Where We Spent a Wake Window: Burnaby Blues & Roots Festival
Location & Parking:
It took us about 35 minutes to drive from Kitsilano.
Parking Pointers: Be prepared for limited parking. You'll likely need to park further away and walk in, or get dropped off
Set your GPS to: Deer Lake Park - 5435 Sperling Ave, Burnaby, BC V5E 2L8, Canada
Official info: https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/events/burnaby-blues-roots-festival
When: This is an annual summer event, usually held in August.
The Damage Report ($):
This event is completely free!
Wheely Friendly?
Yes! We brought our stroller to get from the car to the venue.
Heads Up: Once we were in the park, we folded it up so it wouldn't block the view of others.
Picnic in the park while listening to the Burnaby Blues & Roots concert.
The Snack Situation:
This is a perfect event for packing a picnic
DIY Picnic: The festival is family-friendly and allows you to bring your own food and drinks (non-alcoholic).
Replenish: There are water refilling stations throughout the park to stay hydrated.
Food Trucks: If you don't feel like packing, there were plenty of food trucks with lots of options to choose from.
Potty Proximity:
Plenty of port-a-potties and hand sanitizing stations were available.
Our Strategy: We chose to do a quick diaper change near our picnic blanket instead of using them.
Mum Musings:
Our First Vancouver Event (and it was a hit!)
This was one of the very first events we attended after moving to Vancouver, and what a fantastic choice! It was a perfect post-nap event that filled our afternoon right up until Yuyu's bedtime.
The Vibe & Our Experience:
Deer Lake Park is beautifully manicured with easy access to the stage.
The vibe was super chill, with people relaxing on blankets and folding chairs.
We sat a bit farther back in the shade, thinking the music might be too loud, but Yuyu had other plans! She kept dragging us closer to the stage. (Some would say she inherited her mum's love for shameless dancing at concerts)
There was a kids' play area nearby, but Yuyu was more interested in running around, dancing, chasing birds, and charming our picnic neighbors.
Toddler Tolerance Level:
3 hours. Yuyu was fully engaged, happily running around, dancing, and trying to make friends.
Nap Roulette Options?
Not necessary! This event starts in the afternoon, so it's a wonderful, stress-free post-nap activity.
Author
I’m Mimi, the writer behind Mi & Yu. This blog was born out of a year spent exploring Vancouver with my toddler Yuyu and newborn son Gabe while my husband Jamie worked through a demanding fellowship.
What started as a way to survive the newborn phase turned into a collection of tried-and-tested family adventures, real reviews, tested logistics, and the occasional toddler meltdown included. Now back home in Newfoundland, I’m sharing those adventures so other parents can skip the decision fatigue and get straight to the fun part.
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