BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for May 28 – June 3

Feeling brave? Try the Capilano Suspension Bridge’s new Cliffwalk, open June 3

What to do in BC this week

See the Maple Leaf Singers Live – May 28-29
Any band that’s been around for over 40 years has gotta be good, right? The theory holds true when it comes to Vancouver’s own Maple Leaf Singers, whose longevity just proves how much Lower Mainlanders love ’em. On May 28 and 29, the acclaimed choir will be rolling out their wide-ranging repertoire at Massey Theatre (735 Eighth Avenue, New Westminster), where they’ll aim to please with everything from Latin and jazz to The Beatles and Woodstock, along with show tunes from Guys and Dolls and The Phantom of the Opera. Catch it on May 28 at 8 p.m. or May 29 at 2 p.m., with tickets priced at $20 per person and $18 for students and seniors.

Walk to Fight Global Poverty – May 29
For North Americans, access to fresh water is as simple as turning on a tap. And yet, around the world, two billion people live without clean water to fulfill their most basic needs. On May 29, you can help reduce those sorry stats at the World Partnership Walk, Canada’s largest annual event dedicated to fighting global poverty. This 5K fundraiser takes place in 10 Canadian cities, including Vancouver and Victoria, starting at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively. And talk about walking the talk — last year’s event attracted 40,000 Canadians who raised close to $6 million to bring hope to global communities. The walk takes place at Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park and Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park.

Strut Your Stuff at the Auditions for PyroMusical – May 29
So you think you can dance? Prove it: The Pacific National Exhibition is holding open auditions for PyroMusical, a nighttime spectacular set to debut during this summer’s Fair at the PNE. Experienced jazz dancers who aren’t shy about strutting their stuff before thousands of fairgoers are invited to head to the PNE Forum on May 29 at 9 a.m. to register for auditions. But don’t bother prepping a piece because you’ll be asked to perform a surprise routine on-site — no pressure! Want to take this chance to dance? You need to be at least 15 years old and available for all rehearsals from August 4 to 18 and for nightly performances from August 20 to September 5. For more details, call 604-251-7759.

Ride Your Motorcycle to Support Prostate Cancer Research – May 29
As if motorcyclists need an excuse to go for a blast on their bikes, but here’s one anyway: the 2011 Ride to Live Westcoast Motorcycle Ride, a fundraiser to support prostate cancer research and education. Whether you hop aboard a Hog or Harley, a crotch-rocket or Kawasaki, riders can rev up for the ride on the morning of May 29 at two Lower Mainland locations — Trev Deeley Motorcycles at 1875 Boundary Rd. in Vancouver and at Wal-Mart in Chilliwack. Later, big-hearted bikers can kick back at a post-ride party at Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino (17755 60 Ave, Surrey). No bike? No problem; you can also help by making a pledge online.

Visit the Vancouver International Children’s Festival – May 30 to June 5
Parents, you know how you insist on toting the tots along on all your everyday errands? Consider it payback time: The Vancouver International Children’s Festival, held from May 30 to June 5 on Granville Island, gives kids a chance to turn the tables. And better wear your runners ’cause they’ll be dragging you all over the place to check out the jam-packed program of music, theatre, dance, acrobatics and puppetry. But don’t worry — organizers don’t want to peeve off parents, so they’ve made sure to include plenty of all-ages activities, too. For details or to purchase tickets, go online, or 604-873-3311.


Golf for B.C. Children’s Charities – June 2
If a trail of divots is par for the course when you hit the links, don’t worry, you’ll fit right in at the 24th annual Women’s Media Golf Classic on June 2 at Musqueam Golf Academy (3904 W. 51st Avenue, Vancouver). No experience is necessary to get into the swing of things at this “craziest tournament ever,” a fundraiser to benefit B.C. children’s charities, including the Pacific Autism Family Centre and the Mediated Learning Academy. The best part? The post-tourney gala banquet at Beyond Restaurant in the Century Plaza Hotel (1015 Burrard Street), where guests will enjoy great eats, live and silent auctions, entertainment and celebrity sightings.

Celebrate Vancouver’s Local Art Scene – June 2
Unsung heroes? No way! The Firehall Arts Centre believes in giving credit where credit is due, which is the theory behind Kudos and Cocktails, a tribute to local art lovers who have helped ramp up Vancouver’s culture quotient. Taking place on June 2 at Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street, Vancouver), the evening offers fun for all with appetizers, auction items and entertainment, with funds raised going to support the theatre’s dance and visual arts programs. Tickets for the bash, starting at 7 p.m., are $40 per person and can be purchased online or by calling 604-689-0926.

Catch Cirque Du Soleil’s Dralion in Abbotsford – June 2-5
When all the big acts bypass the ’burbs to play in Vancouver, it’s enough to give Abbotsford and other outlying areas an inferiority complex. So if you’ve never seen Cirque du Soleil because you can’t bear to brave the inner-city insanity, you’re in luck: the world-renowned troupe is set to perform for the first time in the suburbs from June 2 to 5 at Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre. The show in store? Dralion, an East meets West circus spectacular featuring a cast of 52 world-class acrobats, gymnasts, musicians and clowns. Tickets are available online from $45 to $100, with discounts for seniors and students or by calling 1-866-977-2372.

Relax at the SongFire Festival of Song – June 2-28
What’s the rationale behind the name of Vancouver’s SongFire Festival of Song? Beats us, but we’re guessing it’s because people get so fired up about song. Whatever the reason, music fans have from June 2 to 28 to get into the groove with all manner of electrifying events and activities, including noon-hour and evening concerts, recitals, premieres, lectures and theatrical presentations. You’ll get a taste of Art Song, too, where poetry meets music in an experience that organizers say delivers “unforgettable intensity.” The fest, presented by the Vancouver International Song Institute, takes place at UBC’s School of Music, Freddie Wood Theatre and other venues in and around Vancouver.

Take a Heart-Pounding Cliffwalk – open June 3
Calling all thrill-seekers: On June 3 you can be among the first to experience Capilano Suspension Bridge’s latest attraction, Cliffwalk, an adrenaline-pumping adventure that involves picking your way across a network of suspended stairs, bridges and walkways perched high in the rainforest to enjoy raging river views from glass-bottomed viewing decks. Eager to brave this anticipated new alpine attraction? Be sure to bring your camera and while you’re at it, check out the site’s other snap-worthy offerings, including Treetops Adventure, Kia’palano Totem Park and Raptors Ridge. For information, including admission rates and hours of operation, call 604-985-7474.

Stop and Smell the Lavenders – anytime
You don’t need to head to the South of France to feast your eyes on acres of lavender fields. Why not save big bucks and visit the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm (4380 Takla Rd.) in Kelowna instead. There, you can take a
self-guided tour of the fragrant farm, which also offers a u-pick garden and a retail shop full of flower-infused bath, beauty and culinary products. But, whatever you do, don’t leave without sampling the lavender lemonade and the handmade lavender ice cream. For more details on the farm, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., visit their website or call 250-764-7795.

Take a Historical Tour for a Blast from the Past – anytime
Your car turns into a time machine as you head just 35 minutes north of Prince George for a visit to the Huble Homestead Historic Site (Highway 97 and Mitchell Road). Located on the banks of the Fraser River, this fully restored homestead and trading post is a living museum where you can literally step back into the past. If the sun is shining, bring a picnic and enjoy the dog-friendly site’s rugged rural beauty, along with guided tours of heritage and replica buildings like a general store, trapper’s cabin, livestock barns and blacksmith shop.

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