Annual Events Pacfic National Exhibition/Playland

For those visitors to Vancouver for whom mere natural beauty isn't thrill enough, we present Playland at the PNE, Canada's oldest amusement grounds, located on the border on Burnaby and Vancouver in the Hasting-Sunrise area.

Hastings-Sunrise, one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods, was originally intended by developers in the mid-1800's to be a resort town, for vacationers from New Westminster (then BC's capital city) to spend weekends. Though the area never developed into the booming port it was planned to be (that port ended up being Gastown), it did see enjoy a reputation as a resort area up until the turn of the century. New Brighton Park, The New Brighton Hotel (destroyed by fire in 1905) and Hastings Park, a half mile race track, drew many seeking leisure in the area. In 1910, the City began holding an annual fair on the ground, since renamed Exhibition Park, and in 1926, a seasonal amusement park, Happyland, was built into the parkway.

Today, Happyland is known as Playland, and amusements and rides are a permanent feature on the park grounds, including a Giant wooden roller coaster built in 1958, a steel coaster built in 1994, and several other death-defy rides, such the Hellevator (202-foot vertical drop) and the Drop Zone(100 foot bungee jump). Around the grounds you will also find, mazes, funhouses, petting zoos and games. The amusement park is open mid April to the end of August (hours subject to change - see website for details.)  There is a stadium and concert hall on the grounds also, which regularly hold sporting events and concerts. There is also a Horse Racing Track on the park grounds, which is open for betting 7 days a week.

In the last two weeks of August of each year, the Pacific National Exhibition takes place, which means, in addition to regular amusements, there are concerts, performances, contests, extra rides and agricultural demonstrations. Visit pne.com for more info on tickets hours and events taking place for this years fair.