The spring May Days festival has officially wrapped up its 101st year greeting over 15,000 residents and visitors who gathered in downtown Port Coquitlam.
The event began with the opening ceremonies on Sun. May 5 with close to 700 spectators at the Jon Baillie Arena at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC) featuring this year's Royal Party and traditional Maypole dancing by local children and seniors. The first 100 spectators also received a one-day Recreation pass as part of the festivities.
In downtown Port Coquitlam on May 11, thousands of people from throughout Metro Vancouver headed to cheer on the kids in the PoCo May Day Kids' Bike Race that began at 10:00 a.m. It once again was a record-breaking number for the Kids' Bike Race with just over 500 kids racing along Shaughnessy Street. Kids from ages 3-12 years old rode along Shaughnessy Street to kick off the Rotary May Day Parade that began at 11:00 a.m.
The annual Rotary May Day Parade - one of the largest in the region - featured colourful floats, marching bands and dancers from over 90 local community groups and businesses. Walter and Bonnie Van Drimmelen led the parade as the 2024 Parade Marshals.
The afternoon wrapped up at the Terry Fox Hometown Square where it was turned into the Party in the Square that included activities such as the May Days Market, live entertainment, food trucks and beverage area, interactive art zone, carnival rides and games with more than 12,000 visitors throughout the day.
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK
To help ensure the best services and experiences for all, the City of Port Coquitlam is looking for feedback about May Days.
Residents are invited to complete a short online survey at portcoquitlam.ca/letstalk to share feedback on their satisfaction with the event.
The survey is open now until June 2 and residents who complete the survey will be entered in a draw for a $150 gift card to a Port Coquitlam business of their choice.The City gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. May Days was generously supported by many sponsors who provided various amounts of generous financial support, which include:
- Wesbild - Gold Sponsor
- Beedie - Silver Sponsor
- Global BC - Radio/TV Sponsor
- Tri-City News - Media Sponsor
- Elevator Constructors - IUEC Local 82 - Bronze Sponsor
- Hastings Mill Brewing Co. - Bronze Sponsor
- Quantum Properties - Bronze Sponsor
- Woodbridge Homes Ltd. - Bronze Sponsor
- Aspira Astoria - Community Sponsor
ABOUT MAY DAYS
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. In England, village youth would collect flowering boughs to decorate hawthorne trees - the predecessors to the May Pole.
Port Coquitlam first celebrated May Day as a community in 1923, with Maypole dancing and the crowning of a May Queen. 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.
Photos and sponsorship information can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/maydays.
For more information about City events, visit portcoquitlam.ca/events.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]