Harlem Globetrotters, agriculture show, live theatre, cooking, and tree chipping: the Fraser Valley’s must-do January events

A New Year brings a new calendar of events.

Santa has officially left town and you’re likely eager to do away with the remaining remnants of the holiday season—like your dying Christmas tree. January is the month to do exactly that. But that’s not all this month brings. Live theatre is returning to the stage, and sporting events on and off the ice are scheduled throughout this month.

Today, we break down what January has in store for across the valley.

Click the links on each event to learn more or find tickets.

IN THE LIMELIGHT 

It might still be too chilly for outdoor entertainment, but the theatre productions happening in the valley could be all the entertainment you need. Bard in the Valley returns with its production of Almost, Maine. The “mythical romantic comedy” will take the stage at Fort Langley Hall for 10 performances beginning Jan. 26 at 7pm each night. Ticket sales will support a summer season of Shakespeare in the Fraser Valley.

In Abbotsford, an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express will be showing at the Abbotsford Arts Centre from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4.

The Chilliwack School of Performing Arts presents Cinderella at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Performances begin Jan. 11 and conclude on Jan. 22.

The Mission Arts Council is hosting the Peggy Staber Memorial Art Show. Staber taught painting and drawing for 20 years for Fraser Valley College and Mission Parks and Recreation. The exhibit runs from Jan. 3 to 21.

Also, submissions are open for the first-ever Langley City Film Festival. Langley City’s debut festival will take place in October. Filmmakers can submit their projects now until June 30.

FOR THE ATHLETE AND NON-ATHLETE 

Whether you’re looking to be stunned by truly talented athletes or take in a sport of unarmed combat or just attend an exhibit, January has something for everyone. The Chilliwack Curling Club is hosting the 2023 BC Scotties and BC Men’s Curling Championships this month. Tickets for the five-day event beginning Jan. 11 are available online.

Learn how to make fresh pasta with Chef Craig at Creekside Cheese + Creamery in Agassiz. The Jan. 21 class will teach budding chefs how to make filled pasta, fettuccini, and tortellini in a small group. Cost of the evening workshop will include ingredients.

On Jan. 26 the Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour will be stopping at Abbotsford Centre. That same weekend, the latest trends in the agriculture industry will be on display at Abbotsford’s Tradex from Jan. 26 to 28. The Pacific Agriculture Show will feature more than 300 exhibitors.

At the end of the month, Judo BC and the Abbotsford Judo Club will host the annual Pacific International Invitational Judo Tournament. The competition will take place from Jan. 27 to 29. The event, which runs from Jan. 27 to 29, is a selection tournament for BC athletes who wish to participate in the 2023 Canadian Open Nationals.

And, finally, the Chilliwack Thrift Market will return to Heritage Park on Jan. 28. Admission is $2.

COUNCIL GETS BACK TO WORK

Council meetings across the Fraser Valley will resume this month after the holiday break. Many may begin to discuss this year’s budgets. The Current will continue to report on council decisions, but you can also keep track by viewing the calendar of meetings for each Fraser Valley municipality below:

Langley Township | Langley City | City of Abbotsford | City of Chilliwack | City of Mission | District of Hope | District of Kent | Fraser Valley Regional District 

TREE CHIPPING

Have you been waiting to grind up your dried out Christmas tree? There is no shortage of opportunities this month.

Abbotsford

Fraser Valley Conservancy is hosting its annual Christmas Trees for Frogs event on Jan. 7. The event will be held in west Abbotsford from 9am to 3pm. Christmas trees will be dropped in a pond where frogs will use the branches to attach their eggs. The amphibians will also use them to hide from predators. Organizers will share the location of the event after registration. You can see how last year’s trees were used here. 

Matsqui Community Hall in Abbotsford is hosting a bottle drive and tree-chipping event on Jan. 7. Volunteers will be on-site from 9am to 1pm to help unload trees and collect bottles.

Langley

D. W. Poppy Secondary in Aldergrove is hosting its annual tree-chipping bottle drive on Jan. 7 from 10am to 4pm. Recycle your Christmas tree for a $20 donation. Limited tree pick up services will be available for a $30 donation. Contact 604-838-7877 to arrange for a pick up.

From 9am to 3pm on Jan. 7 the Tim Keis Real Estate Team will be at Hakim’s Independent Grocer in Willoughby. Tree chipping will be offered by donation. All funds raised benefit the Langley Food Bank. Non-perishable food donations will also be accepted.

The Langley Rugby Club is holding a tree-chipping bottle drive on Jan. 7. A minimum $10 donation is required.

The 1st Walnut Grove Scouts are holding a tree-chipping event from 9am to 4pm on Jan. 7 at the Walnut Grove Secondary. Tree chipping will be offered by donation. If you can’t make it in-person, a pick-up from Walnut Grove can be arranged for $10, or $20 if you live in Fort Langley. Money raised will support youth in camp. Contact Brent Japp at [email protected] or 604-720-4805 to arrange a pick-up.

The 1st Willoughby Scouts will be at Willoughby Elementary that same day and time offering tree-chipping services by donation. The scouts at Willoughby will also be holding a bottle drive. Similarly, a pick up from Willoughby can be arranged for $10, outside of Willoughby will be $20. Contact 604-619-6504 to schedule a pick up.

Another group of scouts will be at Brookswood Secondary during that same time. No pick-up service will be available for this site. The Brookswood scouts will also be collecting bottles.

If you don’t make it to any of the many Saturday chipping events, another is happening the following day. Bring your Christmas tree to Walnut Grove Secondary. Donations collected during the event will go to support the school’s breakfast club.

If you miss the Langley fundraisers you can also take your tree to a local Recycling and Waste Centre for composting. A minimum $10 applies.

Mission

In Mission, residents can recycle their Christmas tree by leaving them at the curb during regular collection days. Trees must be free of decorations and cut in half to fit into the collection vehicle. Alternatively, trees can be dropped off at the Mission Landfill free of charge at any time. Residents are limited to discard one tree per household.

Hope

In Hope, Valley Waste will be collecting Christmas trees from Jan. 10 to 14. Residents are asked to put clean trees out at the curbside on their regular collection day. Alternatively, trees can be dropped off at the Hope Transfer Station for free from Jan. 10 to 31.

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