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Pitt Meadows Day, and all of the activities that go along with it, was a great success on Saturday as thousands of people came out to celebrate the 74th annual festival.

The morning started off with the traditional pancake breakfast served up by the Pitt Meadows Lions Club.

According to Marie Spetch, who manned breakfast sales, 291-full and 92-half-size breakfasts were sold.

"It was a little bit quiet first thing this morning, but now it's busy," Spetch said about 10 a.m.

After pancakes with syrup and sausages were enjoyed, people lined up and down Harris Road to claim their spot for the parade. There were 75 entries to cheer on, including firefighters who doused the cheering spectators with water guns.

Float 55, the Maple Ridge Alliance Church, took the top prize for best community float and best overall float. Vintage Car Club - Golden Ears Chapter took first in the antiques division. Air Cadets, Squadron 583 placed first for marching bands. Ola Puppy Dog Grooming earned first for the animals division.

Andrew Thompson, emcee of the opening ceremonies, introduced the dignitaries, award winners, and the royal party.

Miss Pitt Meadows 2011 Rose Smyth crowned the new Miss Pitt Meadows 2012, Leigha Luschnat.

The winner of the Lynn Papp Award in the 15-to 17-year-old category was Jessica Howitt, a student at Pitt Meadows Secondary.

The winner of the Lynn Papp in the 12-to 14-year-old category was Samuel Lachance.

Citizen of the year was presented to Dolores Lutner, who has volunteered in the community for more than 20 years.

Mayor Deb Walters took a moment to acknowledge all of the volunteers.

"Recently on Facebook there was a question that asked: What is your favourite part of Pitt Meadows Day? I can honestly say it is all those wonderful volunteers in yellow shirts who make this event happen year after year," said Walters.

"They are the most valuable part of this day," she added.

Later in the day the mayor and other volunteers, including her husband Len and Councillor Tracy Miyashita served 800 dinners at the annual salmon and chicken barbecue.

The local firefighters cooked up 400 pounds of salmon and 350 half chickens.

"I just love the spirit. It takes every community group to put this on. It's amazing," said Miyashita. "I love the tradition. It's like our own Whoville celebration," she added.

"It is overwhelming the number of people who get involved, we even have a group from Texas here volunteering," said Walters.

Charles Son, from Iowa Park, Texas, came to volunteer at the event with 11 other Texans.

"As soon as we left here last year, we arranged to come again," said Son, whose group, Faith Baptist, is connected to Church on the Rock in Pitt Meadows.

"We enjoy the people so much and enjoy the community," Son added.

Youth services' Adam Rieu was down the street at Spirit Square organizing the Youth Fest. "The idea is to give the youth their own event," he said.

The police had a plan, should anything go wrong, but it was not needed.

"Very family oriented event. There really wasn't any problems other than a couple of lost parents, but we reunited them within minutes," said Ridge Meadow RCMP Staff Sgt. Andrew Martin.

smclaren@mrtimes.com