’s no hyperbole, either, given that the site — one of only two licensed jump zones in the province — boasts a 53-metre drop, the highest in all of B.C. And while the experience may be priceless, the cost is not – first-time jumpers will pay $130 per person, but you’ll go home with a free t-shirt and endless bragging rights. Call 877-938-9333 to book.

Rescue Your Relationship – As needed
A perfect antidote to boredom in the bedroom? A change of scenery and an overnight stay at Terrace Beach Resort, (1002 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet ), a secluded sanctuary owned by 90210 alum Jason Priestley and family. The beachfront retreat, located near Wickaninnish Bay and the Wild Pacific Trail, offers the perfect place to rev up your relationship, thanks to cozy cottages, in-cabin spa treatments and breathtaking scenery that includes old-growth forest and “miles and miles of sandy shoreline.” Prices start from $99 per night, with additional information available by calling 1-866-726-2901 or emailing manager@terracebeachresort.ca.

Originally published in TV Week. For daily updates, subscribe to the free TV Week e-newsletter, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.