Winter, Christmas and holiday activities come into full force this weekend! Here are some of the fun and interesting things happening at museums and related attractions in Metro Vancouver:
- Sharon Kallis, the artist-in-residence at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, will be on hand several days throughout December to hold community quilt workshops using natural materials. These “Winter Shadow Garden” workshops are available on a drop-in basis. The work produced at the workshops will be on display at the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival at the garden later in the month. The first workshop will be held Saturday, December 1st. After this, workshops will take place on December 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 19 and 20.
- The North Vancouver Museum & Archives will be holding an outdoor workshop for kids on the night of Saturday, December 1st when the Carol Ship Parade begins. The workshop is called “Canned Light: Historic Bug Lamp Workshop,” and kids will learn how to make their very own old-fashioned flashlight with a tin can, wire and a candle. There will also be opportunities to learn why bug lights were so popular in North Vancouver and on the North Shore mountains. Workshops will be held at Waterfront Park, North Vancouver, and at Panorama Park, Deep Cove. If you can’t attend this weekend, the workshop will be held again on Saturday, December 15th.
- There will be a Christmas Craft Fair at Fort Langley National Historic Site on Saturday, December 1st and Sunday, December 2nd. The historic site invites you to attend the fair to experience “a unique setting, great ambiance, and quality vendors.”
- It’s Paint a Skate Day at the BC Sports Hall of Fame & Museum on Sunday, December 2nd! This workshop gives kids the opportunity to “create a personal piece of art using a skate as the canvas.” Participation and all materials (including the skate) are free with general admission and the painted skate can be taken home. Caregivers can pre-register children for this activity by calling 604-687-5520. You can choose from sessions A (10:30am) or B (2:30pm). Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, 10-time Canadian Figure Skating Champions and 2003 World Figure Skating Champions in Ice Dance, will be at the museum between 10:30am-12:30pm on Sunday. The museum will also have door prizes and contests throughout the day.
- Langley Centennial Museum will be having Pioneer Christmas on Sunday, December 2nd from 1-3pm. Pioneer Christmas will feature “decorated galleries… different pioneer and traditional crafts… [and] activities that will keep little hands busy.” Admission is by donation.
- Kate Braid, poet and visiting professor at Simon Fraser University, will be giving a public lecture on “Poetry and Place” at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday, December 2nd at 2pm. Kate will discuss connections between the artists Emily Carr and Georgia O’Keeffe through her own poetry.
