It Only Rained for the Parade (And Nobody Left)

Hats Off Day showed up for Burnaby Heights last Saturday — and Burnaby showed up right back.

The parade kicked off on Hastings Street and so did the rain. Right on cue. But nobody moved. Neighbours stood their ground, watched the floats go by, and the moment the last entry passed, the clouds cleared like they’d been waiting for permission. What followed was a warm, sunny afternoon that felt like the city had earned it.

The rest of the day was everything a community festival should be. Businesses along Hastings spilled out onto the sidewalks — tents, tables, food, art — turning the whole stretch into something you could wander for hours. Live entertainment, good food, and the kind of easy crowd energy that only happens when people genuinely want to be somewhere.

Hats Off Day has been going since the early 1980s. Last Saturday was a reminder of why it’s still Burnaby’s favourite.

I’ll be at events like this all year — not to be seen, but because this is where Burnaby actually lives.