Hats Off Day in Burnaby

Metro Vancouver’s Hats Off Day is a festival on Burnaby’s Hastings Street. It includes a parade, live music and street entertainment in early June.

At the popular one-day event pedestrians take over the street and enjoy a day of free family-friendly activities and community fun.

In 2022 the festival takes place on Saturday, June 18th. The parade isn’t happening this year, but other activities are.

FATHER’S DAY IN METRO VANCOUVER

In addition to Hats Off Day, there are lots of other great events happening in the Lower Mainland on the Father’s Day Weekend in 2022. For example, ScotFest and the BC Highland Games take place in Coquitlam on June 17th and 18th this year. It’s an awesome festival and highly recommended!

Another great event that’s free to attend and that takes place on June 18th in 2022 is Langley Community Day. It features food trucks, market vendors and lots of great family-friendly activities at Douglas Park in Langley.

To learn more about these and other events on the weekend of June 17th to 19th in 2022 see our article about Father’s Day in the Lower Mainland.

Hats Off Day Street Festival

Voted “Burnaby’s Best Festival” by readers of the Burnaby Now newspaper for over 10 years in a row, Hats Off Day is a community event worth checking out. In years with good weather, as many as 50,000 people attend.

This article contains the following information about the festival:

Where and When | What Happens? | Tips and Advice | Other Information

Where and When

Hats Off Day takes place in the City of Burnaby along Hastings Street between Boundary Road and Gamma Avenue. In other words, it starts only about four blocks east of the Trans-Canada Highway.

The last normal Hats Off Day was on Saturday, June 1st, in 2019. The event was cancelled in 2020, and in 2021 there were virtual celebrations instead, along with special sales at select businesses.

Hats Off Day returns with in-person festivities on Saturday, June 18th in 2022.

What Happens on Hats Off Day?

In normal years, Hats Off Day events include the Family Fun Dash, parade and a day of street partying with live entertainment, all of which make it a first-rate community event.

In 2022 it looks like all the celebrations except for the parade are happening. The Family Fun Dash takes place this year at 10:00 am. After that, between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm, there is the Street Party, Car Show & Shine and Community Zone Activities.

Hats Off Day Family Fun Dash

The day usually starts off in the morning with the Family Fun Dash – a 550 metre run for families to celebrate the day as well as wellness, health and family fun.

The race begins at 9:30 am some years, but at 10:00 am in 2022. The starting line is at Madison Avenue and it finishes three blocks and 550 metres away at MacDonald Avenue.

Participants need to register, have a Team Captain (of at least 15 years of age) and pay about $5 which benefits the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society. To learn more click Family Fun Dash.

Hats Off Day Marching Band — Burnaby North Secondary School Marching Band

Hats Off Day Parade

In years when it does happen, the Hats Off Day parade also usually begins at 9:30 am. It’s a great parade including over 40 entries. Expect to see marching bands, a few floats, some old-fashioned cars, local politicians and lots of people in costume.

Note: The parade isn’t happening in 2022. Hopefully it’ll be back in 2023!

Hats Off Day Street Festival

After the parade Hastings Street is usually filled with people and their families from Boundary Road to Gamma Avenue. The street is lined with stalls from area businesses and community organizations. There are also food vendors, street entertainers and bands playing music throughout the day.

Hats Off Day Community Zone

The Community Zone is an area where local non-profit organizations set up information booths. You can find them and learn about what they do along Hastings Street between Ingleton and Esmond Avenue between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm in 2022.

Hats Off Day Show & Shine Car Show

Antique, classic and custom cars line Hastings Street between Gamma and Willingdon Avenue.

Tips and Advice

Below are some tips to help you make the most out of your Hats Off Day experience.

TIP #1: The Hats Off Day street festival is a big event, similar to Car Free Days or Italian Day on the Drive later in the month most years. If you enjoy Hats Off Day, then other events to check out at other times of the year include Surrey Car Free Day, Uptown Live and the Khatsahlano Street Party.

TIP #2: Don’t try to drive along Hastings Street or anywhere near it in Burnaby during Hats Off Day. Twelve blocks of Hastings are closed for most of the day and neighbouring roads will be congested.