Easter weekend activities

April 8, 2009 - The Easter long weekend is upon us and spring finally seems to have sprung in Vancouver. Here are some activities to take in:

Children's Farmyard and Miniature Train at Stanley Park. Always a delight for the young and the young-at-heart. Take a ride on the miniature train then check out all the animals in the farmyard including our new lambs and alpacas! Easter egg hunts daily all weekend long. Open Friday through Monday over Easter, 11am-4pm, rain or shine. Call 604-257-8531 for information.

Great A-Mazing Egg Hunt at VanDusen Botanical Garden. The Easter Bunny is hosting an egg hunt for children ages 3 to 11 at VanDusen's Elizabethan Maze at 10am on Saturday, April 11 (please pre-register by 4pm on April 8 by calling Kerry at 604-257-8663). Regular admission charges apply.
Visit www.vandusen.org for details.

Community Centre Egg Hunts:

• Thursday, April 9, 5-7pm, West End Community Centre. Enjoy games, arts & crafts, bouncy castle and an Easter egg hunt. Please pre-register to ensure your child's spot in the egg hunt by calling 604-257-8333.
• Friday, April 10, 9:30am-12:45pm, Killarney Community Centre. The Egg Hunt will take place outdoors (weather permitting). Please pre-register. Call 604-718-8200 to register. 1-3 yrs 9:30am-10:15am (parent participation required for 1-3 yrs); 4-6 yrs 10:45am-11:30am; 7-12 yrs 12:00-12:45pm. Members $2.50/child; non-members $3.50/child.
• Saturday, April 11, 11am-12:30pm, Champlain Heights Community Centre. Crafts, games, entertainment and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Pre-registration is mandatory. Suitable for children 8 years and under. $5/child, 604-718-6575.
• Saturday, April 11, 12:30-3pm, Renfrew Park Community Centre. Entertainment, face painting, crafts and our famous Egg Hunt. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Limited space, $4/child, call 604-257-8388.
• Saturday, April 11, 1-3pm, Kerrisdale Community Centre. Jump around on our bouncy equipment, play games and do some crafts. The day would not be complete without a visit from the Easter Bunny who will be bringing Easter treats. For children ages 2-10. Pre-register by calling 604-257-8100.
  
  
• Discovery Walk: Egg Hunt! April 12, 1-3pm, Stanley Park. Celebrate the day by "hunting" for eggs of all kinds, from insects to geese, to see how they fit into the life cycles of Stanley Park's animals. Meet at the Lost Lagoon Nature House. Adults $10, Members & Children $5. www.stanleyparkecology.ca

The Stanley Park Herons The great blue herons returned to their heronry in Stanley Park in mid-March and the colony is now a hive of heron activity. This is a great time to watch the herons high in their nests as the leaves are not out yet making viewing easy. The Stanley Park Ecology Society keeps tabs on the colony and has an Adopt-a-Nest program. The colony is located on Park Drive near the Park Board administration office and the tennis courts. To find out more visit www.stanleyparkecology.ca

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival: Now through April 24, various locations. Enjoy the fourth annual city-wide cherry blossom celebration this Spring. This weekend take in the Tree Talk and Walk in Stanley Park on Monday, April 13, 3-4:30pm. Meet at the Rose Arbour at the Lower Rose Garden, Pipeline Road. Visit www.vcbf.ca for other events and more information.

Holiday hours: The Park Board administration office at 2099 Beach Avenue will be closed Good Friday and Easter Monday. Other Park Board offices will be closed over the long weekend and some community centres, pools, rinks and fitness centres may be on limited or adjusted hours. Call ahead for details.