Get outside this weekend as the weather promises to be some of the nicest yet this summer. Music, art and cultural celebrations are all at your fingertips and, best of all, they're mostly free.
Friday, Aug. 5
MUSICAL MARKETPLACE
The Coquitlam Farmers' Market hosts its Friday Market from 4 to 8 p.m. in Coquitlam's Spirit Square (3000 Burlington Dr., across from Coquitlam city hall). Enjoy local food, music and activities, including a story time hosted by the Coquitlam Public Library. Tonight's musicians include Port Moody bands Your Local Kahnunists, Deanna and Zak and Ransack. Spoken-word performers 2 Dope Boys in a Cadillac will also perform tonight on the market stage. For more information, visit makebakegrow.com.
FIBRE ART RETROSPECTIVE
Renowned Sechelt fibre artist and teacher Pat Crucil gets the retrospective treatment today at the Leigh Square Community Arts Village (2253 Leigh Sq., Port Coquitlam). Over 25 years of Crucil's contemporary art quilts will be on display for free in the gallery as part of A Life in Stitches and Colour, on until Sept. 19. For more information, visit portcoquitlam.ca.
BRAND NEW COMEDY
British comedian, actor and author Russell Brand is at the Boulevard Casino's Red Robinson Show Theatre tonight at 8 p.m. (2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam). Tickets for the Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek star's new stand-up show range from $69.50 to $79.50 plus service charges and are available at ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1855-985-5000.
FREE FILM NIGHT
Cinema Under the Stars presents another free outdoor film tonight with Star Trek (2009) beginning at 8:30 at Gates Park (2300 Reeve St., Port Coquitlam). Pack a snack and a blanket and enjoy the huge 26-ft. tall screen. For more information, visit portcoquitlam.ca.
JOHN & JEN
Port Moody's Undiscovered Theatre presents John & Jen, a truly original musical looking at brother-sister and parent-child relationships against the background of a changing American between 1950 and 1990. Showing at Port Moody's the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr.), the musical features seven Tri-City secondary school grads and is recommended for audiences 12 years and up. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and and Sunday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. All tickets are $20 and are available from undiscoveredtheatre.com.
Saturday, Aug. 6
RETRO VIBES
Port Coquitlam's Village Vibe series continues at 2 p.m. today with music from Retro and Fera in Leigh Square (2253 Leigh Sq., Port Coquitlam). As their name suggests, Retro plays classic jazz and favourites from the golden era of swing in a vocal and multi-instrumental ensemble. Joining them is Fera, a Vancouver-bred sister songwriting duo who've been playing around the Lower Mainland for more than a decade. All Village Vibe shows are free. For more information, visit portcoquitlam.ca.
KOREAN FEST
The Korean Cultural Heritage Day Festival is on today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Blue Mountain Park (975 King Albert Ave., Coquitlam). The free festival features outdoor entertainment, games, children's activities and, of course, lots of food. For more information, call the local Korean Cultural Heritage Society at 604-319-7748 or visit kchs.ca.
ART IN THE PARK
The Minnekhada Art in the Park Festival runs today and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Minnekhada Regional Park (4400 Oliver Rd., Coquitlam). The free event offers art displays, live jazz, and outdoor cafe and nature walk. For more information, call 604-520-6442 or visit metrovancouver.org/artinthepark.
LAST BAKERS' MARKET
The Tri-Cities Bakers' Community Market hosts its final summer market today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Enjoy free parking and free samples of the area's best bakers and confectioners. Today's featured bakers are from Em's Gems, Hearth & Larder, C7C Cakery, French Made Baking, Fig & Plum, Colony Farm Pies, Sweet Tooth Bakery, Dream Pastries, Queen Bee Patisserie, Harmony Cakes, Heather & Hunny and Sweet Mama Treats. For more information, visit tricitiesbakersmarket.com.
Sunday, Aug. 7
MUSIC IN THE PARK
The city of Port Coquitlam presents Music in the Park today at 2 p.m. at Lions Park (2300 Lions Way, Port Coquitlam). Today's free double-bill features Latin-jazz guitarist Doug Towle and instrumental blues fusion trio Double Helix. Show runs until 4 p.m. For more information, visit portcoquitlam.ca.
ROCKY POINT REGGAE
Port Moody's Summer Concert Sundays continue today at 2 p.m. with Mostly Marley at Port Moody's Rocky Point Park. Playing - as their name suggests - mostly the music of reggae legend Bob Marley, the group strives to remain true to the genre's roots. For more information about this and other upcoming shows at Rocky Point, visit summersundays.ca.
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