Some good old-fashioned fun, hopefully in the sun, returns to Memorial Park from Friday to Sunday, May 24 to 26.
This year’s event marks the 128th year of the small-town fair and will include the parade, a fastball tournament, beer gardens, food trucks, a craft market, a petting zoo, pony rides, paddle boats, face painting and a midway presented by Shooting Star Amusements.
“We’re just super excited. Looking for really good weather and excited to have a lot of the same entertainment come back,” said May Days volunteer Missy Thornton.
Shooting Star has added at least one more new ride this year, she said.
“Honestly, it’s insane to me this has been going on for so long and every year it gets better and better,” she said.
Things start gradually on Friday when Shooting Star Amusements starts up its rides from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday evening also sees the start of the Ladner May Days Invitational fastpitch tournament (6:30 p.m.) and the arrival of the food trucks.
Taking to the stage on Saturday at 10 a.m., will be Delta Community Music School, followed at noon by Sweet Pan Entertainment’s steel drums.
At 2 p.m., Tunnel Vision entertains with tunes from the 1980s to present, followed by The Retroactives at 4 p.m.
The big day though is Sunday.
This year, the May Days Parade, which starts at noon in Ladner Village, will have a jungle jamboree, animal theme. Before that however, the Tsawwassen-Boundary Bay Lions Club serves up a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.
Also on Sunday, the Royal Court Crowning Ceremony happens at 1 p.m. on the stage when the Royal Monarch for 2024, along with the first and second royals are announced.
The Royal Monarch is chosen on May 21 during a selection party from among a group of Grade 6 students representing Delta schools who volunteered to join the May Royal Court. The traditional may pole dance also will take place at the stage.
An hour later, at 2 p.m., the Chesterfield Kings take to the stage, followed by Sound Machine at 4 p.m.
Ladner May Days is still considered one of the largest free family fairs in B.C.
