A parade, a comedy marathon and more events to check out in Metro Vancouver this weekend

A float from the 2025 Hyack Festival Parade is seen in this image from the organizer's website. (hyackfestival.com)

It’s the penultimate weekend of May and, as always, there’s lots to do in Metro Vancouver. Here are some events and activities you may want to check out.

Hyack Festival and parade

New Westminster’s Hyack Festival Association will host its annual multicultural parade on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Held since 1971 and featuring more than 100 entries, the parade makes its way through the city’s Uptown neighbourhood, beginning at the intersection of Sixth Street and Eighth Avenue and ending at Queens Park.

Following the parade, spectators and participants are invited to “Festival in the Park,” a gathering with more than 60 food and arts vendors, plus live performances, in Tipperary Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

24 hours of comedy

For the fourth year in a row, Vancouver stand-up comic Graham Clark will perform a 24-hour comedy marathon in support of Little Mountain Gallery.

The fundraiser features teams of fellow comedians working in two-hour shifts writing jokes for Clark to deliver on stage.

The 2026 marathon begins Friday at 8 p.m. and runs until the same time Saturday at the gallery, which—despite its name—is located at 110 Water St. in Gastown. There’s also an online livestream planned.

Heidelberg Materials open house

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Heidelberg Materials, the concrete-mixing company whose colourful silos loom over the north end of Granville Island, Saturday is your chance.

The Granville Island facility will host its annual open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering plant tours, a giant sandbox, face painting, live music, prizes and more.

Garden Tea Festival

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is hosting “Garden Tea Festival: Tea for All” this weekend.

Guests will have the opportunity to sample a wide range of teas from local small businesses, participate in tea ceremonies, enjoy musical performances and more. There are also three ticketed tea-tasting sessions on Sunday.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and more information can be found on the garden’s website.

Fleurs de Villes: Wonder

Head to VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver starting Friday to check out "Fleurs de Villes: Wonder," a new show of floral installations designed by local artists.

More than 20 floral mannequins and nature-inspired displays will be on view at the garden through May 31.

“Fleurs de Villes: Wonder” is included in the price of garden admission.

Vancouver Youth Choir’s ‘Village’

Vancouver Youth Choir will present what the organization calls the “most ambitious concert” in its history on Sunday evening at The Orpheum.

More than 600 young singers, ages eight to 24, will perform music in French, Irish Gaelic, Spanish, Mandarin, Cree, Italian, Farsi, Fijian, Indonesian and Innu. The show will also see the premiere of four new works and arrangements, according to organizers.

“Village” is the VYC’s season finale concert. It begins at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Full program and ticket information can be found on the choir’s website.

For the sports fans

The Vancouver Bandits host the Edmonton Stingers at Langley Events Centre Friday in their Canadian Elite Basketball League home opener. Tip off is at 7 p.m.

The club will also host the Calgary Surge on Sunday at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, two local professional soccer clubs will be in action. Vancouver Rise FC hosts AFC Toronto at 1 p.m. at Swanguard Stadium in Burnaby, while Vancouver FC hosts Supra du Quebec at 3 p.m. in Langley.