Three years ago, Stephen Harper recognized the Langley Canada Day celebrations in his first July 1 speech as Prime Minister.

If the festival rated such high recognition then, Harper should have been at Langley’s 2009 event.

It was a blast.

Perfect weather, ideal location, a well-behaved crowd, and an army of volunteers to carry off two days of celebration on June 30 and July 1. Crowds of between 40,000 and 50,000 attended the event.

But for a single case of heatstroke, there were no medical emergencies, and as the event wound down after 11 p.m. Wednesday, Juliana, a seven-year-old who was briefly separated from her parents, was reunited with them.

For many, the fireworks were the icing on the cake. Those who didn’t attend the event, or left before sunset, found vantage spots to view the display.

“We had two nights of fireworks,” said Vince McKay, chairman of the Canada Day organizing committee.

“No one does two nights of fireworks and I think that was exciting for people.”

The first Langley Canada Day celebration was in 1996. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest in the province.

In recent years, organizers shifted the celebration from Langley Regional Airport across the street to McLeod Athletic Park. The move provided more space for vendors and displays. Big attractions that returned were the Toddler Zone, sponsored by The Times, pony rides, monster truck show, and go-carts which children drove through an obstacle course.

One of the highlights was a new attraction: a main stage for performers with top sound and lights.

“The performers were fantastic,” McKay said.

They included Langley band OS5, Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Alan Moberg, Emily Adams, and Elvis and the Blue Suede Shoes.

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble, the Langley Barbershop Chorus, and Carol’s Polynesian Dance group were among the performers.

Canada Day wrapped up with a crowd-pleasing performance by the Abba tribute group Abba Cadabra. Pre-teens, teens and adults dancing in front of the stage underscored the enduring appeal of the Swedish band’s music. A highlight of the show was when the B.C.-based group invited about 20 people from the audience to dance on stage.

On Thursday, McLeod Park looked as though a tornado had ripped through it, McKay said as he watched the last of the chairs loaded onto trucks.

He praised the work of volunteers who included church groups in charge of collecting garbage. Girl Guides managed the entrance gates, and Langley Gymnastics Foundation members took charge of traffic and parking.

Over two days, 150 volunteers worked on the grounds for a celebration that cost $200,000 to put on. Most of the money comes from vendor fees, and donations offered voluntarily at the gate.

“Our volunteers are so important,” McKay said. “Not enough people recognize the volunteers who volunteer for Langley.”

And their work is not over. A committee of seven or eight people has already started to plan next year’s event.

Canada Day celebrations also took place in Fort Langley and Aldergrove.