Friday, Dec. 15

MIC NIGHT

Teens can jam at the open mic night in the Michael Wright Art Gallery in Port Coquitlam’s Leigh Square Community Arts Village (beside Port Coquitlam city hall) from 6 to 9 p.m. Call 604-927-7900.

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HOCKEY NIGHT

The Coquitlam Express face off against the Prince George Spruce Kings at 7 p.m. at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St., Coquitlam) — the first of their weekend home games. Visit coquitlamexpress.ca.

FOR THE KIDS

See Buddy the Elf travel from the North Pole to save Christmas in the Theatrix Youtheatre Society’s holiday production of Elf Jr. Based on the flick, the family-friendly stage show runs at the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody) tonight at 7 p.m., and Dec. 16 at 1 and 7 p.m. Tickets at $20/$16 are available via theatrixyoutheatre.com and at the door an hour before curtain.

DANCE SHOW

Rebekah Gill, a student at Port Moody’s Caulfield School of Dance who is in her final year at Heritage secondary, will host a charity dance show with proceeds to the Kids Up Front Foundation. The performance starts at her school (1300 David Ave.) at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation.

XMAS MEMORIES

A festive trinket is at the centre of a one-act musical play directed by Maureen Rooney, running at Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way) tonight at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. For tickets at $42/$34/$15, call the box office at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.

MERENGUE

It’s the last weekly Salsa and Latin dance night of the year for the Hot Salsa Dance Zone so get your dancing shoes on for a merengue class at 8 p.m. in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Or join the party an hour later, until 12:30 a.m. Admission is $10 and parking is free. Guests can also hop on the Evergreen Extension to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas station. No partner or experience is needed. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.



Saturday, Dec. 16

MAPLE SYRUP

Tuck into some pancakes at a Santa fundraiser hosted by Irvine elementary (3862 Wellington St., Port Coquitlam) from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The meal costs $15 for a family, $5 per adult and $3 for kids (cash only). Proceeds go to building holiday hampers for Tri-City residents in need this holiday season.

TOY DRIVE

Enjoy a free breakfast and hot drinks at Pint 405 Pub (405 North Rd., Coquitlam, in the Executive Plaza Hotel) in exchange for a new unwrapped toy for charity. The meal will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. Visit pint405pub.ca.

GINGERBREAD

Stop by Pomme Natural Market (9-2755 Lougheed Hwy., Port Coquitlam) to view the gingerbread houses and Christmas gift baskets up for auction, courtesy of Grass Roots Meal Planning and Prep Ltd. The treats are donated by Tri-City businesses to raise money for a women’s shelter. Visit grasssrootsmealplans.com.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

The Coquitlam Express are back on home ice to take on the Powell River Kings, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St., Coquitlam). The local hockey players will sport red replica Comets jerseys — a nod to the original Coquitlam junior team — and several Comets alumni will be in the audience. Entry is $13 for adults and $10 for teens; free entry for children under five. Visit coquitlamexpress.ca.

Sunday, Dec. 17

GARDEN FRESH

Lower Mainland produce, prepared and baked foods, and artisan crafts will be on sale in and around the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit makebakegrow.com.

TEA ON THE TRAIN

Climb aboard the 1920s Venosta passenger car — in front of the Port Moody Station Museum (2734 Murray St.) — for a Christmas tea or hot cocoa and scones. The seatings are at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids (cash only). To RSVP seats, call 604-939-1648 or email info@portmoodymuseum.org.

VARIETY SHOW

Seniors with Coquitlam’s Glen Pine Pavilion (1200 Glen Pine Crt.) will perform songs, skits and dances in a Christmas variety production from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and refreshments will be served. Call 604-927-6940.

MELE KALIKIMAKA

Have yourself a Hawaiian little Christmas with the Cutie Circle as it hosts its festive strum-and-singalong at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) from 1:40 to 4 p.m. Donations to the Share food bank will be accepted. Visit cutiecircle.com.

CHOO CHOO

Alan Doyle, the frontman for Great Big Sea, and his Beautiful Band make the last two stops aboard the cross-country CP Rail Holiday Train in Port Moody and Port Coquitlam later this afternoon. In PoMo, head over to the recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.) from 1 to 5 p.m. and enjoy a skate from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; stop by the Wellness Room for family fun from 2 to 4:30 p.m.; or warm up by the bonfire behind the facility. The train arrives at 4:20 p.m. with entertainment scheduled from 4:45 to 5:15 p.m. Be sure to bring a non-perishable food donation for the Share food bank, which last year saw more than 960 pounds and $1,732 hauled in for the cause. And at the final stop, in Port Coquitlam, the city has its CP Rail Holiday Train festivities starting early in the day. Skate with Santa is at the PoCo recreation complex from 1:15 to 3:45 p.m. The train enters the West Coast Express station (across Kingsway Avenue) at 6 p.m., with entertainment from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. As well, donations for the Share food bank will be accepted at the event.

jcleugh@tricitynews.com



