The public is invited to spend Queen Victoria's birthday holiday in Fort Langley participating in an event that dates back to 1922.
The free annual Fort Langley May Day celebration brings together local musical talent, community members, vendors for a day of activities that include the very vintage maypole dance performed by local students.
People can power up with breakfast between 8 and 10:30 a.m. at the Lion's Hall, 88th Avenue and Glover Road, for $8 (cash only).
The parade check-in and staging area is near the hall and participants are expected to check in between 8 and 10:30 a.m. They learn their parade order a few days before the event.
A highlight of the day organized by the Fort Langley Lions Club is the parade. It starts at 11 a.m. People are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, blankets, and umbrellas to line the parade route. The event goes rain or shine.
Organizing committee member Wendy Canessa said there's a wide array of groups represented. People can expect to see vintage equipment from the BC Farm Museum, members of various area car clubs, sports groups such as the rugby club and Vancouver Giants, business entries, a clown, the Fort Langley National Historic Site, air cadets, Thunderbird Show Park, country dancers, Crimestoppers, gardeners, Shriners, and much more.
There are 69 parade entries, up from about 60 last year, including one unique entrant this year.
"There's going to be bull dogs that ride skateboards," she noted.
Because of the large community celebration, many streets in the village are cordoned off from traffic, going into effect at 10:30 a.m.
The parade starts close to Fort Langley Historic Site and goes west on Mavis Avenue, south on Glover Road, west on 88 Avenue, and north on Trattle Street to finish up at the Fort Langley Park.
After the parade comes the Family Festival in the Park from noon to 4 p.m. when there will be live entertainment, the famous Lions barbecue chicken, hotdogs and fries, food trucks, vendors, and an animal display. With a $10 wristband, kids can participate in various activities.
The announcement of the May Queen and her royal party, and the maypole dancing also takes place during the family festival, at 12:30 p.m.
Maypole dancing is a European tradition carried in at the community event. Local students will dance to music as they weave then unweave long ribbons around the 12-foot pole. The folk dance celebrates spring.
Free entertainment starts with children's entertainer Penny Pom Pom and Fae the Garden Fairy at 1 p.m. Danny Balan performs pop and pop rock from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Juno award winner Ryan McAllister's set is 2:20 to 3 p.m. when he will perform various genres from country to pop.
The public can see the dances and costumes of the Fort Langley Witches when they perform at 3 p.m. followed by the folk, country, and rock music of the Luc Josef Band starting at 3:15 p.m.
There will also be a display of classic and vintage cars at the park.
"Those that want to will park on the south side of the pathway in the park" for a bit of a show and shine, she explained.
