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Celebrating 101 years of May Day in Fort Langley

Village parade followed by activities in the park on Victoria Day on Monday

The 101st annual May Day parade and events take place in Fort Langley this Monday, May 22.

Like every year, the day will start at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Fort Langley Lions Club. Breakfast is $6 each – cash only – and being served up at the Lions hall, 23022 88th Ave.

The always popular parade starts at 11 a.m., leaving the Fort Langley National Historic Site and travelling west along Mavis Avenue to Glover Road. Once on Glover, the floats will go south to 88th Avenue and follow it west to turn on Trattle Street. The parade ends at Fort Langley Community Park around 12:30 p.m.

The 90-minute parade will feature Langley scouts, local politicians, bands, local charities, businesses, and vintage cars from various car clubs.

Steve Williams, a member of the May Day organizing committee, said each car club is allowed 10 cars each, so there could be up to 100 vintage cars travelling the route.

“I’m going to send out one club and then a couple of floats, and then another club, and some floats, and I have convertibles for the May Queen and her entourage,” Steve explained for the order of the parade party.

The Langley Heritage Society will also have a float in the parade and its president, Fred Pepin, driving a tractor pulling a hay wagon.

Once in the park, the May Queen and Royal Party will be piped in. As in tradition, the May Day pole dance performed by local elementary students will follow.

From noon until 4 p.m. at the park, there will be live entertainment from local singers including Steve Elliott and Tom Hammel, rides for kids, the Lions popular barbecue chicken, 13 food trucks, and various vendors.

“There’s all kinds of things for kids like games and an arcade-style set up,” Steve added.

Thousands turn out to this event each year.

“It’s a pretty spectacular community event,” Steve said.

Helen Williams, Fort Langley CN Station manager, said she is excited to see their volunteers return for the parade and to staff the Langley caboose.

“Behind the wagon will be our talented volunteer Kimberley Perkins walking with many members of her family dressed in vintage costumes,” Helen said, adding that Perkins hand-makes the costumes.

This free community event was established in 1922 in Fort Langley.

For details on the event, people can visit maydayfortlangley.com.

May Day has European origins marking the beginning of summer with traditions including weaving floral garlands, crowing a May Queen, May Day pole dancing, and other festivities. In Canada, it’s celebrated in B.C., Quebec, New Brunswick, and Ontario, but other countries also partake in their own versions of the festival.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: May Day in Fort Langley an ‘incredible’ success

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Kyler Emerson

About the Author: Kyler Emerson

I'm excited to start my journalism career in Langley and meet our community.
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