I hope everyone enjoyed their long Thanksgiving weekend! There are plenty of things to be thankful for with all the great events happening around the city. Catch some autumn art both in Vancouver and on the Sunshine Coast as well as take in a play about the twilight of the human species. And why not enjoy the fruits of the fall harvest at the Apple Festival at UBC Botanical Gardens and the Harvest Glow in Langley? Have a great October everyone!
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Harvest Glow
Sept. 27–Oct. 31
Milner Village Garden Centre, Langley
www.glowgardens.com/harvest-langley
Harvest Glow is the largest indoor fall festival in greater Vancouver, hosted at the Milner Village Garden Centre in Langley. Bring together the people you love to laugh and delight in the pumpkin patch, corn maze and family playgrounds. Take the ultimate family photos alongside the interactive light sculptures, pumpkin tree and pumpkin carriage. Or just kick back and enjoy live entertainment and delicious options from local food trucks and three licensed bars. The market showcases the very best from over 25 local artisans, boutiques and farms. It’s all the magic and wonder of an outdoor seasonal family festival, hosted inside a cozy and spacious venue.
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Lisa C. Ravensbergen and Daniel Martin in A Brief History of Human Extinction.| Photo by Matt Reznik.
A Brief History of Human Extinction
Various showtimes between Oct. 10–20
The Cultch’s Historic Theatre, Vancouver
The Cultch will be presenting the world premiere of A Brief History of Human Extinction, a new sci-fi thriller created by award-winning playwright Jordan Hall. In 2178, a creeping fungal plague has rendered the surface of the planet uninhabitable. Trapped inside a retrofitted scientific facility, the last woman, man, and otter on earth prepare for the launch of the Ark – a ship that will carry our planet’s genetic legacy to a new home. Exploring questions about our human nature, our culpability in the destruction of our earth, and our undying ability to hope for better things, Hall – no stranger to plays about environmental disaster – traverses some of her favourite themes in this play. Check out the Cultch’s website for tickets and showtimes.
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Inclusion Art Show
Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Heritage Hall, Vancouver
The Inclusion Art Show returns to Vancouver for its 14th year, featuring the artistic creations of over 200 artists in the city. There will be all kinds of artistic forms from paintings, photography and pottery to jewelry, textiles and glassware. At the show you can meet the artists, discover their philosophy of art and watch their creative processes at work. For artist info and further information, please check out the art show’s website.
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The Mariachi Ghost with Kownterpoint
Oct. 11, 8 p.m.
Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver
The Mariachi Ghost, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, summon the ghosts of old Mexico through traditional Mexican song, haunting synths and explosive guitar lines, alongside rich harmonies, commanding lead vocals and spectral dance. Their show leaps from anguish and longing to a raging fury in a heartbeat. They will be performing at the Rickshaw Theatre on Oct. 11; for tickets and more information, please check out their website.
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Fan Expo Vancouver
Oct. 12–14
Vancouver Convention Centre
Pop culture extravaganza Fan Expo returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre this month, featuring autographs and photo ops with celebrities, exclusive merchandise, cosplay sessions, workshops, exhibits and more! Watch your favourite comic artist produce their comics live, go behind the scenes in a brainstorming session with sci-fi screenwriters, and meet and greet cast members from some of the latest animes, web series and TV shows airing today. Check out their website for tickets and more information.
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Apple Festival 2018
Oct. 13–14, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
UBC Botanical Gardens, University Endowment Lands
Every year approximately 15,000 kilograms of apples are sold to thousands of attendees of the Apple Festival at the UBC Botanical Gardens. There will be a children’s area for kids to learn about biodiversity and the environment. Visit the tasting tent to try over 60 apple varieties, learn about grafting and cider pressing through demonstrations, discuss apple tree maintenance and pest management with the apple experts and be inspired to buy your very own apple tree! For more information about this year’s festival, please visit the UBC website.
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Guo Pei: Couture Beyond
Oct. 13, 2018–Jan. 20, 2019
Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Art Gallery will be unveiling Guo Pei: Couture Beyond, the first Canadian exhibition devoted to the work of Guo Pei, China’s preeminent couturière. This mid-career survey features more than forty complete looks from Guo Pei’s most iconic runways from 2006 to 2017. In her theatrical, extravagant creations, Guo Pei combines contemporary aesthetics, production methods and materials with ancient tradition, evoking Chinese history and mythology in her craft techniques, fabric selection and imagery. The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of her evolution as a designer as well as her contribution to global fashion culture.
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The Formation of Taiwanese Identity After Democratization
Oct. 16, 1:30–3:00 p.m.
SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver
www.sfu.ca/davidlamcentre/
The SFU David Lam Centre for International Communication will be hosting a talk by Shiho Maehara, Assistant Professor of the Taiwan Studies Project at Kyushu University, Japan about the topic of Taiwanese identity. Taiwan is an ethnically and culturally diverse island whose have long been asking themselves “who are we?” As Taiwan has democratized since the 1980s, the answers to this question have changed considerably. In this talk, Shiho will analyze the historical background to this shifting identity discourse, focusing especially on the influence of former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui. For tickets and more information, please visit the website.
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Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
Oct. 19–21, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Various venues along the Sunshine Coast Highway, Sunshine Coast
Explore the vibrant arts and cultural scene this mid-October at the eighth annual Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. With over 380 artists spread across 165 venues between Langdale and Earls Cove, there is plenty to see and do. Meet with artists, watch art demonstrations and check out the many watercolour paintings, carvings, jewelry, pottery, sculptures, ceramics, acrylics and more. There will also be extra venues open on Friday night from 7–9 p.m. For more information, please refer to their website.
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Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow
Oct. 20, 25 & 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28, 2 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre will be playing an adaptation of the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár’s play The Merry Widow in this wonderfully lavish Art Nouveau production. Set in the heart of vibrant fin de siècle Paris, the wealthy widow, Hanna Glawari, sung by Italian-Canadian Lucia Cesaroni, schemes to win the heart of dashingly handsome Count Danilo. The story unfolds on a stage packed with elegant ladies, eligible bachelors, and Maxim’s famous can-can dancers. For tickets, showtimes and more information, please visit the Vancouver Opera’s website.
