The Port Coquitlam May Days Festival happens on the Mother’s Day weekend. It includes a pancake breakfast, the Rotary May Day Parade and other fun activities.
In 2026, the May Day festivities take place on Saturday, May 9th. Opening ceremonies also take place on the Sunday before, which is May 3rd, to kick off the celebrations.
BC POLISH FESTIVAL
Another great event in Port Coquitlam is the BC Polish Festival. In 2026, it takes place on Sunday, May 31st. It’s also a free event taking place outdoors at Leigh Square.
PoCo Rotary May Day Parade and Festival
The May Days Festival in Port Coquitlam is one of the longest-running celebrations of its kind in the Lower Mainland. The first edition of the PoCo May Days Festival took place in 1923, making 2026 its 103rd anniversary!
Festivities run for about one week each year. The May Days Festival and Rotary May Day Parade happen in Port Coquitlam (PoCo) on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. In 2026, the main events take place on May 9th.
The official opening of the May Days Festival is on Sunday, May 3rd, in 2026. The opening ceremonies take place indoors at the Jon Baillie Arena at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre. There’s Maypole dancing and family-friendly entertainment from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
The big parade happens on May 9th in 2026. Prior to the parade their is a pancake breakfast from 8:00 am at The Outlet, led by the PoCo Scouts.
After breakfast, there are kids’ bike races from 10:00 am until around 10:45 am. There are 100-metre races for children ages 3 to 5. Kids ages 5 to 8 enter a 1.3 km race. And finally, youth ages 9 to 12 can complete a 2.6 km route.
Other activities on Saturday this year include the Rotary Parade and Party in the Square. Continue reading for details about these events.
HYACK PARADE AND FESTIVAL
Another great community event with a parade is the Hyack Festival which takes place in New Westminster. In 2026, it happens on Saturday, May 23rd.
Rotary May Day Parade in 2026
The parade begins at 11:00 am on May 9th 2026, in downtown Port Coquitlam. Typically, the last entries reach the end of the route by about 12:30 pm, or a bit before, so the parade lasts around an hour and a half. It’s a great small-town parade with lots of floats, a few marching bands, decorated cars and kids dancing.
Starting at the corner of Shaughnessy and Kelly, the parade goes north along Shaughnessy, right on Elgin and then right again on Maryhill Road as far as Hawthorne.
May Day Party in the Square
After the parade taking place on May 9th in 2026, there is a Party in the Square. The party takes place at Leigh Square, in the Terry Fox Hometown Square, and in front of and behind the PoCo community centre on Wilson Avenue and Kelly Avenue. The party runs from noon until 8:00 pm.
Carnival-type activities are set up at the party. That’s where you’ll find free games, a climbing wall, inflatable play structures and rides.
Guests can expect food trucks, live music and entertainment. Food vendors at past events have included Dos Amigos, Reel Mac N Cheese, Rotato Potato, Kona Ice, and The Mad Greek. For adults, there is also a beer garden with locally brewed beers available for purchase. Party in the Square also includes a May Days market with more than 50 vendors.
There are two stages of live entertainment at Party in the Square. In 2026, the family stage has performances from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, and the main stage in the Terry Fox Hometown Square has performances from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Stage lineups are listed below.
Main Stage Lineup 2026Â
The 2026 main stage lineup is listed below.
- Steve Halfnights
- The Matinee
- Canyon RidersÂ
- Dear Prudence
Kids Stage Lineup 2026Â
Performers on the Kids Stage at Leigh Square are as follows:
- Magic Max
- Magical Kingdom
- Kelly HainesÂ
Tips & Advice
The tips below are helpful if you plan to attend the May Days festivities in Port Coquitlam.
TIP #1: Organizers encourage everyone to walk, cycle or transit to the festival. On the day of the event, there are typically free shuttles running to and from the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, where Party in the Square takes place. Stops include Minnekhada Middle School, James Park Elementary School, École Mary Hill Elementary School and Castle Park Elementary School.
TIP #2: The Party in the Square event features lots of things to see and do. Check the event schedule on the City of Port Coquitlam website so you know where to be throughout the day.
Other Information
Visit the PoCo May Days page to learn more about the festival.
See our articles about the City of Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and Coquitlam to learn about the event’s host city and other communities in the Tri-Cities area.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Fort Langley May Day Parade and Fair
- Ladner May Days
- May Long Weekend Events
- Vancouver Festivals and Events
