Ladner Pioneer May Days, the second longest running May Days in the province, takes centre stage this weekend.

The festivities begin on Friday evening at Memorial Park with discounted midway rides for kids as well as a performance by local Celtic band Doghouse.

May Days really gets going on Saturday with a broad range of entertainment and many free activities, including a petting zoo and pony rides, as well as a craft fair, food fair and the annual fastball tournament.

Sunday, which gets going with a pancake breakfast, offers more of the same. It also features the colourful parade, which will begin making its way through Ladner Village at noon. The two-kilometre parade route culminates at the stage in Memorial Park where the traditional May Pole dance and May Queen crowning ceremony take place.

New this year, the parade will include a bicycle decorating contest, in which kids are encouraged to "take pride in their ride" for a chance to win great prizes in their age category.

The theme for this year's May Days is Candyland, which will figure prominently throughout the weekend, including a community cupcake table on Saturday and gingerbread decorating table Sunday.

"We picked Candyland as our theme this year because we thought it would be something that would appeal not only to the kids but to the kid in all of us," May Days committee co-chair Jackey Zellweger said.