There is no shortage of fun activities planned in-and-around Quesnel to help you celebrate the upcoming Family Day long weekend.
From heritage games and tours, tube runs and ski demos to a museum scavenger hunt and a Festival du Sucre, there are many free events this Saturday, Sunday and Monday geared towards family fun.
Barkerville
Barkerville’s historic Main Street will come alive for one day only next week, as Barkerville Historic Town and Park celebrates Family Day in heritage fashion.
Admission to the park is free Monday, Feb. 18, and there will be heritage games, museum exhibitions, live interpretations and a free hot dog roast.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Miss Wendle will be back in the Wendle House and Mr. Hankin will be working in the Cameron and Ames Blacksmith Shop.
There will be a variety of special performances throughout the day. Justin Brew will host an Early Justice Interpretation in the Methodist Church from 11-11:45 a.m., while Mr. Bowron will host heritage games in the clearing between noon and 1:30 p.m. From 1:30-2:10 p.m., Mr. Grimsby will host Amazing Tales from the Goldrush Trail in the Visitors’ Centre, while Miss Wilson will host a Town Tour from 2-3:10 p.m. Anyone taking the tour is asked to meet at the Pavilion.
Miss Kibbee will host a Chinatown Tour from 3-3:45 p.m., meeting at the Lung Duck Tong, and Mr. Grimsby will host another Amazing Tales from the Goldrush Trail in the Visitors’ Centre from 3:15-4 p.m.
Visitors are invited to grab a free hot dog from the Barkerville Cafe and roast it on the bonfire, and visitors can order hot drinks and home-cooked meals from the Barkerville Cafe. The Shamrock Tube Run is offering 50 per cent off lift passes for the day.
Leading up to Family Day, Barkerville will also be busy, as the Barkerville Cafe and Shamrock Tube Run will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday (Feb. 16), while the Nicol Hotel, Barkerville Hotel and Lee Chong Co. Store exhibits will be open for viewing.
There will be night tubing Sunday, Feb. 17, as the Barkerville Cafe and Shamrock Tube Run will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
During the day, the Nicol Hotel, Barkerville Hotel and Lee Chong Co. Store will be open as well.
Troll Ski Resort
Troll Resort has also turned Family Day into a full weekend of fun.
The Silver Lift will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, giving skiers easier access to the Silver Bowl, and the mountain’s four-kilometre snowshoe trail has been blazed.
There will be giant culvert slides set up for children, and Troll’s tube run will be open for business.
This Saturday, the hill will be open to everyone, but Troll is also hosting its 14th annual Telefest, a celebration of the sport of telemark skiing. There will be demonstrations, lessons and much more, and Troll is hosting a buffet dinner and live music by Roadblock that evening.
If you’re curious about new gear, Rocky Peak Adventure Gear will be at Troll Sunday and Monday with a sneak peek at next season’s newest skis. John and Brenda Beatty will be set up outside the lodge to answer questions about the latest and greatest gear.
For Family Day, lift passes and rentals will be offered at half-day rates on Monday. The free tube run will be running all day, and the Yellow Lift (Bunny Hill) will also be free.
Family Day Swim
In Quesnel, the City is hosting a free Family Day Swim and Games Monday from 1-4 p.m. at the Quesnel Arts and Recreation Centre.
If your family is more into skating, there will be a free Family Day Skate to Music from 1-3 p.m. at Rink 2.
The Quesnel and District Museum and Archives is hosting two days of family fun Friday and Saturday. Admission is free, and there will be family games, a winter-themed scavenger hunt, a dress-up trunk and much more.
History buffs can also spend the Family Day long weekend at the Quesnel and District Antique Machinery Park at 3055 Dragon Lake Rd.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, admission is free, and there will be hot dogs, cookies and beverages.
For more information, call 250-747-4621 or email Lloyd at lassaunders2006@yahoo.ca.
Flag Day
Family Day is also National Flag Day in Bouchie Lake, and the Bouchie Lake Country Store will be hosting its third annual Festival du Sucre and National Flag Day celebration Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be snowshoe games, maple trivia, tarte aux sucre, Beavertails, tourtiere, maple syrup on snow and much more.