Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers’ 50th Anniversary Celebration: A Barn Dance to

Remember

The Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers celebrated their 50th anniversary with a barn dance at the
Abbotsford Social Activity Association on Saturday May 20th, 2023. Old time fiddle music is all
about dance music, so what better way to celebrate that anniversary than inviting the community
to a barn dance to the sound of old time tunes like Five Foot Two and the Tennessee Waltz?
More than 200 people responded to the invitation, most of them from Abbotsford and Mission,
but also from other parts of the Lower Mainland. There was great music, a smile on every face, a
lot of laughter and foot tapping, and people reconnecting with old friends. One dancer said: “this
is what community is all about, we need more of this.” One woman confided that this carefree
and joyful atmosphere reminded her of events she went to as a little girl, with her father. She
added: “it seemed then like everyone knew us and was happy to see us. I miss that feeling these
days”.
Some people heard the music, and saw the signs as they were passing by the dance hall, and
decided to come in to join the event, and were so thrilled with what they saw and heard. They
were also happy that admission and all refreshments were free! Some of the dancers were
regulars at the monthly Saturday dances at the Aldergrove Old Age Pensioners Hall.  Others had
been waiting for the event with great anticipation, including previous members of the club and
their spouses.
The dance started at 1pm and ended at 4pm with a 15 minute break in the middle during which
chocolate and vanilla cakes were served. There was square dances and circle pattern dances
which were fun and funny! Many dancers see dancing as both good exercise and a way to
socialize and have fun with their friends. It is a way to connect with new people and keep them
in touch with the world. Several dancers depended on walking sticks to walk but once they were
on the dance floor, and with the support of their partner, they could slide across the floor to the
beat of foxtrots, 2 steps, and polkas with energy and joyful rhythm! Some of the older dancers
left the event joking that they might have aching muscles and bones the next day but it was worth
it.
The band was delighted and pleased by the community response to the invitation to the event and
played their hearts out, feeling genuinely celebrated. Call it the power of music if you will, but a
simple dance seemed to touch everyone and have a different effect on every individual. A person
who joined the event “just for the music” said how happy he was to see how vibrant this aspect
of our community still is. One woman shared that the smile she had on her face was probably the
same smile that made her father call her the “funny one”; she felt “at home” in that group even if
she was joining it for the first time. Another woman talked about how the last few years had been
a real challenge for her and how she deeply lonely she has felt in recent times, but she explained,
“You have no idea how wonderful this event has been for me. This is the best therapy for me. I
feel accepted. I have to find ways to connect more often with groups like this one. Perhaps I
could volunteer”. And yes, anyone can join our club and we would love folks to volunteer or
just enjoy our music. We would like people to reach out to us.
The barn dance invitation mentioned that people could donate to the Food Bank. Well, what a
wonderful surprise! The event collected food and money donations for food banks in Abbotsford
and Mission. By the end of the afternoon, it had collected four boxes of food and about $800 in
cash! Thank you everyone for making our event so successful and a very happy occasion for all
of us.
The Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers’ website is:
https://centralfraservalleyfiddlers.com/