The Vader May Day Festival was started in Vader, Washington in 1952 by Lena DeAger. At the time Lena was a Girl Scout Leader in Vader and the parade was mostly Boy and Girl Scouts from town. They decorated bicycles and wagons and some took pets in the parade. It was a very short parade, but over the years Lena put much energy into making the parade bigger and better every year.
In the beginning the May Day Queen was usually a first-grader who earned the honor by putting out donation jars at different businesses and going door to door. The girl who raised the most money was the Queen. Girls who later vied for the title of "May Day Queen" sold buttons.
Lena also included the May Pole Dance and the Cake Walk during early May Day Festivals and these traditions carry on today. Lena left a legacy to the City of Vader and its citizens and we are proud to carry on the May Day Festival tradition.