The boardwalk will be flooded with hidden treasures and items to swap for the fifth year in a row on Aug. 20.
The Quayside Boardwalk Festival and Sale overlooking the Fraser River is making a comeback again this year, and all are welcome.
"There were over 7,500 people who came last year," said James Crosty, president of the Quayside Community Board.
"We're considered one of the largest recycling events in New West because everything that's sold is one person's junk and another person's collector's item."
The festival and sale takes place the third Saturday of every August and offers 150-plus tables to peruse between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
"There are many community booths," Crosty added.
The outdoor boardwalk fest will feature other delights with food vendors, a kids' zone and even a pets' zone.
"It'll be more than double the Royal City Farmer's Market, and the amount of our sponsors has doubled," Crosty said.
The new and improved kids' zone will feature all kinds of fun, including a bouncy castle and five-metre fire truck balloon slide, according to Crosty.
"The stuff that's left behind (by the sellers with display tables) is taken to a local charity," Crosty said. "There's lots of treasure to be found."
The other new addition to the festival is the pets' zone where pets can be brought to receive a nice bath.
"This is a real family-friendly, petfriendly and kid-friendly festival," Crosty noted. "You can bring your dog to be washed. This is sponsored by the Columbia Square Animal Hospital."
There will be three stages for three different bands to perform, and during each band's break, there will be either gospel singers, belly dancing or other types of dancing taking place.
"There may even be a yoga demonstration, maybe," Crosty added about other potential performances.
He also said the festival gives back to the local economy.
"There is a fairly vibrant exchange of goods and services," he added. "People are picking up really neat stuff."
The food bank will also be making an appearance, and it will be situated in the main area, Reliance Court.
People are encouraged to bring nonperishable foods with them for donation.
Last year, the festival had a raffle draw where $800 was raised and donated to the Royal City Musical Theatre, according to Crosty, who also noted that there will be another raffle this year.
"There are some really cool prizes this year," he said.
There will also be tents featuring local businesses and organizations.
"It's the type of festival where one partner is entertaining the kid while the other one is eating," Crosty explained.
There is pay parking provided by the adjacent River Market and city parking. Crosty said participants in the festival can also access it by transit if it's not within walking distance from their homes.
The festival is located on the boardwalk (and not within the River Market) stretching from the office tower all the way to the rail bridge and Quayside Park.
The annual event is hosted by the Quayside Community Board, which is made up of one delegate and one alternate from all 17 residential buildings around Quayside.
The group represents just under 2,000 units and an estimated 4,500 individuals.
To find out more about the event, visit www.quaysideboard.com.
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