BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for June 16 – 22

Wine and dine while sea creatures float in the background at a Night at the Aquarium

What to do in BC this week

Make it a Men’s Day at the Vancouver Men’s Show – June 15 – 17
For all the guys who have gamely accompanied their retail-happy spouses to clothing stores and makeup counters, consider it payback time. On Father’s Day weekend, you can settle the score by bringing your better half to the Vancouver Men’s Show at TRADEX (1190 Cornell St, Abbotsford). This marketplace is all about men, complete with everything from a Strong Man competition and freestyle motorcycle stunt show to arm-wrestling and bench-press contests. Tickets $12 at the door.

Celebrate Victoria’s 150th with Theatre SKAM – June 16-17 and 23-24
Victoria turns 150 this year, and as part of the festivities, Theatre SKAM is rolling out a mobile menu of live performances called Bike Ride: 150th Anniversary Edition. For the next two weekends, the indie theatre troupe will perform new works along Victoria’s scenic Galloping Goose Regional Trail while audiences ride their bikes from show to show. Sound like fun? Now kick in bike decorating, local food vendors and surprise bursts of entertainment, and you’ve got three more great reasons to coax yourself off the couch. Check it out on June 16, 17, 23 and 24, starting at 3:30 p.m.

Play with Pooches – June 17
Dudes and dogs go together like cats and crazy ladies. So if you have a pooch-loving pop, you can treat him to some fun with Fido at the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society Father’s Day fundraiser. Held at Township 7 Vineyards (21152 16th Ave, Langley), this alfresco afternoon includes live music, great food and a chance to sample summer wine releases on June 17 from noon to 4 p.m. And, of course, you’ll also have plenty of time to pet the pups while finding out how they offer disabled people a “new leash on life.”

Run Alongside Dad at Safeway’s Father’s Day Run – June 17
No plans for Father’s Day? No problem: Fit fellas can always check out the 14th annual Safeway Father’s Day Run taking place on June 17 in Burnaby, Chilliwack, Victoria and the Okanagan to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation B.C. Bring the family and take your pick from a 2-, 5- or 10-km trek, then kick back for a barbecue and a chance at hundreds of draw prizes. The Lower Mainland run, emceed by CTV’s Mike Killeen, kicks off at Burnaby Lake Rowing Pavilion with registration at 8 a.m.

Spend a Night at the Vancouver Aquarium – June 21
So what if small talk isn’t your strong suit? You won’t lack for conversation starters at Night at the Aquarium, a high-falutin’ fundraiser where you’ll mingle with fellow philanthropists against a backdrop of 50,000 sea creatures. Held on June 21 at the Vancouver Aquarium, this sixth annual gala includes live music, auctions, international wines and Ocean Wise dishes prepared by top Vancouver chefs like Rob Clarke, Frank Pabst, David Hawksworth and Ned Bell. Tickets are $250, and help support aquatic conservation, research and education programs.

Take a Taste Test – June 21
Remember those old Coke and Pepsi taste-off commercials where blindfolded passersby picked their favourites? That’s exactly the scenario you’ll find at Undercover — except the drink of choice will be fine wines. Held June 21 at Heritage Hall (3102 Main St, Vancouver), this wine roundup challenges guests to pick their faves based on flavour rather than labels. Tickets are $37 and help benefit those living with HIV/AIDS.

See Xanadu at the Granville Island Stage – June 21 – August 4
Get set for an ’80s overload when Xanadu blasts audiences back to the past from June 21 to August 4 at the Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnston St, Vancouver). If you’ve never seen this cute, kitschy musical rom-com starring Olivia Newton John, here’s a plot primer: A beautiful Greek muse descends from Mount Olympus in an impenetrable disguise of leg warmers, roller skates and Aussie accent to help a mortal man fulfill his life’s dream of opening a roller disco. Rest assured, what it lacks in depth it makes up for in fun.

Take the Family to the Point Grey Fiesta – June 22 – 24
Point Grey’s claim to fame is that it’s among Vancouver’s most exclusive enclaves. But thankfully that exclusivity doesn’t extend to the annual Point Grey Fiesta, where everyone’s welcome to kick it up at this free family-friendly fest from June 22 to 24. Swing by to catch everything from a street parade, sidewalk sale and pancake breakfast to carnival rides, midway games and food vendors at Trimble Park and along West 10th Ave, starting Friday at 3 p.m.

Catch the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival – June 22 – July 1
Here on the West Coast, June means one thing: jazz festivals. That means you’ll have no shortage of performances to pick from during the 27th annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, running June 22 to July 1 at various local venues. On opening night, festival favourite Bill Frisell honours John Lennon with the Pugs & Crows Band at the Vogue Theatre, and on June 23, George Benson brings his Grammy-winning guitar grooves to the Orpheum, starting at 8 p.m.

See a Different Side of the City with Harbour Cruises – now until October 15
When it comes to dinner cruises, it’s hard to beat Vancouver’s own Harbour Cruises. The reason? Where Magazine summed it up best, declaring it one of the “Top Ten Best Views in Vancouver.” See for yourself on a Sunset Dinner Cruise, where you’ll feast on picture-perfect views of the downtown skyline, North Shore mountains and scenic shoreline — not to mention a West Coast-style buffet dinner! The 2.5-hour cruise operates nightly, including Father’s Day, until October 15.

Canoe or Kayak at Deer Lake Park – anytime
On sunny summer days, you don’t have to be among the hundreds of suburbanites flocking to the Stanley Park seawall or Spanish Banks. You’ll find a comparatively crowd-free alternative at Deer Lake Park (6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby), where you can rent canoes, kayaks and pedal boats daily throughout summer. And, if you prefer slower-paced pastoral pleasures, you can always unpack a picnic on acres of manicured lawn or snap photos in the flower garden.

Get a History Lesson at Government House – until late August
Government House (1401 Rockland Ave, Victoria) is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, the provincial representative of Her Majesty The Queen. This summer, visitors to Victoria will have the chance to discover the fascinating history of this ceremonial estate with the opening of the Cary Castle Tea Shop, Interpretive Centre and Costume Museum. Open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., until late August, these new displays transport visitors back in time for a lesson in local history dating back to the earliest days of the 20th century. Be sure to swing by the beautifully restored formal gardens, too!

Originally published in TVW. For daily programming updates and on-screen Entertainment news, subscribe to the free TVW e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.