Beginning this Canada Day – a parade that has exhibited in Aldergrove since the 1980s – will now stretch more than 30 kilometres to adjoin with other celebrations in the neighbourhoods of Willoughby and Fort Langley.
The Greater Langley Canadian Celebration Parade, will link three distinct Langley communities on Monday, July 1 this year. The expanded parade is being organized by a sub-committee of the Aldergrove Fair.
“It will be one of the world’s longer parades,” said parade spokesperson Mike Robinson explaining its 30-kilometre length, “it’s going to be amazing.”
Starting in Aldergrove at 11 a.m., the moving celebration will get in their cars and travel to Willoughby to host a mixed-bag parade that coincides with Canada Day celebrations at Willoughby Community Park at 1 p.m.
From there, the parade convoy will be transported by vehicle to the Birthplace of B.C. Canada Day event in Fort Langley, arriving by 2:30 p.m. for their walk in the downtown.
The Greater Langley parade is modelled after the Bulb Parade in the Netherlands, an event that has been running strong for 60 years, Robinson said.
“It’s basically a series of short parades with travelling segments in between,” he added, mentioning that the exact route may change as traffic details are worked out in upcoming weeks with the Langley Township.
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“And that is just the start” explained Robinson, “more Langley communities will be added in 2020 and beyond – according to the reception and demand.”
That being said, the Fair committee is currently on the lookout for parade entries of all types from floats, to decorated vehicles, marching and performing groups, animals and musical numbers.
As explained on the parade’s new website www.CanadaParade.ca, the celebration is “an opportunity to get out and share your joy and enthusiasm at being a part of Canada.
To learn more, to volunteer or to participate in the parade, you can email Robinson at info@CanadaParade.ca.