Hi friends!
Hope you had a good Easter. We did the egg hunt, went on walks, and honestly the blossoms right now are absurd. Like, full-on movie-set levels of pink. If you haven't done an evening stroll through the neighbourhood this week, do it before the wind takes them.
Oh — quick thing. We're on Instagram now. If you want the between-issues stuff — quick tips, local finds, things that don't quite fit in a Tuesday email — that's where it'll live. Come say hi over there.
Okay. Back to business.
Here's your soft landing for the week:
🎡 Lansdowne carnival wraps up Sunday — this is your last shot
🏰 Kerrisdale's bouncy castle playground opens Thursday — toddler-only mornings included
🌷 Harrison Tulip Festival opens this week — 14 million blooms, 90 minutes away
🔨 Home Depot kids workshop reg opens April 13 — and it doubles as a Mother's Day gift
Let's get into it. 👇🏼
🎡 Last Chance: Spring Carnival at Lansdowne Centre
Richmond's spring carnival wraps up this Sunday. If you've been meaning to go, this is it.
Rides for little kids (mini jets, carousel, berry-go-round), rides for bigger kids (Zipper, Spider, Expo Wheel), plus the usual corn dogs and cotton candy situation.
📍 Where: Lansdowne Centre, Richmond (steps from the Canada Line)
⏰ When:
Thu Apr 9: 3pm–10pm
Fri Apr 10: noon–10pm
Sat Apr 11: noon–10pm
Sun Apr 12: noon–6pm
👶 Ages: All ages. Plenty of toddler-friendly rides.
💸 Cost: Wristbands $40 advance / $50 on-site for unlimited rides, or individual coupons ($1.50 each, 3–6 per ride).
The Move
Go Saturday or Sunday at noon when it opens. Less crowded, shorter lines, and you're out before the evening rush. Sunday closes at 6pm so don't leave it too late.
Why It Matters
Carnivals like this only roll through once or twice a year. It's close, it's easy, and it's the kind of outing where the kids talk about "that one ride" for weeks. Sunday is your last chance.
🏰 Kerrisdale Play Palace Opens Thursday
Ice season's over at Kerrisdale Cyclone Taylor Arena, which means one thing: bouncy castles are back. Starting April 10, the arena converts into an indoor inflatable playground. Obstacle courses, toddler zone, the works.
The best part? Weekday mornings (9:30–11:30am) are reserved for under-5s. So your toddler isn't getting launched by a 10-year-old on a sugar high.
📍 Where: Kerrisdale Cyclone Taylor Arena, 5670 East Blvd
⏰ When: Opens April 10, runs through August 21
👶 Ages: 0–12 (under-5 mornings on weekdays)
💸 Cost: $4.24–$6.10/child depending on age. Under 6 months free.
The Move
Hit a weekday morning session. Smaller crowds, age-appropriate chaos, and you're home by lunch.
Why It Matters
On a rainy weekday morning when you're out of ideas, this is the answer.
🌷 Harrison Tulip Festival Opens This Week
Fourteen million tulips. 45 acres. About 90 minutes from your front door. If you need a reason to get out of the city this month, this is it.
The Harrison Tulip Festival opens Thursday, April 10 and runs through early May. It's their 20th anniversary season, with 150+ varieties of tulips plus hyacinths, daffodils, and a 4.5-acre show garden with winding paths designed for exactly the kind of photos that end up as your phone wallpaper for six months. New this year: the Night Garden — illuminated evening walks on select dates.
📍 Where: 5039 Lougheed Hwy, Agassiz (about 90 min drive from Vancouver)
⏰ When: Opens April 10, runs through ~May 3. Weekdays 10am–6:30pm, weekends 8am–6:30pm.
👶 Ages: All ages. Paths are generally stroller-friendly, but heads up — the official site says umbrella strollers and small wheels aren't recommended in the fields (uneven and possibly muddy). Bring the bigger wheels.
💸 Cost: $10–$25 depending on age and timing. Get tickets here.
The Move
Go on a weekday if you can swing it. Weekends get packed. Pack snacks, layer up, and budget an extra hour because your kid will not want to leave (and honestly, neither will you). Can't drive? There's a shuttle from Lougheed Station on select dates ($34 weekday / $39 weekend, includes admission).
Why It Matters
It's a serious trek outside Vancouver. But with 14 million blooms, food trucks on-site, and a 4.5-acre show garden, it guarantees at least one frame-worthy photo for the grandparents.
🎭 The Paper Bag Princess Is Coming to Granville Island
You probably know this one by heart already. Now, Robert Munsch's iconic, dragon-outsmarting heroine is coming to life on stage.
This is Carousel Theatre. They're Vancouver's go-to for kids' shows and they don't miss. Ages 3+, matinee and evening showtimes, and the venue on Granville Island is stroller-accessible (limited stroller parking in the lobby).
📍 Where: Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St, Granville Island
⏰ When: April 24–May 10 (full run starts April 22)
👶 Ages: 3+
💸 Cost: Paid — check showtimes and pricing here
The Move
Buy tickets this week. These runs sell out, and the good seats go first. If you're planning a birthday outing or a grandparent visit, this is the one.
Why It Matters
Live theatre for little kids, done well, on Granville Island. It doesn't get more Vancouver-parent than that.
🔨 Home Depot Kids Workshop: Mother's Day Edition
A free weekend activity that also handles a Mother's Day gift? Outsourcing the holiday crafts has never felt so good.
📍 Where: Your closest Home Depot (Terminal Ave or Cambie & W 8th are the local go-tos)
⏰ When: Workshop is Saturday, May 9. Registration opens Monday, April 13 at 10:30 AM.
👶 Ages: 5–12
💸 Cost: Free.
The Move
April 13, 10:30am. Phone in hand. Register. Done. Then you can cross "Mother's Day gift" off the list a full month early.
Why It Matters
The kids get to hammer something, you get an hour of structured activity, and they walk away with a wooden keepsake box just in time for Mother's Day Sunday.
Know a parent who's already dreading the Mother's Day craft scramble? Forward them this one. You'll be their hero.
🎵 VSO Kids Koncerts: Last Show of the Season
The final VSO Kids Koncert of the year is June 7 at the Orpheum. It's called "The Unicorn's Birthday," it runs 2–3pm, and it's aimed at ages 4–11.
June feels far away. It's not. If you've been meaning to take the kids to one of these all season, this is your last shot until fall.
📍 Where: Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe St, Vancouver
⏰ When: Sunday, June 7, 2:00–3:00 PM
👶 Ages: 4–11
💸 Cost: $20–$36 (plus fees). Buy tickets here.
The Move
Book now. Future You will thank Past You.
Why It Matters
A full symphony orchestra, performing for kids, in a gorgeous theatre. There's a VSO School of Music Playzone in the lobby before the show where kids can try instruments and play musical games. Your kid might leave wanting violin lessons. You've been warned.
📌 Notice Board
Farmers market season is here. Riley Park and Trout Lake both opened last Saturday and run every week through October.
🥬 Riley Park — Saturdays, 10am–2pm (Apr 4 – Oct 31)
🥬 Trout Lake — Saturdays, 9am–2pm (Apr 4 – Oct 31)
🥬 Kits Winter Market — Sundays, 10am–2pm (closes Apr 26 — three Sundays left)
P.S. Know a family who hasn't locked in weekend plans yet? Forward them this one. Between the carnival wrapping up, tulip festival opening, and bouncy castles returning, there's something for every kid and every energy level.
That’s a wrap for this week.
We’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo
