Last year, artist Anita Cheung and experiential designer Ryleah Shae brought some serious whimsy to East Vancouver with a pop-up kids’ art gallery that warmed the heart and sparked plenty of creativity—and in 2025, they’re at it again.
READ MORE: A Few of Anita Cheung’s Favourite Things
For year two, the event is bigger and better, taking over an entire heritage home to create an immersive experience of play: welcome to Tombolo House and Storybook Museum, home of what simply has to be the cutest art event in town.
Grab a ticket for any of the open dates September 12 to 21 (weekends are open to the public; weekdays are reserved for private groups and scheduled workshops) and step into what Cheung calls “a storybook world.” Each room of the home is a different scene or page in a story, inviting visitors big and small to interact with the narrative. The tale is based on the same theme as the submitted children’s artwork on display: “Imaginary Worlds.”
In addition to exploring the house, kids are invited to participate in workshops throughout the week—printmaking, creative building, monoprints and dance classes. Cult-fave kid consignment pop-up Alligator Soup will be present all day on Saturdays and Sundays for a chance to find vintage treasures for the little humans in your life; Aiyahono Cafe will be on sight September 14 bringing signature matcha drinks and kid-friendly menu items, too.
If your little artist is keen to have their work displayed as part of this special show, get ‘em working now: submissions close September 1. Otherwise: see you in the playhouse.
Tombolo House
September 12 to 21
Tickets $5 and up, free for kids under 2, workshops priced individually
More info and tickets here
