For over 100 years Kaslo villagers have celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday with a rollicking spring festival. In the old days the sternwheelers ran excursion trips from Nelson and stopped to pick up revellers at every point along the way, while others arrived in every type of boat and conveyance, filling the streets of Kaslo with miners, prospectors and their families.

The main events of May Days back then were a horse race down Front Street, with prizes as high as $250, and a unique Prospectors Race. Prospectors would line up on the street with all their camping equipment; during the race, they had to pitch their tents, light a campfire, set up their cooking equipment, mix bannock and cook it!

At today’s celebration the prospectors are few and far between, but the fun and competition continues with logger sports, ball games, games for kids and all sorts of great activities. Join the people of Kaslo May 21 to 23 to celebrate the tradition that has been kept alive, without missing a single year, since 1892.

Saturday is filled with ball games, music and a craft fair. Sunday is the Front Street car show and steam engine display plus the award winning logger sports competition. In 2009 Kaslo Logger Sports entry to the Canadian TSN-Kraft Celebration Tour won the competition in BC. The $25,000 prize is being used to develop the Vimy Park logger sports grounds for the enjoyment of competitors and spectators alike.

On Monday join the crowds watching the parade and then the May Pole dance. Then relax to music in the park. It is a festival not to be missed.

Be sure to mark the dates – May 21-23.