Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for March 31 to April 6

This week: a capella wonders, charity runs, basketball battles + more

1. Tulips of the Valley – Now until May

Get your cameras ready for an explosion of colourful flowers at Chilliwack’s Tulips of the Valley Festival. The tulips bloom over a three- to five-week period and the first two weekends are an “early bloom” display of hyacinths and daffodils, so check the website before heading out. Food trucks, a hyacinth mosaic living art piece, crafts for kids and traditional Dutch food will be on hand to enhance the festival fun.
41310 Yale Road, Chilliwack; Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tickets: Adults $10 online or $15 at field, with children over five $5 online or $8 at field and children under five free

2. Seasons 2018 – Now until Sunday, April 1

Seasons brings concerts, club shows, label showcases, demos, panels, lectures and art installations to the city for five days of fun that culminates in a two-day music extravaganza at the PNE Forum, featuring Rae Sremmurd, What So Not, Smokepurpp, Drezo, Tails, So Loki, ZHU, Mura Masa, Petit Biscuit, Giraffage, Said The Sky and MYNXY.
Various locations and times; Passes from $89.50

3. UBC Thunderbirds vs. College of Idaho Yotes – Saturday, March 31

If March Madness has got you in the mood for college basketball, head to UBC to show some love for the local team as they take on Idaho in a double header.
UBC Stadium, 6288 Stadium Road, Vancouver; 1 p.m.; Tickets from $7, with children under 10 free

4. Big Easter Run – Saturday, March 31

Burn off those Easter eggs with a 1, 5 or 10km run around Jericho Beach Park on paved trails. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome, so bring the whole family. Choose from a 10km & 5km Big Bunny Run/Walk at 2 p.m. or the 1km Little Bunny Run/Walk at 1 p.m.
Jericho Beach, Vancouver; Registration from $15

5. Secret Screening Marathon – Saturday, March 31

Geek out at a secret movie marathon to help save the Rio! The event starts at 4:30 p.m. with unnamed movies starting at approximately 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Expect trivia and door prizes, as the galactic Geekenders will be on hand as the official nerf-herders at the Rio cantina for this #SavetheRio secret screening fundraiser party.
Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver; 4:30 p.m.; Tickets $40 and 45 in advance or $50 at the door

6. Wildebeest Luppolo Brewmaster Dinner — Tuesday, April 3

The teams at Wildebeest and Luppolo Brewing Company pair up for an exclusive Brewmaster Dinner that will couple the restaurant’s decadent-yet-simple style of country cooking with four of the brewery’s beers. Featuring a four-course menu by Chef Ian McHale and showcasing a trademark blend of classic butchery traditions and contemporary techniques, the collaborative dinner serves up locally sourced, signature Wildebeest fare thoughtfully paired with Luppolo’s unique brews, such as an inaugural pour of Tart Wild Ale with Plum, Hazy IPA and Dessert Sour with Tangerine.
Wildebeest, 120 East Hastings Street, Vancouver; 7 p.m.; Tickets $55 per person, plus tax and gratuity

7. Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival – Tuesday, April 3 to Sunday, April 29

Celebrate the start of spring at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Highlights include a Cherry Jam Downtown Concert under the blossoms by Burrard Skytrain Station on April 5th from Noon to 1:30 p.m., Sakura Days Japan Fair on April 14th and 15th at VanDusen Botanical Gardens and The Big Picnic at Queen Elizabeth Park on April 14th.
Various locations and hours

8. Sound of Dragon Music Festival — Thursday, April 5 to Sunday, April 8

Alongside free workshops at SFU Harbour Centre and the Roundhouse, this festival celebrates diverse music with Chinese roots or influences in four evening concerts that present the collaboration between Turning Point Ensemble (Vancouver) and Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (Taiwan), Geling Jiang’s new ensemble 21 Strings Plus with special guest Xian Wen Hu (China), and the collaboration between Sound of Dragon Ensemble and Toronto Chinese Orchestra Chamber Players.
Annex Theatre, 823 Seymour Street, Vancouver & Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver; Various times; Tickets $25

9. Woodward’s Community Singers Workshops — Thursday, April 5 until July

Every week a group of 25-35 enthusiastic singers get together to form a drop-in choir open to anybody who wants to join in. Singing a combination of pop, gospel and folk songs, the non-auditioned choir is open to all and meets every Thursday evening.
312 Main Street, Vancouver; 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Free

10. Take 6 — Friday, April 6

Fresh out of the studio with Dr. Dre, the Grammy-winning a capella group—founded by Claude Mcknight, brother to Brian—will perform gospel, jazz and R’n’B hits along with new material from their upcoming album, Iconic. Famed poducer Quincy Jones described them as the “baddest vocal cats on the planet” and their visit to Vancouver marks the beginning of Chor Leoni’s VanMan Male Choral Summit.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; 8 p.m.; Tickets $35 to 75