What’s happening?
The annual Hyack International Parade and Uptown Street Fest return to New Westminster on Saturday, May 28, starting at 11 a.m. You’ll know the parade is getting started when you hear sirens and see members of the Vancouver Police Department’s motorcycle drill team driving in assorted patterns along the parade route.
Who’s in the parade?
Nearly 100 entries from across the Lower Mainland and the Pacific Northwest will be featured in this year’s parade, including marching bands, floats, cadets, clowns and all sorts of community entries. Out-of-town visitors will be coming from as far as Portland, Seattle, Wenatchee, Spokane, Marysville, Tacoma and Olympia, Washington.
Tell me about this year’s float:
This year is the Hyack Festival Association’s 45th (sapphire) anniversary – so the float has a bit of a sapphire flavour. The float is a refresher of last year’s entry, with a “Sapphire dreams celebration” vibe.
“It has taken on a new look, it has a dreamland appearance,” said Hyack president Alan Wardle. “We have been down to Tacoma, and we got two awards there – the Green Award because the float is electrically powered by electric motors, not gas, and the ‘Most Original Theme’ was another award.”
Who is this year’s parade marshal?
Cody Husband, a starting offensive lineman with the B.C. Lions, returns to his roots to serve as this year’s parade marshal. A New Westminster native who’s entering his third season with the Lions, Husband started his football career at New Westminster Secondary School back in 2003.
What’s the Uptown Street Fest?
Vendors and kids’ activities will be taking place on Belmont Street (just off Sixth Street) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on parade day. You’ll be able to enjoy lunch from assorted food trucks or snack on festival fare like mini-donuts, ice cream, kettle corn and lemonade.
Is there entertainment?
You bet. Along with street performers like clowns, Ava Carich, Sophie Candolfi and Shon Burnette will be performing at the Uptown Street Fest.
Any weather predictions?
“It’s going to be cool, which is nice for those folks that have to put on those big marching band uniforms. It will be just perfect for them,” Wardle said. “I think it’s going to be slightly overcast as usual and will shape up at the tail end of the afternoon.”
What Wardle wants:
“It’s the smiles that mean the most to me,” said Hyack’s president. “I want to see folks enjoy themselves in this community.”
