It's a yearly opportunity that allows you to take in the stars, both literally and figuratively.

The City of Port Coquitlam's annual Cinema Under the Stars series gets underway 9 p.m. tonight (Friday, July 13) with a screening of the animated film, Dr. Seuss' the Lorax.

Based on the 1972 popular children's story by Dr. Seuss, the film tells the saga of the Lorax, who challenges the greedy Once-ler to save the trees.

The 2012 CGI film features the voices of Hollywood stars Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Danny DeVito in telling the Suess story.

The show is at Sun Valley Park (Hamilton St. and Lincoln Ave.) in PoCo, though a wide range of children's activities - soccer, taekwondo, baseball and more -- will be offered between 7 and 9 p.m. through the city's PoCoMotion initiative. The free movie series features wheelchair accessibility, and films will be screened every other Friday until Aug. 24.

JAM SESSION IN SPIRIT SQUARE

The park will be hopping to a multi-layered musical beat today (Friday) as part of the Youth Music Jam at Spirit Square Market.

A lineup of six local bands will overtake the stage, beginning at 3 p.m., for a melodious jam session at the Coquitlam square, located at 3000 Burlington Dr., just west of Pinetree Way.

Among the acts that will lay down some tracks are Alva Tang, Deanna and Chris, Taryn McMaster, the Jeff Huggins Band, Corbin Vanderzalm and Community Trees. The performance, which is slated to run until 7 p.m., is part of the Coquitlam Farmers Market that runs 3 to 7 p.m.

POCO WEEKEND PROGRAM POURS ECLECTIC MIX

Local Port Coquitlam musicians Doug Rolling and the soul duo Sister Says will provide the musical backdrop this Saturday, July 14 at Leigh Square.

Performing as part of the Village Vibe concert series, Rolling's brand of music is described as singer/ songwriter with a touch of blues, and the local musician is a regular at the weekly Crossroads Hospice Coffeehouse performances.

Consisting of brother and sister Rob and Gillian Thomson, the PoCo-based group also falls in line with the singer/songwriter tag, while also adding elements of jazz-infused soul into the mix.

Slated to run 2 to 4 p.m. each Saturday, the Village Vibe performances will take place at the bandshell in Leigh Square.

Fresh off recording an album full of original lullabies, Hilary Grist will take to the stage at Lions Park one day later as part of the city's Music in the Park series.

Having gained widespread exposure - on top of a cool $15,000 - for her fourth-place finish in the 2011 Peak Performance Project, Grist is described as an "indie art-pop/torch-folk songstress."

Grist's show goes from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 15 at Lions Park.

SKETCHING THE HUMAN FORM

Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre will be offering up an evening's worth of instruction on how to capture the essence of the human body on Thursday, July 19.

Running from 6 to 9 p.m., the class will see instructor Shelly Rothenburger leading her students through the ins and outs of "Life Drawing."

Rothenburger will lead the workshop and "exploratory study on the figure" while working from a nude female model.

The class will also be set against the backdrop of the drawings currently on display at Evergreen - a group exhibit called Drawing: Expanded Medium that features works by B.C. artists Ilze Bebris, Tony Chu, Angela Gooliaff, Jay Hanscom, Fae Logie, Paulo Majano, Darcy Mann, and Vjeko Sager.

"We are thrilled to be able to offer a life drawing class in a welcoming environment in the art gallery that allows for contemplation and creativity," said Robin Lynch, a curatorial assistant at Evergreen, in a press release.

"This unique opportunity to draw in a space rich with so many diverse expressions and variations on drawing, is a wonderful stepping stone for those who are new to figurative practice as well as an inspirational environment for those who practice more frequently. "

The Life Drawing workshop costs $5 for members, and $20 for non-members. To register, call 6049276552.