This weekend is no exception when it comes to fun things to do. We've got an interesting mix of events, too, from the farmers' market, to a geocaching scavenger hunt, to a major multicultural festival and more. The weekend forecast is calling for isolated showers on Saturday and sun with some cloudy periods on Sunday, so be prepared for weather changes. Here are our top picks for weekend things to do on Aug. 16 and 17.
1 The Annual Korean Cultural Heritage Festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Swangard Stadium.
This year marks the return of the festival, which originally started in Burnaby but ran in Coquitlam for several years. The event celebrates all things Korean, including K-pop, high-tech industry and taekwondo. There will also be live music, entertainment, dignitaries, a taekwondo demonstration, a beer garden and food. Swangard Stadium is in Burnaby's Central Park, in the northwest corner.
2 Swing by the summer farmers' market, on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the city hall parking lot, at 4949 Canada Way. The market sells locally grown conventional and organic produce, prepared foods and crafts every Saturday until Oct. 25. There's always something fun going on for the kids, too, be it crafts, the play tent, or entertainment. Parents may be interested in the used-book exchange or the sitting area where you can peruse your local newspapers. Bring your own shopping bags.
3 Join a canoeing geocache hunt at Burnaby Lake Regional Park on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Participants paddling in canoes are tasked with finding hidden containers in this high-tech scavenger hunt. For the uninitiated, geocaching is a fun, outdoor activity where people use GPS (often with GPS devices or smartphones) to either hide or find hidden containers all over the world.
Metro Vancouver is organizing this event, and participants will join a park interpreter, via canoe, to find the geocache containers hidden in the area.
The cost is $21.25 per person, and you must register by calling 604-432-6359 and quote barcode 5743. GPS equipment will be provided. For more information, go to www.metrovancouver.org and look in the events section.
4 Join the fun in Burnaby's Civic Square for Summer Sundays, on Aug. 17 from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Summer Sundays is a series of free, outdoor, family friendly events put on by the City of Burnaby, and this week's theme is the environment. Civic Square is just outside the Bob Prittie Metrotown library branch, at 6100 Willingdon Ave.
5 Drop in for a free swim at the Kensington outdoor pool on Friday, Aug. 16, from 8 to 10 p.m. - the only catch is you have to be 10 to 16 years old. "Kool Down @ Kensington" is a free, annual swim night for youth and teens. The event runs rain or shine, and $1 will buy you a hotdog and drink. If you miss this Friday's swim, don't worry; the event is on every Friday evening until Aug. 29. The pool is in Kensington Park in North Burnaby.
Info: Ken Ryan, 604-671-1000.
