Big Jungle Run

The Big Jungle Run is a family-friendly event at Burnaby Lake in Burnaby. It’s a fun running event with costumes, prizes and beautiful scenery to enjoy.

The run takes place on Saturday, May 31st in 2025.

The Big Fun Run Series includes this event, along with the Big Easter Run in spring, the Big Pirate Run and Big Halloween Run in autumn, and the Big Elf Run a few weeks before Christmas.

All of the runs in the series are fun and non-competitive. The focus is on fun, not finish times, and everyone gets a medal for participation. (In past years, organizers have also held the Big 80’s Run and Big Superhero Run. They aren’t happening in 2025, but hopefully will again next year.)

Visit the Big Jungle Run website for full details about the event and to register.

(TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 and you’ll save yourself 10% on your run entrance fee!)

This article contains the following information about the Big Jungle Run:

Location and Registration | What to Expect | Big Fun Run Series | Other Information

The 2025 Big Jungle Run at Burnaby Lake

The fourth edition of the Big Jungle Run event happens on Saturday, May 31st, 2025. In the past it used to take place in March.

The Big Jungle Run includes three different distances to choose from. There’s a 1 km Kids’ Run as well as both 5 km and 10 km distances open for everyone.

The organizers designed this event to be a fun one for people of all ages. The routes themselves are flat and go through pleasant, wooded areas. Everyone who participates receives a medal. There are also prizes for various categories (most of which don’t have to do with speed).

When we went a couple of years ago, we thought the most impressive costume was someone dressed up as a T-Rex. It was a hot day, though, so partway through, the participant removed part of the costume. He looked pretty cool, though, waddling along with his family on the trail!

Visit the Big Jungle Run website to register and for full details about the event.

Location and Registration

The Big Jungle Run happens in Burnaby Lake Park. The runs begin and end not far from the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club at 3760 Sperling Avenue. The run used to start at the edge of the big field on the other side of the Rugby Club’s building from Bill Copeland Sports Centre. Now, however, the start and finish line is a little further south.

The routes are all set up so that participants run a certain distance away from the starting line, and then when they reach the halfway point they turn around and run back on the path they came.

Early bird pricing for the event in 2025 starts at $20 for the Kids’ Run, $35 for the 5 km run and $36 for the 10 km run. The longer runs cost a maximum of $29 for youth under age 18. Groups of four or more people get a 15% discount.

Each participant receives a race kit and can pick it up the day before the event at Burnaby Kintec, located at 3787 Canada Way. Those who register more than two weeks in advance also have the option to have their kit mailed to them ahead of time for an extra $9.

For those who choose neither of the above options, the kits have to be picked up between noon and 1:30 pm on the day of the run itself.

What to Expect at the Big Jungle Run

The first run of the day is the Kids’ Run which starts at 1:00 pm (with check-ins for all races beginning at noon). The Kids’ Run lasts for around 40 minutes before both of the longer runs start at 2:00 pm. The entire event finishes at 4:00 pm so participants have two hours to complete the longer distances (which should be enough time even if you walk the whole way).

The same as all other Big Fun Run Series events, before each race there’s a group warm-up where everyone stretches and gets limbered up for the run. There’s also a DJ playing music which helps pump people up and adds to the atmosphere.

The runs are meant to be a fun activity for people of all ages. The race kit normally includes a personalized running bib emblazoned with a custom name of your choosing. Examples of names are things like “Running Gorilla,” “Wild Frog” or “Crazy Kangaroo.”

All participants receive a finisher’s medal at the end. There are also prizes for categories like Best Costume, Best Photo and Best Custom Name.

Dogs can join in as long as they are on a leash. Strollers are also permitted. The routes are pretty flat with both gravel and woodchip trails at points, making them accessible for mostly everyone. The majority of people run. A few participants, however, walk most of the way.

Visit the Big Jungle Run website to register and for full details about the event.

Big Fun Run Series

The Big Jungle Run is one of a collection of similar running events. They are the Big Fun Run Series, and the Jungle Run is one of many runs planned for the year. The Big Easter Run is on the Saturday of the Easter Long Weekend at Vancouver’s Jericho Beach. In Richmond, there’s the Big Pirate Run in September. In October there’s the Big Halloween Run in Vancouver. Finishing off the year there’s also the Big Elf Run in December in Stanley Park. In addition to the above, in the past there has also been the Big 80’s Run in March and Big Superhero Run in August although not in 2025.

These events are meant to be fun and family-friendly for everyone in Metro Vancouver. There are variations between them in terms of theme, but they all have a 1 km Kids’ Run and then at least a 5 km run and often a 10 km run as well. With the Big Elf Run there’s a 15 km option too, and the Big Pirate Run has both a 15 km and half marathon.