Back for another stellar year, be sure to grab a ticket to this year’s Deighton Cup Weekend at the Races. Post-work Friday, grab that fascinator and bow-tie or suit up in your jockey-esque best and be sure to hit up the Big Smoke event for some cocktails and jazz, cigars and an array of fine scotches to lead you into the weekend.
Don’t torture your liver too much because the festivities only get better come Saturday afternoon where you’ll want to look poised and polished as you mingle with the masses trackside at Thoroughbred. Try your hand at betting, drinking and schmoozing under the Marquee at Hastings Racecourse. This multi-day event is always a winner in our books (wish we could say the same for the horses we place money on).
Not into sticking around the city? No problem; grab some friends and beeline your way up the coastal Sea to Sky to catch the Squamish Valley Music Festival Buses are also available and will be funneling concertgoers to this always-popular outdoor event that draws talent from afar. Check out Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Chantrelles, Band of Horses, Jurassic 5, Dragonette, Vampire Weekend and nearly 40 other acts. This year, they’ve expanded capacity and are looking to attract more than 35,000 attendees to be the largest concert in the Pacific Northwest.
Another option that will have you happily ensconced somewhere out of the city requires hopping on the Bowen Island Ferry, where you can easily ditch the car and pursue adventures in the sun. After a mere 20-minute jaunt across the water, you’ll find peace and plenty to do on Bowen. Be it chilling at one of the local beaches, grabbing a rental kayak or hopping aboard a chartered boat for a bit of sightseeing, this quaint city escape has everything. Work up an appetite and venture into the town (an easy walk from the Snug Cove terminal) and you’ll find a plethora of spots. A quick ferry ride back to town will leave you feeling as though you’ve been gone all weekend.
Back in the city and taking place all weekend is Kits Fest, Vancouver’s largest beach festival celebrating its 5th Anniversary. Catch ongoing beach volleyball matches, tennis and basketball with the coastal scene as your backdrop. There will be plenty of other activities, food and beer, live music, as well as DJ lineup to bolster the fun. With sunshine (mostly) in the forecast, be sure to prep accordingly and load up on that sunscreen. If you’re feeling extra keen, catch Friday night’s SeaWheeze warm-up and free yoga session taking place at Kits Beach led by Lululemon’s Christie Baumgartner. You’ll be gumby in no time.
After the festivities, you can either stay local (and by that we mean head to The Local Public Eatery across from the beach), or check out the recently opened newest location of Hub Restaurant in the city’s West End. Also opening its doors as of last week, Mamie Taylor’s boasts an eclectic array of decorative pieces as well as a great menu featuring classic American goods with a modern twist.
Next, work off dinner and grab your bike and join hundreds of other likeminded fun-seekers at the Velopalooza Boombox Bike Party. That’s right, details aren’t quite available yet as it’s that top secret. All we know is that hundreds of participating riders will have boomboxes synced up blasting really loud, super fun music to create the best moving dance party in town. Dress up, dress down, and don’t miss this one.
Take Sunday to chill, check out a local farmers market, head to the beach or pay a visit to the Food Truck Festival at False Creek’s Olympic Village. Whatever you do, enjoy the day and recover just in time for the week ahead.
Top photo courtesy Deighton Cup