A group of friends in Vancouver's Stanley Park hold candles as they gather for last year's Earth Hour. Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press

The World Wildlife Fund is encouraging British Columbians to turn off their lights on Saturday night for the fifth annual Earth Hour.

At 8:30 p.m. PT, residents are asked to shut off all their lights to show their support for action on climate change.

World Wildlife Fund spokesperson Darcy Dobell said events are planned across the province.

"Dozens of restaurants around town and around the province are doing candlelit dinners. There are various events like that," she said.

"And then we have, around the province: White Rock is putting on a candlelight potluck, Powell River is hosting an Earth Hour movie night, Kamloops is doing a 'Dim Swim' and Whistler is actually having its first ever bicycle-powered concert."

Dobell is also asking British Columbians to think about what they can do beyond Earth Hour.

"In some ways, we're thinking of it as an environment new year, where people can have a moment to reflect on how the planet is faring and think about what we can do to help make the world a better place and then also maybe make a resolution about one thing that you're going to change in your own life," she said.

Last year, more than 60 per cent of British Columbians powered down for the event.