Beer, dancing, art and maybe hockey: May’s can’t miss events in the Fraser Valley

Everything is better in May.

The days are longer. The sun is warmer. The rain is rarer. The traffic is…

OK. Not everything is better in May. But a lot of things are! So it’s a good time to kick off what will be a monthly overview of all the ways you can spend the next four-plus weeks in the Fraser Valley.

Less-frigid nights make it more comfortable to spend an evening out on the town, or hang out on a patio, or relax in a park. Today, Tyler runs down a sample of the events and things to do in May.

This is far from a comprehensive list. Every newsletter (subscribe below) features upcoming events in our ‘Around Town’ section. Each month, we’ll try to highlight a selection of events and things to do, including visits by high-profile stars, and things to see and do that may otherwise slip under your radar. If you have something we should mention, email us at [email protected] with “June” in the subject line.

Set the alarm

Live Nation is holding their National Concert Week from May 4 to 10. Basically, it’s a week during which tickets for upcoming shows will be priced at $25. If you’re quick with a mouse, you might be able to score tickets for Dallas Smith, The Black Crowes, or Styx. All the actual shows will take place later this year.

Laughs in Hope

The Hope Cinema hosts comedian Scott Belford, who has performed across North America. He’ll be joined by Faris Hyriaa at a special show on May 25, as part of the Craft Island Theatre Series.

Something different

If you’ve never been to the ballet, this May presents a chance to correct that. Ballet Victoria is presenting a three-act Cinderella at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on May 13. Tickets range from $15 to $30. The promo material promises a twist on the traditional story, humour, and new characters. Details here.

The first playoff run

The Abbotsford Canucks have made the American Hockey League playoffs, but the quirky playoff format means there is still no guarantee the team will play any playoff home games. The first round is just a best-of-three series with all the games played in one location. After losing over the weekend, the Canucks lost the right to host those three games. That said, there’s still a decent chance the Canucks advance to the second round and finally get to play host.

If they do so, tickets will likely be hard to come by, especially with the Vancouver Canucks missing the playoffs. Ticket information is here. Details on the playoff format are here.

See it just for the title

Holy Mo & Spew Bo. That’s the name of what we believe is a play being hosted at the Mastqui Centennial Auditorium at the end of the month, and the description on the website sells it all. It is billed as a “distinctly Canadian post-modern re-telling of the stories of Moses and King David as performed by three well-intentioned but refreshingly flawed travelling clowns.” Showing from May 20 to 28, with tickets available online.

A Ukrainian festival like no other

May 7 is sure to be a special night at the Clarke Theatre in Mission. The venue will host the 25th annual BC Ukrainian Cultural Festival, the largest Ukrainian dance competition in the province. The festival also features vendors, entertainers, and an activity centre for children. Tickets are $13 for adults and less for children, youth, and seniors, with a share of all proceeds going to Ukrainian humanitarian efforts. Details here.

So many plays

Beginning May 8, the Fraser Valley Zone Theatre Festival features a full week of plays at Theatre in the Country in Langley. Troupes from all over the valley will perform on consecutive nights. You can get tickets for a single show, three different plays, or a full week of performances. (The more you see, the better the deal.) The line-up kicks off with the hosts’ performance of Dinner With Friends. Other performances include Langley Little Theatre Society’s The Best Brothers and the Chilliwack Players Guild’s Marjorie Prime. Details here.

Birds aplenty!

The Hope Mountain Centre has organized a special day of bird-watching in Hope on May 14. Nature Chilliwack’s Janne Perrin will lead an easy walk at Thacker Marsh and Hope Airpark. The program, which is suitable for both beginners and experts. $20 for adults, free for youth. Details here.

Beer, food and music

The Brewhalla Beer & Music Festival comes to Fort Langley on May long weekend. The event (details here) includes more than 30 vendors, eight musicians, and 10 food trucks in Fort Langley Park off Glover Road and St. Andrews Ave on May 21. Local breweries like Trading Post, Ravens, Smugglers Trail, Field House, and Farm Country will be featured alongside provincial stalwarts like Four Winds, Strange Fellows, Russell, and Fuggles & Warlock. Kwantlen Polytechnic’s beer school will also be on scene. Read our story about local students learning to brew beer last year.

Art

The Reach Gallery Museum’s winter and spring shows are still open until May 7 in Abbotsford. Three exhibitions are currently on display, including work by artist Simranpreet Anand that draws on concepts from the history of Punjab and its diaspora people. Other exhibits are by Dona Park and Deb Silver. Silver’s photography draws on Stó:lō knowledge and features “evocative, intimate portraits of forests and undergrowth” from around this region. Park’s painting draws on her Korean heritage and identity, while celebrating young people, women, and nature. You can read about all three here.

The trail

This month’s featured hike is an easy and simple one good for families or just anyone seeking a nice hill-top view: Mt. Thom in Chilliwack. The trail is a decent climb that’s achievable even for younger elementary school-aged kids if you access it off Churchill Parkway, via Ryder Lake. The site is a city park and well-maintained, and on a sunny day, it provides a terrific view looking west down the valley. A perfect May hike to try before the weather gets too hot. See the location here. A trail map is here.