Head to Nikkei Matsuri this weekend at the Nikkei Centre in Burnaby. The family friendly Japanese festival is on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days. Admission is only $2, and there will be Japanese food, cultural performances and displays. Performers include Soul Splash Crew, a dance troupe from Japan, and Hiroshi Yamaguchi on the shamisen, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. The centre is at 6688 Southoaks Cres.
Don’t miss the free Labour Day concert at Swangard Stadium this Monday, Sept. 7. The event is on from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Chilliwack will be performing at 11:30 a.m. There will also be an aboriginal welcome, speakers from the labour movement, and musicians performing classics songs from the labour movement. Admission is free, and there will be many community booths set up. For the kids, there will be face-painting, games and a bouncy castle. On the food front, there will be roasted corn, juice boxes and free hotdogs and veggie dogs. The event is hosted by the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Vancouver & District Labour Council, and New Westminster & District Labour Council.
The Community Mental Wellness Association of Canada is hosting a variety fundraising show this Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. One of the featured performers is British violinist Peter Fisher, who made a special trip from London to perform in the show. There are 15 performers in total, covering dance, choir and music. Tickets range from $28 to $78 for VIP seats, and proceeds go to the association, which runs programs to help people with mental illnesses, while reducing the stigma and educating the public. To buy tickets, email [email protected] or call 604-273-1791.
The Burnaby Village Museum is hosting a Labour Day Fair on Monday, Sept. 7 from 11a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be old-fashioned “heritage” games, crafts for kids, ongoing entertainment, market vendors and free carousel rides, courtesy of CUPE Local 23. The museum is at 6501 Deer Lake Ave.
Fall is just around the corner, and the Lower Mainland’s farmers’ markets are winding down, so take advantage of the Burnaby market this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can buy conventional and organic produce, prepared food and artisan goods. There is also a used book exchange, a kids’ play tent, live music, food trucks and an area where you can sit and read local newspapers. The market is in the city hall parking lot at 4949 Canada Way.
