Hats Off Day 2018 Recap
Wearing everything from eyepatches to sailor caps, and travelling on ships and sailboats, approximately 50, 000 pirates and sailors flooded Hastings Street for Burnaby’s biggest event, Hats Off Day.
Hats Off Day always features a variety of live music, street performers, kids activities, delicious food and more!
A big thanks to Global BC, BurnabyNOW, Lamar Transit Advertising, Miss604, The Province, Tourism Burnaby, FASTSigns Burnaby, and Hemlock Printers, for being a part of the Hats Off Day promotions and bringing attention to the biggest, most exciting event of the summer!
Check out our recap video!
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s fun-filled event.
FAMILY FUN DASH
The event kicked off with the 6th annual Family Fun Dash presented by the Heights Merchants Association and sponsored by Parkland Refinery, CIBC, Custom Mortgages, and North Burnaby Physiotherapy. Kids, adults, dogs, babies in strollers all lined up at Madison Avenue for pre-race stretches led by North Burnaby Physio.
The race horn went off at 9:30 sharp, and all the dashers began their run towards Macdonald Avenue. The Burnaby Firefighters were there to greet everyone at the finish line. All the proceeds benefit the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society.
PARADE
Flashing blue and red lights filled the streets as the Vancouver Motorcycle Drill Team and the Seattle Police Drill Team zoomed across Hastings St. in formation, leading the highly anticipated parade of 50 participants.
Last in the parade, the City of Burnaby Sanitation cruised down the street while thousands of people flooded behind for the big street party. The smell of fresh food and lively music quickly emanated from the 10-block street festival all day long. Now helium-free, the festival’s hosts handed out balloons-on-sticks and other treats.
SHOW AND SHINE
Calling all car collectors and fanatics! The 17th annual Show & Shine is definitely a Hats Off Day favourite. With 360 degree views of unique vehicles, these vintage and rare cars were lined up from Gamma to Willingdon posing for pictures.
FOOD
There is a variety of delicious food options in the Heights from dozens of different cultures. Many people have shared their picks on Instagram. Take a look:
Bubble gum & Black raspberry cheesecake #iscreamforicecream @glenburnsoda #HatsOffDay @burnabyheights A post shared by Carol & Chee (@carolcheeyong) on
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
A festival would not be complete without music and entertainment for everyone. With more than 15 different local bands, artists, and entertainers, every block of Hastings Street offered captivating performances.
Thank you to our merchants who presented multiple live performances such as It Ends With Us and Reid Zakos at RBC, The Brown Paper Bag and student performances at Staccato Studios, The Rubber Band at Massullo Music, and Steve de Blasio at Sopra Sotto.
The Teamsters Stage attracted a big crowd with five performances ranging in different genres from comedy to acoustic performances to jazz!
Laughing Loggers put on a riveting water-logged spectacle that was enjoyed by people of all ages!
This year, there were three different kids’ zones where they were able to enjoy playing on a pirate ship bouncy castle near Boundary Road, dive into an ocean adventure bouncy castle near Gamma Avenue, or enjoy a storytelling workshop inside a big inflatable whale at Ingleton Avenue!
Photos Credit: Lisa King, TwinLens Photography
Lastly, hats off to all the merchants, sponsors, entertainers, community, and volunteers, for participating in this year’s #HatsOffDay and bringing the Pirates and Sailors theme to life!
What were your favourite moments at Hats Off Day?
Comment below and share your experience!
