Even if the weather doesn't say spring, the events this month sure do: Easter Egg Hunts, the Vancouver Sun Run, Whistler's TWSSF, Earth Day, and more!
Ongoing through Saturday, April 4
2009 Vancouver International Dance Festival
What: Presented in conjunction with the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, the International Dance Festival brings together the best in local, national and international dance artists.
Where: Various locations in Vancouver; see site for details.
Cost: Various; see site for details. Many events are free.
Ongoing, Saturdays through May 30
Pulse to the Podium: Celebrating Vancouver's Countdown to the 2010 Winter Games
What: Organized by the Vancouver Park Board at community centres around the city, each family-focused, single-day event celebrates the coming Olympics with fun and festive games, including Wii winter sports.
Where: Community centres in Vancouver; see site for details.
Cost: Free
Thursday, April 2 – Sunday, April 5
Projecting Change Film Festival
What: The PCFF is four days of film screenings designed to increase awareness about sustainable and green living and affect change.
Where: All screenings are at Fifth Ave Theatres, 2110 Burrard St., Vancouver
Cost: Various; see site for details.
Friday, April 3 – Wednesday, April 8
Divine Performing Arts World Tour
What: The highly-acclaimed, New York-based Divine Performing Arts bring their amazing dance performances to Vancouver for the 4th year in a row. The company presents Chinese dance and music in exhilarating shows of colour and light.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 Block Hamilton St., Vancouver
Cost: $39 - $139
Friday, April 3 – Wednesday, April 8
Andriessen at 70 Music Festival
What: Louis Andriessen is one of the most influential living composers, famous for his collaborations with filmmakers Hal Hartley and Peter Greenaway, and this wide-ranging festival celebrates his music and his 70th birthday with concerts around the city.
Where: Various locations around Vancouver; see site for details
Cost: Single tickets $15 - $35; Festival Passes $90; $60 for students
Saturday, April 4 - Saturday, April 11
Vancouver Easter Egg Hunts
Saturday, April 4
Taoist Festival of Health and Longevity
What: Try Taoist Tai Chi, enjoy a Chinese lunch, and watch demonstrations, traditional lion dancing and family entertainment at this free event designed to introduce the healing power of Taoism.
Where: 588 E 15th Ave, Vancouver
Cost: Free
Saturday, April 11
Vaisakhi Parade
What: The annual Vaisakhi Parade is one of Surrey's biggest events, attracting over 80,000 spectators. Vaisakhi is one of the most important festivals in Sikhism, and celebrates the Sikh New Year and the establishment of Khalsa in 1699. Parade runs 10am - 3:30pm.
Where: 12885 85 Avenue, Surrey; see profile for route details
Cost: Free
Thursday, April 16 – Saturday, April 18
BC Ballet’s A Streetcar Named Desire
What: Ballet BC performs a raw, intense ballet based on the Tennessee Williams Pulitzer-prize winning play.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 Block Hamilton St., Vancouver
Cost: $30 - $79.25
Friday, April 17 – Sunday, April 26
TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival
What: Whistler’s annual TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival (TWSSF) is a world famous 10-day celebration of snow sports, music, arts, and mountain life, and includes the biggest free outdoor concert series in North America.
Where: Whistler Blackcomb and Whistler Village, Whistler, BC
Cost: Free
Saturday, April 18
Grind in the City
What: Test your mettle with a climb up the steps of the 43-story Harbour Centre in this fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Happens 10am – 2pm.
Where: Harbour Centre, 555 West Hastings St.,
Vancouver
Cost: No entry fee, but participants are asked to raise a minimum $50 pledge
Saturday, April 18
Earth Day at Jericho Beach
What: Help plant 4,000 trees at Vancouver’s premiere Earth Day event, the beloved blow-out at Jericho beach, complete with live music, roving creatures, First Nation drummers, Mooshums Dancers, storytelling and more.
Where: Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver
Cost: Free
Sunday, April 19
Swap-O-Rama-Rama
What: Swap your unwanted clothes and learn from DIY workshops on button making, screenprinting, and crafting recycled items at this fabulously thrifty Swap-O-Rama-Rama. Runs 11am – 4pm.
Where: Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St., Vancouver
Cost: $6 plus one bag of clothes
Sunday, April 19
Vancouver Sun Run
What: The largest community 10K in Canada, the scenic, annual Sun Run is both a competitive race for runners and wheelchairs and a fun run for anyone who wants to participate.
Where: Starts on W Georgia St. in downtown Vancouver
Cost: $40; must register by April 18
Sunday, April 26
Earth Run
What: Join the thousands of Earth Run participants across North America in this fun run that raises money for green and environmental organizations. Vancouver’s Earth Run is a lovely 5K loop in Stanley Park that includes the scenic Seawall. Run 8am – 11am; live entertainment afterwards.
Where: Lumberman’s Arch, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Cost: $25
