Nine reasons to get out of the house this spring in Vancouver

Welcome to the often-watery days of spring. Fortunately, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor events and activities to fill these cloudy, rainy, and sometimes sunny days.

1. Geocaching

Geocaches are hidden all over Vancouver. If you’d like to see what this pastime is all about, Metro Vancouver is offering an Introduction to Geocaching course on March 22 in Pacific Spirit Regional Park. The cost is $8 for adults and $4.25 for children and seniors.

2. Bats

As well, Night Quest will take place on March 22 in Pacific Spirit Regional Park. The free event is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and starts at 4914 West 16th Avenue. I’ll let Metro Vancouver describe it: “Stroll 2 km of lantern-lit trails featuring owls, bats, coyotes and more. Then join us at the campfire for more fun. Bring a lantern, flashlight or headlamp and allow 1 hour to complete the quest.”

3. Speakers

As you’ve probably heard, the famous TED conference is coming to town this month. But unless you got an invitation and paid $7,500, you’re not going. For everyone else, there’s the BIL conference, a participatory version of TED, on March 22 and 23 at Five Sixty (560 Seymour Street). Anyone can sign up to speak, and admission is by donation.

4. Film

Interested in social change? SFU’s Fat Matters series of free film screenings wraps up on April 3. They’ll be showing Fat, Bald, Short Man and hosting a positive discussion about the social context of body issues at Harbour Centre.

5. Local food

If you haven’t been to the Winter Farmers Market yet this year, you have one month left to go. It happens every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nat Bailey Stadium. The last market of the season is April 26. There’s bike parking, and dogs are welcome.

6. Baking

Also very tasty (and free to visit) is the Baker’s Market at the Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre (7646 Prince Albert Street). The next markets are April 20 and 27, and May 4. There you’ll find local bakers selling cakes, cookies, muffins, scones, and more, with vegan and gluten-free options likely available too.

7. Fashion

The year’s first Portobello West fashion and art market takes place on March 22 and 23. Admission is $2, and the venue is the Creekside Community Recreation Centre in the former Olympic Village.

8. Geekery

Into anime, comics, horror, sci-fi, and other geeky stuff? Fan Expo Vancouver is for you. The dates are April 18 to 20 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Tickets start at $20 for a Friday pass.

9. Art

For Group of Seven fans, Lawren Harris: Canadian Visionary is showing at the Vancouver Art Gallery until May 4. Although adult tickets to the VAG are usually $20, admission is by donation on Tuesdays from 5 to 9 p.m.