It's the first official weekend of summer, so take advantage of the (hopefully) good weather with a West Coast barbecue, live music or a Riverview tree walk. And don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

Coquitlam's got talent — artistic talent, to be exact. Check out the Coquitlam Art Club's annual exhibition, running from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dogwood Pavilion (624 Poirier St.) to see a wide variety of paintings and more.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

ROSE SHOW

Roses are red... and pink, white, yellow and purple, too. See the best of the beautiful blooms at the annual Rose Festival and Show at the Dogwood Pavilion (624 Poirier St.) today (1 to 5 p.m.) and tomorrow (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). They'll be in vases, bowls and baskets, and visitors can vote for the most fragrant variety. Don't forget to wander through the Centennial Rose Garden, featuring 800 rose bushes and 80 different varieties. Admission to the show is $3/adult (kids are free). For more info visit www.fprosesociety.org or call 604-931-5120.

IF IT'S NOT SCOTTISH...

Celebrate all things Scotch at the 19th annual BC Highland Games, taking place at Percy Perry Stadium (Town Centre Park) starting at noon. There will be music from 21 pipe bands, drummers, dancers and heavy events like caber, sheaf and hammer tossing. Adults — be sure to stop by the whiskey tasting. Admission is $13/$9/$3; visit www.bchighlandgames.com for more info.

MUSIC ON THE GRILL

Great food, fresh air and live music come together at the Evergreen Cultural Centre tonight for the first of the new Music on the Grill series. Enjoy the spectacular scenery outside Evergreen with a fun outdoor barbecue dinner (starting at 7 p.m.), then head inside for a concert (at 8:30 p.m.) by Celtic sensation Tiller's Folly performing Stirring Up Ghosts, their multi-media show celebrating the history of B.C. Tickets are $49 for the concert and BBQ; $35 for the concert only. Go to www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca or call 604-927-6555 for info and tickets.

A MIDSUMMER FÊTE

Celebrate art, the environment and farming at A Midsummer Fête, a new event at Colony Farm Regional Park. Metro Vancouver and The Public Dreams Society invite everyone to discover the diverse landscape, flora and fauna of Colony Farm and the people connected to it. Activities will include dancing, music, roving entertainers, storytelling and a tea party. Explore your creativity by making a unique piece of art to take home, or simply enjoy the beauty of historic farmland, community gardens, trails and wildlife areas. Drop in any time between 1 and 5 p.m. Visit www.publicdreams.org for more info.

SUNDAY, JUNE 28

CRAFT FAIR

School's out, and if your kids are already wondering what to do with all their free time, have them check out the Summer Craft Fair '09 at the Place Maillardville Community Centre, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Presented by Port Moody secondary's Community Leadership Force (the same group that hosted the Multicultural Music Fest in April), the event features Tri-City artists selling their work, delicious baked goods for sale and live music. Entrance is by donation; proceeds go to the Down Syndrome Research Foundation (www.dsrf.org).

DANCE RECITAL

See this year's top notch dance talent coming out of Place des Arts at a recital today at the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam, with shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Call 604-664-1636 for details.

TREE WALK

Tour the expansive Riverview Hospital grounds on a guided Linden Tree Walk with the Riverview Horticultural Centre Society, starting at 1 p.m. from the upper entrance of the Henry Esson Young building. Call 604-290-9910 or visit www.rhcs.org for info and directions. The Riverview Preservation Society also hosts a public meeting at the Burnaby Public Library (4595 Albert St.) from 1:15 to 3 p.m. Call 604-299-8955 for details.

POOL OPEN

Kick off the summer with a dip in the pool. The Rochester outdoor pool officially opens today with a family event from 1 to 7 p.m., with water games, face painting a bouncy castle and prizes for all ages. Admission is free before 4 p.m. Visit www.activecoquitlam.ca or call 604-927-4FUN for more info.