Langley’s biggest Canada Day blow out takes place rain or shine at the Langley Events Centre.
Plans are in place for a day of fun and organizers are watching the forecast. The activities are planned for out of doors but if Mother Nature proves uncooperative, the Langley Canada Day JRBQ can be moved indoors.
“The event will go either way,†said Jared Harman, the LEC business development manager.
Langley Township and the LEC are working with various sponsors to host the community’s 148th birthday.
“The goal is to make this an annual event,†he noted.
The event has a country flavour, thanks to the partnership with JRFM radio which has for a couple of years now hosted its Basics for Babies fundraiser in Langley.
JR has arranged several country music acts to perform throughout the day and is broadcasting live from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
He said generous sponsors are helping feed people so that the funds raised by the onsite barbecue can go to Basics for Babies. On the menu are hot dogs, smokies, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chips and pop.
As well, there will be some food trucks on site, which will also be contributing money from sales that day to the cause.
There will be games for kids such as bouncy activities, mechanical bull, velcro wall, joust, bungee run, bouncy castle. There will be old fashioned picnic games like tug of war, egg toss, sack races and more. The spray park will be open.
While there is a cost for the food, admission and most activities are free so families can mark Canada’s birthday affordably.
“The goal is to provide a fun, family-friendly event,†Harman said.
There’s almost 1,500 parking spaces at the LEC (and lots in the surrounding area) and Harman said the last JRFM Basics for Babies event attracted about 10,000 people over the course of the day. Even more are expected to turn out July 1.
“We’re anticipating more than 10,000 people over the course of the day,†he said.
The Basics for Babies program was founded and is overseen by JRFM. It is done through the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and assists families coping with the challenges of raising a young infant by providing them with needed food, formula and diapers.
Canada Day
The biggest Langley celebration is at the Langley Events Centre.
11 a.m. – Danielle Marie
12 p.m. – Her Brothers
1 p.m. – Cash Crawford
2 p.m. – Canada Day Ceremony
2:30 p.m. – Chris Buck Band
3:30 p.m. – Washboard Union
4:30 p.m. – King & Cash
5:30 p.m. – Robyn & Ryleigh
6:30 p.m. – Raquel Cole
7:30 p.m. – Rod Black