My experience at New West’s Fridays on Front

New Westminster knows how to have fun-filled Fridays.

This summer, the city’s business improvement association hosted a series of events called Fridays on Front. The themed event nights were held on Front Street Mews, located between the Columbia and New Westminster Stations. This made it convenient for those using public transportation to get to the location. 

With plenty of performances, food trucks, and other festivities to check out, it seemed like a fun idea for a Friday night. I attended a couple of the events since I had always wanted to cover Fridays on Front, but it just never manifested. This time, though, I thought I’d share what my experiences were like at the event. 

Compared to other events I’ve written about, this event was on a smaller scale. But it’s not bad considering the location itself was a small section on the side of the city. It gives it charm in its own way. 

As for the food trucks, I tried out a few different options. 

The first served poutine with tater tots, replacing the more standard base of French fries. While I had tried too many varieties of poutine at that point, I thought it stood out enough for me to at least give it a try. It had a different taste and vibe from most poutines I’ve had before. 

Another food item I ate was a hot dog. While I forgot the exact toppings, I remember some unique shredded cheese on top of it along with grilled onions. With drizzles of ranch across the hot dog, I may or may not have put on myself, it was among the more juicy ones I’ve had. 

There were at least 20 orders before mine was made. I had to wait about 30 minutes for my order, which is when I bought the tater-tot poutine and ate all of it. That food vendor was very popular, given the long line I had to wait in.

I got some ice cream to cap off the food tasting adventures — two scoops of salted caramel with pretzel bits. It had a good mix of sweet and salty flavours, and I wish I could try more of it, but I had already eaten plenty at this point. This was my favourite food item I tried at the event series this summer.

For the performances, the themes were “Fiesta Latina Night” and “Sidequest New West! Video Game Culture and Play” for the two nights I went. The former had performances showcasing Latin America and its vibrant culture. The latter was a celebration of video games and the influence they have within mainstream pop culture. 

Overall, I enjoyed what the event had to offer. I’m happy to share some of my experiences and hope to continue covering more of these events in New Westminster in the future.