Dundarave Hoedown returns to West Van after 20 years

Many people will remember the bale of hay that hung from the rafters outside of Sager’s Maple Shop in Dundarave. Perhaps it was when that bale was cut down and hay was strewn across the sidewalk, that gave the first inspiration for a Hoedown. Maybe it was the latest rage of country music and line dancing that inspired the Hoedown. Or, most likely, it was the community’s overwhelming desire to just have a fun-filled family event. Whatever the reason, and thanks to a group of hardworking and dedicated business owners, in 1988 the first Dundarave Hoedown was held.

In the early 1980’s, the Dundarave Business Association (DBA) was formed. Dave and Duncan Watt of Watt Realty, Graham Maclean of Maclean Homes, Ed Richmond of Peake & Richmond, the late Marian Snowball of BC Partners in Planning, Ingrid Mutsaerts of The Knit and Stitch Shoppe, and Mary Southerst of Buckland Southerst, were all members of the DBA and, at one point or another, involved in organizing the Hoedown over the years.

The Dundarave Hoedown saw Marine Drive close between 24th and 25th with bales of hay serving as boundaries and for décor. Live music, a beer garden, pony rides, and a petting zoo took over the street which filled with people of all ages dancing, talking, and visiting. The Hoedown was a true community event. This continued annually until, as with most events, volunteers became harder to find, businesses moved on, things changed, and finally, in 2002 we saw the last Dundarave Hoedown.

Now, twenty years since the last Hoedown, the Ambleside Dundarave Business Improvement Association (ADBIA) and with the support of sponsors including Maclean Homes, Westerleigh Parc, Brimming Developments, British Pacific Properties and Watson Goepel, is resurrecting this much-loved family event.

“I started with the ADBIA in March 2020, three days before the pandemic shut everything down”, says Executive Director Maureen O’Brien. “Since my first day on the job, I have been asked if we could bring back the Hoedown. Business owners, community members, politicians – it’s been suggested by so many people. Our board was committed to bringing this iconic event back as soon as we were safely able to do so. It’s fortunate that we have folks like Graham and Ingrid, two of the original organizers, on our committee, as well as the Richmond boys, Mike and Jim, and Graham’s son, Josh, who all attended the Hoedown as young kids and can now bring their families to enjoy the same event.”

On Friday, August 26, Dundarave will once again play host to the Hoedown. There will be live music featuring The Dynamics with classic hits from the 60’s and 70’s as well as one of Vancouver’s premier cover bands, March Hare. Enjoy the beer garden, dance area, dunk tank, and barbeque hosted by the Tiddlycove Lions Club with burgers and hot dogs. There will be pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, balloon animals and sno-cones for the kids and games and activities for the whole family.

The Hoedown runs from 4 pm until 9 pm.  All businesses will be open as usual although Marine Drive between 24th and 25th will be closed to through traffic as of 1pm. If you would like to learn more or volunteer to help set up or clean up, please contact Maureen at info@adbia.ca.

Maureen O’Brien is the executive-director of the Ambleside & Dundarave Business Improvement Association.