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Fort Langley National Historic Site

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2 upcoming events

  • Vive les Voyageurs Festival

    Culture and entertainment History
    Time: 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM
    Location(s): Fort Langley National Historic Site
    Cost: Regular admission fees apply. *Free admission for youth 17 and under

    Shake off the winter blues and step into the lively world of French-Canadian and Métis culture at the 16th annual Vive les Voyageurs Festival, happening on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Fort Langley National Historic Site.

    Since 2010, this beloved festival has filled the fort with the music, stories, and traditions of the fur trade era. Spend the day exploring demonstrations, chatting with Métis elders, enjoying traditional Indigenous dishes at Ancestor Café, and tapping your feet to lively voyageur tunes.

    ✨ Festival Highlights

    • Live demonstrations: Watch traditional skills in action, including coopering, blacksmithing, and beaver trapping techniques.
    • Métis beading: Discover the artistry of Métis beadwork with Lisa Shepherd.
    • Storytelling: Meet and hear stories from Métis elder Ken Pruden.
    • Music and dance: Tap your feet to spoon and jig performances with Maurice Guibord, join a voyageur singalong, and try the weaving dance led by a fort interpreter.
    • Presentation: Learn about the history of Chinook Jargon—its origins, evolution, and legacy.
    • Food: Enjoy traditional Indigenous cuisine at Ancestor Café.
    • Souvenirs: Browse Indigenous art and gifts at Spirit Bear Designs Gift Shop.
    Program schedule:

    Ongoing Activities (10 am to 4 pm)

    • Coopering demonstrations
    • Blacksmith demonstrations
    • Métis beading demonstration by Lisa Shepherd
    • Discussion with Metis Elder Ken Pruden in the Big House
    • Ancestor Café and Spirit Bear Designs Gift shop

    Timed programs:

    • 11 am: Weaving Dance (Cooperage)
    • 11:30 am: Beaver trapping techniques with Gord MacIntosh (Storehouse)
    • 12 pm: Spoon and Jig demonstration with Maurice Guibord (Theatre)
    • 12:30 pm: Special presentation on Chinook Jargon: Origins, Evolution, Legacy (Theatre)
    • 1 pm: Voyageur Singalong (Theatre)
    • 1:30 pm: Beaver trapping techniques with Gord MacIntosh (Storehouse)
    • 2 pm: Spoon and Jig demonstration with Maurice Guibord (Theatre)
    • 2:30 pm: Weaving Dance (Cooperage)
    • 3 pm: Spoon and Jig demonstration with Maurice Guibord (Theatre)
    • 3:30 pm: Special presentation on Chinook Jargon: Origins, Evolution, Legacy (Theatre)

  • May Day at the fort

    Two children rolling small wooden barrels on grass in a playful competition.
    Time: 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM
    Location(s): Fort Langley National Historic Site
    Cost: Regular admission fees apply. *Free admission for youth 17 and under

    Join us for the 104th annual May Day event in the charming village of historic Fort Langley, a vibrant tradition that brings the community together. After the parade, continue your visit inside the fort's palisade walls with a full day of hands on programs and family-friendly activities.

     Start the day with the May Day Parade

     Begin your day with a lively parade through Fort Langley village. Enjoy local music, community groups, and colourful vendors along the route. Be sure to watch for Parks Canada’s cheerful little gator along the route.

    Planning your visit? 

    For parade routes and road closures, visit the Fort Langley May Day website: (https://maydayfortlangley.com/)

    Parking:

    On May 18, 2026, both the main parking lot and the Orchard parking lot will be open to the public free of charge.

    Explore programs inside the fort

    After the parade, step through the gates and back in time for a full day of hands-on activities and discoveries. This year’s programming highlights the men, women, and children whose labour kept the fort running. 

    • Child Labour: an immersive experience
      What was a working day like for young people at the fort? Take part in playful, hands on activities inspired by life at the fort.  
    • Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper
      Meet the cooper and learn how barrels were made. Barrel making was an essential (and surprisingly fascinating) trade during the fur trade era. 
    • Special talks: legacy of our stewards
      Learn about the lives and work of Hudson’s Bay Company employees whose efforts supported daily life at the fort. 
    • Children’s scavenger hunt
      Young explorers can follow clues throughout the site and earn a small prize. History can be fun! 
    • Blacksmithing demonstrations 
      Stop by the forge to see sparks fly and tools take shape as our blacksmith brings 19th-century craftsmanship to life.

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