What's up in May

The sun comes up early and stays out late. Parks and beaches start to fill—but they aren’t too busy yet. The weather is nice, but not too hot. The wind is warm and fresh and, usually, not yet hazy with wildfire smoke. May is a beautiful month in the Fraser Valley.

This month is packed with adventure and activity, especially if you’re looking to get outdoors again after a long winter. Outdoor races and competitions abound and spring festivals promise to draw big crowds to little towns. 

Fairs and festivals

Fairs and festivals for all ages and tastes will start up in the Fraser Valley this month. Most of them are happening outdoors in the increasingly sunny, warm May weather, and each celebrates its own version of what makes the valley the place to be this season. 

Fort Langley’s annual spring festival, May Days, is gearing up for its 102nd year on Monday, May 20. The free community event—which incorporates a May Day parade followed by a festival with food trucks, vendors, and family activities—was established in the 1920s and has been running ever since. This year’s festival will include, among other things, Maypole dancing and live music. 

On the other side of the valley, the Seabird Island Festival is coming up this month from May 24 to 26. The celebration is part of an Indigenous tradition of annual festivals where Stó:lō peoples would travel on the Fraser River to neighbouring communities for competitions, tournaments, stories, music, food, and trading. 

While the festival includes some of the traditional sports like war canoe races, it will also have soccer and baseball tournaments for various age groups. 

Competitions

If a celebration full of sports and food like the Seabird Island Festival sounds like the best way to spend a warm spring weekend, you’re in luck. May is also the starting point for plenty of summer sports and several one-off races and competitions throughout the valley. Join the crowds to cheer or register to run, paddle, or peddle in one of the races coming up this month.

At the end of the month, the Cultus Lake Water Sports Committee will hold its 66th Annual War Canoe Races competition on Cultus Lake. Teams of 11 people will race in war canoes and smaller teams and individuals will compete in buckskin races. The weekend will have kids races and other kids activities, as well as food trucks, bannock, and a coastal jam session with traditional Indigenous music. The party starts Friday, May 31 and runs until June 2nd.

If you would rather add some pedaling and plodding to your paddling, the Vedder Multi-Sport Race—a take on a triathlon—is also happening this month on May 25 and 26. Join athletes from across the valley, and even the province, to run, ride, and paddle in this race. Saturday’s race is for soloists and Sunday’s race is for relay teams. For the first time this year, only stand-up paddle boards (one of the slowest boats out there) will be allowed in the paddling portion of the Sunday relay race. Soloists can choose to compete in an SUP-only race or the open-water race (where kayaks and canoes are allowed). Registration for teams is still open; check out the route here.

The Abbotsford Run for Water will also take place this month on May 26. The Run for Water Society holds the race to raise awareness of and funds for communities in the developing world without access to safe drinking water. Runners can pick between 5km and 10km races, and kids can join in the 5km Fun Run, all of which take place in Mill Lake Park. A party-in-the-park event will be held on the evening before race day, May 25, for the whole community. A free outdoor movie starts at 7:30.