Port Coquitlam will be the place to be this spring. Centennial preparations are already well underway, with a variety of activities for the 100^th May Days week-long event from May 5-13, 2023.

Many residents and visitors have great memories of the annual PoCo Spring Festival and the City wants to hear about those great memories. Was there a favourite Party in the Square show, a fun day at the parade, or maybe it’s where you met that special someone for the first time? Share your May Days memories with the City and win one of five one-month Recreation passes.

To enter the May Days memories contest, share a creative photo of a favourite memory that took place at the PoCo Spring Festival – May Days past on Facebook (@portcoquitlam), Twitter or Instagram and tag @cityofpoco with the hashtags #MayDaysMemories #PortCoquitlam from now through to Mar. 12.

The festival officially kicks off with the May Day Opening Ceremony on May 5at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC), featuring maypole dancing by local children, dance performances and the presentation of the 2023 May Day Royal Party.

The Rotary May Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. May 13 in downtown Port Coquitlam. Groups and individuals interested in being a part of the parade can apply online by April 13 at rotarymayday.ca. The 2022 parade featured close to 100 participants and was enjoyed by 12,000 spectators.

Party in the Square at the Terry Fox Hometown Square (PCCC) will follow the parade. Highlights include:

• Live entertainment
• Food trucks and beverage garden,
• Free kids and youth zone,
• Interactive art zone, and
• May Day Market and community displays

Royal Party Alumni’s

The City continues to look for 100 past royal party members to join the iconic Port Coquitlam centennial May Day parade on Sat. May 13. Each alumnus from the Royal Party will receive a sash with the year that they were part of the May Days celebrations and will be part of the City’s float in the parade as part of this historic celebration. For more information and to be part of this exciting celebration visit portcoquitlam.ca/maydays.

 Opportunities to Get Involved

Discover a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities at portcoquitlam.ca/maydays until Mar. 17, 2023. Sponsors can profile their brand and build loyalty with over 61,000 residents by becoming part of the City’s signature event.

Contact the City’s Special Events team today to learn more about creating a unique sponsorship package that suits your organization’s needs at specialevents@portcoquitlam.ca or call 604.927.7935 to discuss your custom sponsorship.

Community members interested in volunteering at May Days events can learn more and apply under special events opportunities at portcoquitlam.ca/volunteer. 

May Day’s roots go back centuries. In ancient times May was a time of outdoor celebration, and May Day was celebrated by the Romans with flower-decked parades in honour of Flora, their goddess of flowers. While the festival has evolved and grown over the years, it has maintained many of its original traditions, including Maypole dancing and the crowning of local children as May Day “royalty” – a May Queen and Ambassador along with a Royal Party.

May Days is organized in partnership with the May Days Committee, the Port Coquitlam Centennial Rotary Club and funded by Canadian Heritage.

Sponsors include:

• Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association (PoCo BIA)
• PoCo Heritage Museum and Archives
• Tri-City News – Media Sponsor
• Quantum Properties

Full event details are available at portcoquitlam.ca/maydays.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca