VANCOUVER - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 86

CINEMAS
Cinemas are in all of the major shopping malls and elsewhere throughout the city. Cineplex
(604/434-2463, tickets $12) operates cinemas across the city. Call or check the two daily
papers for locations and screenings.
For foreign and Canadian indie films, check out The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St.,
604/688-8202, www.thecinematheque.ca , tickets $7-10).
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Festivals of some description take place in Vancouver just about every month of the year.
Whether it's a celebration of local or international culture, the arts, sporting events, or just
a wacky longtime tradition, there's always a reason to party in Vancouver. Tickets for most
major events can be booked through Ticketmaster ( www.ticketmaster.ca ) .
Spring
Vancouver International Wine Festival (604/872-6623, www.vanwinefest.ca , mid-April,
various downtown venues) is one of North America's largest wine shows, bringing together
representatives from more than 175 wineries and 14 countries. While the trade and wine
connoisseurs are catered to, casual wine buffs enjoy a variety of events, including access to
the Tasting Room, where hundreds of wines from around the world can be sampled for a
$70 cover charge.
The spring sports schedule kicks off with a blast from the starter's gun for the Van-
couver Sun Run (604/689-9441, third Sun. in Apr., downtown), a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile)
run (or walk) through the streets of downtown. Attracting over 50,000 participants, it
is Canada's largest (and the world's third-largest) such run. A couple of weeks after
the annual fun run, serious runners hit the streets for the Vancouver Marathon (604/
872-2928, www.bmovanmarathon.ca , first Sun. in May, downtown), an internationally ac-
credited marathon (and a qualifier for the Boston Marathon). Races are contested in differ-
ent lengths, including the marathon, a half-marathon, and a five-miler. All begin and end
at BC Place Stadium, with the marathon following the shoreline of False Creek, winding
through the streets of downtown, then to Stanley Park, and crossing to Kitsilano.
Rodeo isn't usually associated with Vancouver, but each May cowboys from throughout
North America descend on the city for the three-day Cloverdale Rodeo and Country
Fair (604/576-9461, www.cloverdalerodeo.com , third weekend in May, Cloverdale). The
rodeo—saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, steer wrestling, and calf roping—takes place
daily at 2:30pm and 7:30pm. Grandstand tickets cost from $22. Other events include the