Barkerville Historic Town & Park is bustling with special events and activities for yuletide revelers looking to experience the wintertime magic of western North America’s largest heritage attraction, nestled under an elegant blanket of snow, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 9-11.
A stay at one of Barkerville’s exceptional boutique accommodations is only one of the many old-Daytime guests can catch a sleigh ride with Barnard’s Express, or sip tasty apple cider while shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts and carefully crafted Christmas decorations at the Mason and Daly General Merchants, C. Strouss & Company Dry Goods, and McPherson’s Watchmakers and Jewelry Store.
The Cameron and Ames Blacksmith Shop will be offering up hand-forged treasures and lumps of coal for those with unusual “naughty and nice” lists to consider.
McMahon’s Confectionary is sure to satisfy the sweet tooth of the most carefully hung stocking.
The Goldfield Bakery will have soup and sandwiches available for lunch, as well as traditional 1930s Christmas goodies to take home.
A stop by the Wendle House is sure to whet the appetite with an atmosphere of traditional Victorian cookery and fireside conversation.
Visitors are encouraged to wander among Barkerville’s snow-laden Victorian streets, take a guided Town Tour, attend Sunday services at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church, and have a photo taken with Father Christmas in the “Enchanted Forest” at the new Barkerville School.
Barkerville’s own “John Bowron” will perform a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at 1 p.m. each day at the Methodist Church (suggested donation of $5 per person, all ages).
Annual passes to Barkerville for 2018 will be available for purchase at a 15 per cent discount, and include a complimentary membership in the Friends of Barkerville Cariboo Goldfields Historical Society.
Site admission is by donation, either a monetary gift or a non-perishable food item (for the Wells Legion holiday hamper program).
New this year
• Listen to the exquisite sounds of the Q City Singers as they present a chorus of old-fashioned Christmas Carols at the Wesleyan Methodist Church at noon Dec. 10.
• Decorate your own, old fashioned Christmas Gingerbread Man from the Goldfield Bakery.
• The Shamrock Tube Run will be open for Victorian Christmas from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 9 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 10-11.
• The Barkerville Cafe has special old-fashioned Victorian Christmas hours: Dec. 9 – 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (Christmas buffet); Dec. 10 – 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (regular menu); and Dec. 11 – 10 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (regular menu).