Thousands were lined up along the parade route for May Day in Fort Langley on Monday, May 18.
It was a slightly different route this year, with the starting point shifted to Mary Ave. from the Fort Langley National Historic Site on Mavis Avenue.
Langley RCMP Const. Dennis Bell explained it was relocated to reduce traffic congestion.
“With the event organizers, we decided that the best way to deal with congestion, with people coming in and out of the park [where the historic fort is located], was to move it up to Mary Street. That way then people can go along down River Road, and they’re not being impeded by the parade.”
Also new was the addition of live music on the front lawn of the heritage community hall, provided by the Langley Concert Band.
Band director of music Dylan Hohm explained the Fort Langley-based band rehearses at the Langley Fine Arts School.
“We are a band that is derived mainly of community members and community players that want to pursue music from a kind of intermediate level,” Hohm told the Langley Advance Times. “This is our first May Day Parade that we’re playing, and we’re really loving it, being here.”
Among the early arrivals for the 11 a.m. parade was the Rosales family from Vancouver, who woke up early to claim a position on Glover Rd. across from the heritage community hall around 8 a.m.
“We actually arrived super early in the morning and we came with our chairs,” dad Enrique described.
“It’s not our first time in Langley, but this is our first parade.”
There were indications this is a civic election year, with Mayor Eric Woodward wearing a Progress for Langley cap while he handed out flags to parade watchers, while a group of marchers and candidates were carrying a banner for the rival Langley Strong slate and mayoralty candidate Jay Lundgren.
Once again, there was a May queen and royal party, their selection the result of a determined effort to avert cancellation by the mom of the outgoing queen from 2025.
After the parade, in Fort Langley Community Park at the corner of St. Andrews and Nash Streets, there were May Queens speeches, Maypole dancing by students from Willoughby Elementary School, numerous vendors and various food trucks, as well as the famous BBQ Chicken, hot dogs and fries.
