This week in Vancouver: free festivals, summer job openings, spring weather and more

Hey Vancouver, I hope everyone's week is off to a great start! It's Asymina from Narcity Media and I wanted to welcome you to the first edition of a new weekly series about all things Vancouver. 👋

Every Monday I'll give you the rundown of all the big things happening in the city, from fun events to new restaurant openings, job postings, top stories, travel ideas, celebrity sightings, weather and anything else relevant to the city life.

I hope you'll find this guide helpful and that it keeps you informed as to what's going on in Vancouver.

THINGS TO KNOW

🛫 YVR IS #1

If you love Vancouver International Airport as much as Kelly Ripa, then you'll be thrilled to know it's been named the best airport in North America for 2024. The Skytrax World Airports Awards reported the top ranking after a survey of travellers at more than 500 airports around the globe.

🌊 BC BEACHES GOT RECOGNIZED

It's not just Vancouver's airport that got some praise recently. Three beaches in B.C. were named among the most popular in the world. Those beaches include Wreck Beach, Kitsilano Beach and Long Beach in Tofino. It's nice to see Vancouver's claim to fame — the iconic nude beach — is getting some credit.

⭐️ CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS

There are many Hollywood projects underway in Vancouver so keep your eyes peeled for possible celebrity sightings. From the cast of Netflix's Virgin River to HBO's The Last Of Us and the new Suits spinoff, there's no shortage of film crews on the mainland. If you've been dreaming of bumping into Pedro Pascal or Alexandra Breckenridge, we hope it comes true soon!

TRAVEL

🛩 SHORT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Itching to travel, but hate the long-haul flights? Don't worry we've got you covered! We put together a list of 11 destinations you can fly to from Vancouver in six hours or less! A mimosa on the beach? Yes, please!

🛳 TAKE A CRUISE TO ALASKA

Or if you want to skip a plane altogether, how about a cruise? You can add your name to a standby list for a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska. The cruises operated by Holland America Line only cost $70 per day, before taxes.

🚗 CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN BC

You don't need a plane or a cruise ship for an exciting quick getaway. You can just as easily hop into your car with your partner and go for a romantic weekend getaway to a charming small town a few hours outside of Vancouver. A road trip is also the perfect opportunity to binge-listen to Taylor Swift's new album! Even better if you get to be the passenger princess.

👻 ABANDONED TOWNS NEAR VANCOUVER

If you prefer less charm and something spookier, visit some of Metro Vancouver's abandoned spots and towns. From a former psychiatric asylum to what was once Canada's richest silver mining community, you can learn a lot about B.C.'s history by visiting these areas.

WEATHER

☀️The week is off to a sunny start on Monday and Tuesday. The warmest day of the week will be Tuesday with a high of 16C.

☔ It's Raincouver, so don't get too excited, because the sun won't stick around all week. There's a chance of showers on Wednesday and the rain continues on Thursday and Friday.

FOODIE NEWS

🍜 $10 RAMEN

JINYA Ramen Bar in downtown Vancouver is celebrating seven years by offering its customers a treat. The ramen bar is offering three dishes for only $10. Those include the JINYA Tonkotsku Black Ramen, Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen and JINYA Chicken Ramen. The offer is valid from April 22 to 24 and is available for dine-in only.

☕ BEST CAFES IN VANCOUVER

Looking for a new cafe to try out? Vancouver has no shortage of incredible coffee shops around the city and we put together a list of 11 of the best cafes to try out in 2024.

🥞 ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BRUNCH

If you love brunch, how does a bottomless buffet sound? Several restaurants in Vancouver offer an all-you-can-eat brunch on the weekends.

VANCOUVER FESTIVALS

Summer is less than two months away and the festivals are already ramping up in Vancouver!

🍡 RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET

The largest night market in North America, the Richmond Night Market, opens for the season on April 26. The event offers innovative and delicious eats like Japanese poutine, over-the-top desserts and more! This year's theme is "Summer Sweet Dragon," in honour of 2024 being the Year of the Dragon.

🌞 COQUITLAM COMMUNITY FEST

Coquitlam is hosting its inaugural community festival on April 27 and 28 in Town Centre Park from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. The Coquitlam Community Fest will feature local artisans, live entertainment, food trucks and plenty of kids' activities.

🎶FILIPINO MULTI-BLOCK PARTY

An event celebrating Filipino culture is coming to Vancouver on April 27.

The Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party will have food and craft vendors, live music and cultural performances, DJs, a basketball tournament and more! The event will take place at John Oliver Secondary from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

🌷 TULIP FLOWER FESTIVAL

Tulips are blooming in Vancouver and there's no better place to admire them than at a flower festival. The Abbotsford Tulip Festival is back for another year with over 28 acres of tulips. You can take stunning shots of yourself wandering through the colourful fields at Lakeland Flowers in Abbotsford.

SPORTS

🏒 VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The Vancouver Canucks are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team won their first game 4-2 against the Nashville Predators on April 21. The Canucks will play Game 2 against the Predators on April 23 at 7 p.m. PT.

⚽ VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

The Vancouver Whitecaps are on the road for the Major League Soccer Western Conference. The team's next game is against the NY Red Bulls on April 27.

The Whitecaps will be back for home games at BC Place in May. You can get your tickets for May 4 or May 25 on Ticketmaster.

JOB POSTINGS

🌳 PARKS CANADA

Parks Canada is hiring students and temporary workers for its summer 2024 operations. The jobs range from environmental conservation, human resources, lifeguarding, web content and social media, and much more.

The pay for these positions ranges between $16.84 and $30 per hour.

The Government of Canada website says the closing date to apply for the summer positions is April 30, 2024.

🛝 BC WATER PARKS

If working at a water park sounds like it's more your style, two parks are hiring in Vancouver.

Cultus Lake Waterpark is hiring for summer 2024 positions. The park is looking to fill roles at both its Adventure Park and its Waterpark. The jobs come with some pretty sweet perks like discounts at the waterpark, free admission, and staff parties. The website says the starting pay is $17.50 or more. You can find the applications online.

Big Splash Water Slide Park in Tsawwassen is also hiring part-time and full-time employees for the summer. Those positions include tower guards, lifeguards (NL certificate required), guest services, food and beverage positions and more! You can apply on-site at the water slide park on May 3 and 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or May 4 and 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make sure you bring a pen, resume and your upbeat personality!

Well, that about sums up what's happening in Vancouver from April 22 to 28.

Have a great week!