For Immediate Release. New Westminster, BC, March 22, 2023. Nikki Binns, President of the New Westminster May Day Community Association (“May Day Association”) is pleased to report that New Westminster’s 153rd consecutive May Day will take place at Queens Park Stadium on Saturday, May 27th, 2023 at 3:30 PM. Doors open at 3:00 PM.
“We are thrilled to be hosting New Westminster’s world-famous May Day children’s festival again this year,” said May Day Association President Nikki Binns. “Spectators are encouraged to arrive early for this free event as last year, in 2022, the event was at near capacity.”
Free May Day Dance Lessons
Registration for free May Day dance lessons is now open. Parents or guardians can register their children online here. Dance instruction for the traditional folk dances or the traditional May Pole ribbon dances are available free to children in grades 2-6.
Please see further details about lesson locations, dates, and times, below.
Draw for May Day’s May Queen, Royal Suite and Royal Knights is Now Open for Entries.
The May Queen, Royal Suite and Royal Knights are traditional roles that children from New Westminster can play for May Day. The draw date this year is Sunday, May 7th.
To enter this draw children must be in grades 5 or 6 and residents of New Westminster. The winners will participate in May Day, Sat. May 27 in Queens Park Stadium. Fill out an entry form here: webpage
More About Free May Day Dance Lessons: Eligibility, Dates, Times, Locations
The May Day Association offers free traditional folk-dance lessons for children in grades 2-3, and for older children in grades 4-6 the May Day Association offers the traditional May Pole ribbon dance lessons.
Classes begin the week of April 10th. Lessons are available after school or evenings in select school gyms and Community Centers across the City. There is no charge for lessons. All lessons are free. For more information visit nwmayday.com
All May Day dancers will perform together as part of the fun and pageantry of the world-famous May Day festival, on Sat. May 27th in Queens Park Stadium, at 3:30 PM.
At a Glance: Free Dance Class Schedule- Locations, dates and times for all dance classes (folk and May Pole) are detailed below:
Queensborough Community Centre
- Folk Dance (grades 2 & 3)
Wednesdays
3:30-4:30 pm
April 12 to May 24
Centennial Community Centre
- Folk Dances (grades 2 and 3)
Tuesdays and Thursdays
3:30 – 4:30 pm
April 11 to May 25
Queen Elizabeth Elementary School
(Gym)
- May Pole dances (grades 4, 5, and 6)
Wednesdays
3:30 – 4:30 pm
April 12 to May 17
Connaught Heights Elementary
(Gym)
- May Pole dances (grades 4, 5, and 6)
Wednesdays
5:00-6:00 pm
April 12 to May 24
( no class May 17)
FW Howay Elementary
(Gym)
- May Pole dances (grades 4, 5, and 6)
Tuesdays
6:00 – 7:00 pm
April 11 to May 16
Our Sponsors
“The May Day Association would like to thank our generous sponsors, without whom May Day in New Westminster would not be possible,” said Rocky Suffron, Vice – President, May Day Association.
“The City of New Westminster is to be especially thanked for providing our spectacular venue, Queens Park Stadium, as well as providing critical cash and in-kind financial support. Other flagship sponsors include Beachcomber Hot Tubs, Key West Ford, and G&F Financial. More sponsor and donor support is desperately needed. Individual doners can donate to May Day online via the May Day webpage.”
Fundraiser
A fundraiser for May Day will be held at Judge Begbie’s Tavern, New Westminster on Mar. 30th from 6-10pm, Tickets are $25 on Eventbrite