1. The Nikkei Matsuri festival is on this weekend, and it’s one of the biggest Japanese-Canadian family festivals in Western Canada. Nikkei Matsuri runs on Saturday, Sept. 3 from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Nikkei Centre. Performances include dancing, singing, taekwondo demos, a talent show, taiko drumming and more. Admission is $3. Info: www.nikkeimatsuri.ca.
2. Don’t miss the Chalk Art Experience on Saturday, Sept. 3 and Sunday, Sept. 4. Artists Scott Gillies and Ian Morris will be creating sidewalk masterpieces that appear as three-dimensional images. The chalk art festival is on noon to 3 p.m. both days at Bonsor Recreation Complex, at 6550 Bonsor Ave.The festival includes a Friday-evening workshop on the history of chalk art from 6:30 to 8 p.m., also at Bonsor. Info: www.burnaby.ca/communityarts.
3. Celebrate Labour Day on Monday, Sept. 5 with a free 54-40 concert and picnic at Swangard Stadium. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The B.C. Federation of Labour is hosting the event, and president Irene Lanzinger is one of the speakers, along with provincial NDP leader John Horgan. Speeches start at noon, and 54-40 goes on at 1 p.m. There will be kids’ games, prizes, a beer garden and free hotdogs.
4. Take in the traditional dancing at the two-day Multicultural Festival at the Serbian Cultural Centre at 7837 Canada Way. The annual affair features traditional food and dancing from the former USSR. The festival starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. and also runs on Sunday Sept. 4. For food, there’s borsch, peroshki and blinis. There is a kids’ zone and art fair, too. Tickets are $10, available on www.eventbrite.ca by searching “Multicultural Festival.”
5. Mark the end of summer with the Burnaby Village Museum on Monday, Sept. 5. Besides the usual heritage attractions and children’s entertainment, Monday is when the museum holds its artisan market. Bring cash, as some vendors don’t accept debit. The museum is 6501 Deer Lake Ave.
