Around town BC . . .

| Vancouver Island | Okanagan | Upcoming | Ongoing |
| Swap meets | Sales |

 sponsor link :

Around the Lower Mainland . . .

Mom's Night Out!

Enjoy an elegant and relaxing shopping experience just for moms at Heritage Hall in Vancouver, Friday, Sept. 18, 6 to 11 p.m. Pre-register by e-mailing thefamilybook@shaw.ca. Use your copy of latest edition of The Family Book 09/10 and receive a discount right away. Shop and enjoy discounts, free wine, appetizers, coffee, photos, hair, makeup, live music, and more.

Agassiz fall fair

Enjoy lots of country fun at the Agassiz Fall Fair and Corn Festival, Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19. Events include a parade, midway, farmer’s market and more. For all the details, visit www.agassizfallfair.ca.

Hillview preschool fall fair

The Hillview Parent Participation Preschool fall fair and yard sale is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4340 Carson St., Burnaby (near Boxer and McKay). Great deals on kids’ clothes, toys, books, and household items. Food, face painting and balloons for the kids.

Scotiabank Dance Centre open house

The annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Highlights this year include an open rehearsal on the outside of the building by Aeriosa Dance, LINK Dance's Breakfast Dances, classes with Mandala Arts and Culture, and more. The dance centre is located at 677 Davie (at Granville), Vancouver.

Taming the mommy guilt

Join in for Baby Steps Walk & Talk: Taming the Mommy Guilt, a free, casual chance for moms to talk about "what matters most" over coffee and a stroll, Friday, Sept. 18, 10 to 11 a.m. Meet in front of the Steveston Starbucks at the end of Number 1 Road in Richmond, rain or shine. Children and strollers welcome. Interested? Questions? Please RSVP or contact Sarah at sarah@babystepscoaching.com.

CornFest

Drop by Meadows Maze in Pitt Meadows for CornFest, Saturday, Sept. 19. Enjoy a corn eating and corn shucking contest, an 80-gallon compressor-fueled corn canon shooting corn 200 feet and more.

Clean up the beach

Help out Mother Nature and attend the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., to clean up the shore of the inlet in Port Moody from the outlet of Noons Creek to the site of the old mill. Meet at Noons Creek Hatchery, located on Ioco Road, behind the Port Moody recreation centre. Please bring gumboots and clothes that can get dirty and / or wet. Registration online preferred or just show up.

Eastside Family Place birthday

Celebrate the Eastside Family Place’s 30th birthday with lots of fun planned for Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music, storytelling, face painting, games and more. Eastside Family Place is located at 1655 William St., just off Commercial Drive, in Vancouver.

Abby car show

Check out some cool wheels at the Historic Downtown Abbotsford Car Show, Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Downtown Abbotsford.

Mt. Lehman Fall Fair

Also in Abbotsford, be sure to check out the fun Mt. Lehman Fall Fair, Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mt. Lehman Community Hall, 6418 Mt. Lehman Rd. Pancake breakfast, exhibits, hay wagon, children's games, rides, petting zoo, raffle, Bessie Bingo, tea room, and country dinner. For more information, call 604-856-7427.

Douglas College fall fair

Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., bring the family down to Douglas College’s fall fair at the David Lam campus in Coquitlam. Fun activities, marketplace, and more.

Fun at Surrey Nature Centre

Bring the family to the Surrey Nature Centre for autumn crafts and nature fun, Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Witness how fall comes to the forest with its paintbrush of oranges, yellows and browns. Find out how the animals of the forest are preparing for the winter and learn how you can make the chilly season easier for our furry and feathered friends as you enjoy refreshments, get your face painted and play games. More details online.

International Village Gifts and Craft Fair

Check out the International Village Gifts and Craft Fair, Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20, noon to 5 p.m., in Vancouver.

Campbell Valley Country celebration

There’s an old-fashioned fall fair at Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley, Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20. Milk a cow, shop for crafts and other homemade goodies, enjoy the music and more. The park’s entrance is off 8th Avenue, east of 200th Street in Langley.

Sharing Our Wealth Festival

Share the wealth at Douglas Park Community Centre in Vancouver, Sunday, Sept. 20, for the Sharing Our Wealth Festival. Fun includes entertainment, carnival, face painting and more. Rain or shine. Donations to the Vancouver Food Bank are appreciated.

Edgemont Village Harvest fest

Enjoy a variety of free family friendly events at the Edgemont Village Harvest Festival in North Vancouver, Sunday, Sept. 20, noon to 4 p.m.

Urban Farmers Fall Fair

It’s New Westminster's agricultural fair, Sunday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Ave. Enjoy rides, activities, food and a full day of fun.

Stories along the trail

The entire family will enjoy this unique storytelling event at Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Vancouver, Sunday, Sept. 20, 1 to 4 p.m. Walk along the trail and meet costumed storytellers who will share a mini-chapter that is woven into a fascinating story about history and nature. Meet at the TRIUMF parking lot on the UBC campus at 4004 Westbrook Mall (left from West 16th Avenue). Call 604-224-5739 or visit www.pacificspiritparksociety.org for more details.

Scrapbook fair

Scrapbookers check out the annual Surrey Scrapbook Fair, Sunday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sullivan Hall, 6306 152nd St., Surrey. More than 30 tables of scrapbook or card making related items for sale. Entertainment for the kids will be provided by Joseph the Magician and lunch will be available to purchase from a food vendor.

Strathcona Harvest Festival

Sunday, Sept. 20, noon to 4 p.m., at McLean Park (Keefer and Heatley) in Vancouver, it’s the Strathcona Harvest Festival. Enjoy lots of free fun for everyone, including games, pie contest, face painting and more.

Trusting your intuition

Mamaspeak presents Trusting Your Intuition at Harmony Family Wellness Centre, 736 W 16th Ave., Vancouver. Trusting Your Intuition is a six-week series to help new moms make a smooth transition to motherhood. Topics discussed include identity shift, relationships, sleep, feeding, self-care and birth stories. For moms with babies newborn to four months. Begins Monday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please contact Meralon Shandler at 604-266-8124, or visit www.mamaspeak.com for more details.

Developing Your Parental Wisdom

Mamaspeak presents Developing Your Parental Wisdom at Harmony Family Wellness Centre, 736 W 16th Ave., Vancouver. Join in for a four-week series focusing on becoming conscious as parents, the messages we send to our children, how we were parented, and developing a Parental Mission Statement. For babies four months and up. Begins Monday, Sept. 21, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Please contact Meralon Shandler 604-266-8124, or go to www.mamaspeak.com for more details.

Around Vancouver Island . . .

Luxton Fall Fair

Yee ha, it’s the Luxton Fall Fair, Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20. For all the fair details, visit www.luxtonfair.ca.

Attention hobby and toy lovers

It’s Victoria’s ultimate Hobby and Toy Fair, Sunday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pearkes Arena, 311 Tillicum Rd. Check out action figures, vintage & antique toys, models, trains, comics, Barbie, dolls, LEGO, Star Wars, GI Joe, Transformers, diecast cars, video games, Hot Wheels, vinyl records and more. Draw prizes for donations to the Mustard Seed. Admission for children is free and adults are $3. For more visit www.cherrybombtoys.com or e-mail cbtoys@telus.net.

Hartland Happening Open House

Find out where your garbage goes at the Hartland Happening Open House, Sunday, Sept. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Play with mini-machines in the giant sandbox, take a guided tour of the landfill, climb aboard the monster machines like dump trucks and more. Munch on free hot dogs, hamburgers and juice. Bring a non-perishable food item for the foodbank. The landfill is located at 1 Hartland Ave. (off West Saanich Road) Victoria.

Around Okanagan . . .

Dragonboat festival

Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20, it’s the International Dragonboat Festival at Waterfront Park in Kelowna.

Salmon festival

Enjoy music, activities for the whole family and watch the salmon spawn at the Kokanee Salmon Festival, Sunday, Sept. 20, ECCO Centre, Mission Creek Regional Park, 2363A Springfield Rd., Kelowna.

Upcoming events . . .

Mindfully eating for babies and families

Find out more about healthy eating with a free seminar, Mindfully Eating for Babies and Families, Friday, Sept. 25, 2 p.m., Whole Foods at Cambie and Broadway, in Vancouver, lead by Victoria Pawlowski, Registered Dietitian and Clinical Counsellor. Preregistration with Vanessa by e-mailing pratt@wholefoods.com.

Doing it in style

Momcafe presents an inspirational talk by Cathy Thorpe, president of Please Mum and Linda Hipp, founder,president and designer of LIJA Style, who will share their tips on how they are bringing family values into the retail fashion world for women and children while being stylish at the same time, Friday, Sept. 25, 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., at the Watermark Restaurant on Kits Beach in Vancouver. Cost is $36.75 non-members - $30.45 members (including GST). Onsite childcare is available for an additional fee. To register visit www.momcafe.net/register.

Community Living Carnival

Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society hosts the first annual Community Living Carnival in conjunction with October being BC’s Community Living Month, Sunday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Performance Works on Granville Island in Vancouver. The family friendly event will feature live entertainment, roving performers, carnival games, bouncy castle, sumo wrestling, food and refreshment, information booths, raffle prizes, and lots of free activities for the kids. The Tim Horton's Community Cruiser will arrive on site in the afternoon to give out complimentary Tim Bits and coffee. Everyone is invited; bring all your family and friends. The event is free to attend with food, refreshment, and raffle tickets available for purchase.

Wiggles come to town

Round up your little fans of The Wiggles as they are scheduled to perform The Wiggles Go Bananas! Oct. 9 at UBC Thunderbird Arena in Vancouver. Tickets currently available at Ticketmaster.

Writing classes for moms

The Momoir Project is a series of classes that will inspire you and get you writing. The classes are about connecting you with other moms so we can learn from each other. New fall classes are starting in September for Vancouver, Victoria and online. Reserve your space now and visit online for more details.

Reconnect with Mama Renew

Give yourself a new beginning with a Mama Renew group this fall. Join other seasoned mothers seeking to reconnect, reclaim, and find balance between giving to our families and caring for ourselves. New groups start soon throughout the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Visit www.mamarenew.ca to learn more, or call Sarah at 604-254-1100.

Ongoing events online . . .

Click here to find out the scoop on ongoing events in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

Swap meets . . .

Swap meet in Fort Langley

Check out the kid’s swap meet happening Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Andrew's United Church, 9025 Glover Rd., Fort Langley. Early admission is $5, general admission $2. Childcare available for vendors and shoppers. Visit www.kidswapmeet.ca for more details.

Coquitlam swap meet

Coquitlam Leisure & Parks Children’s Swap meet is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20, at Poirier Community Centre, 630 Poirier St., Coquitlam. Admission is free.

Bits 4 Kids Swapmeet

Drop by the Bits 4 Kids Swapmeet where you’ll find everything you need for bellies to big kids, Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Ave., New Westminster. Admission $1 (under 12 free). For info or to book a table e-mail bits4kids@shaw.ca.

Sales scoop . . .

Underwear sale

Say it with Undies is offering 20% off all their regular priced Smart Ass thongs, until Sept. 30, 2009. With sayings like "birthday girl" and "yummy mummy" there's sure to be something for every occasion! Use code: SmartDeal2009, shipping is a flat rate of $3.

While we do our best to inform you of great family happenings around town, event details are subject to change.

B.C. archives

Happy 3rd birthday James! You are such an amazing little guy and a wonderful big brother to Ben. We love you so much! Love Mommy & Daddy.

Turning 2 is so much fun! Great big birthday wishes to our big boy! Cale, you are always making us laugh, smile and remember what fun it is to be young! We love you so much! Love, hugs and kisses from Mommy, Daddy and ' T T ' xoxoxo

Social media . . .

facebook | twitter
Connect with other babyvibe readers on our facebook and twitter sites.

Cool features . . .

nest egg blog | ongoing events
Enter to win cool prizes weekly at the nest egg prize blog, and keep in the know with the ongoing local event listings!

Babyvibe is a free twice-weekly e-newsletter delivering pint-sized news and reviews on innovative products and services, expert tips and family friendly events for new and expecting parents.

~ involved parenting, happy kids, healthy community ~