What to expect from Hats Off Day 2022

Burnaby residents will be happy to know Hats Off Day 2022 is finally making its return this year on Saturday, June 18 from 10 am to 3:30 pm! The festival will be taking over Hastings Street from Gamma Avenue to Boundary Road and will have a load of different events lined up. But what can you expect from Hats Off Day? Well, we’re glad you asked.

If you’re planning on heading over to Hats Off Day we’d recommend getting there by either walking, biking, or taking transit. Hastings Street will be closed to cars and Hats Off Day 2022 will be busy.

Family Fun Dash

Starting right at 10 am is the Family Fun Dash, a 550-metre kids race to start Hats Off Day 2022. The race starts at Madison Ave and goes three blocks down until MacDonald Avenue. This race is meant to celebrate and promote active lifestyles and also acts as a fundraiser for the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society. If you wish to participate, you must register online, have a team captain over the age of 15, and pay $5. What’s even cooler is this year all children who are registered in the Family Fun Dash will be receiving finisher medals and a goodie bag.

Once the Family Fun Dash is over, the real party begins. There are three different parts of Hats Off Day for you to enjoy.

Community Zone

The Community Zone is a collection of non-profit organizations that help the Burnaby community and will be found on the 3800 block of Hastings Street, between Ingleton and Esmond Avenues. These non-profits will be offering plenty of free family-friendly activities for you to enjoy. Some notable mentions are the Charlford House Society for Women, the Burnaby Neighbourhood House, and Parks Canada.

The Street Party

This is the real highlight of Hats Off Day. The Street Party will be taking place from Gamma Avenue to Boundary Road and will have loads of different vendors, live music, entertainment, kids activities, yummy treats, and more. Some booths to keep an eye out for are FYI Doctors who from 12 to 2 pm will have Princess Cinderella and Spider-man, Gabi & Jules who will be selling hat-shaped cupcakes, and Fresh Cuts Barber School Inc for live music and a free haircut! But that is just a small example of the 70+ vendors that will be attending Hats Off Day this year.

There will be numerous stages for live music all along Hasting Street. Some of these performers include The Official Elvis Presley Fan Club of B.C., NightShift Jazz Big Band, Lisa & Ivan Dunn Band, Gabriel Jazz, and a 12-piece Steel Pan Band.

Show and Shine Car Show

Be sure to check out the area between Gamma Ave. to Willingdon Ave. for the annual Show and Shine Car Show. There will be many different cars, trucks, and motorbikes lined up along the street to take a look at.

Fitness Zone

You’ll be able to head over to Ingleton Ave. to join five different Burnaby fitness studios for a free workout class. One of the studios offering classes is Anytime Fitness North Burnaby at 12:30 pm who will be giving out prizes for those who attend like 1 Free month of Small Group Training, a $200 gift card to Body Energy Club, and more!

Kid Zone

There will be plenty of kid-friendly activities taking place all along Hastings street. There will be a climbing wall, slides, and even a human foosball court (no, not soccer. Human foosball).

Hats Off Day Express

Worried about having to walk all along Hastings for the whole day? You can catch the Hats Off Day Express that will be making trips all along the street throughout the festival. This free shuttle will be making stops at Willingdon,Carleton Ave., and Ingleton Ave.

Parade

In previous years, there has also been a parade. Unfortunately, there will be no parade for Hats Off Day 2022 but there is a promise that it will return next year.