Fort Langley celebrates May Day 2016

Fort Langley, B.C., celebrated Victoria Day with their 94th annual May Day parade and festival on Monday.

Thousands of onlookers lined the streets of downtownforthe parade. Theythen made theirway to Fort LangleyCommunity Park for the crowning of the May Queen andMaypole dancing featuring local students.

Long lineups were commonplace for the Lions Club'sfamous barbecuechicken, while children kept busy with carnival rides and mini golf.

Steeped in history

FortLangleyresident and eventorganizerBaysBlackhall took partin what she estimates to be her 40thMay Day.

She says the festival was first hosted ontheHouston family's riverfront property, and then moved to Fort Langleyseveral years later.

Blackhallremembers chanting an old May Day rhyme in her youth, singing, "The 24thof May is the Queen's birthday, if they don't give us a holiday we'll all run away."

Family event

Long-time residentRachel McIntosh,head of the May Queen committee,said her fond memories of growingup and attending the festival led to her whole familyvolunteering inthe cherished community event.

"We're on the float, and I'm there with the girls, and we're going down the road and so many people are cheering us on," saidMcIntosh, adding that her husband drove the float.

"It's a family event."