156th Annual
Dominion Day Celebrations
Monday, July 1st, 2024
Parade, games, live theatre and music and dancing at the House Hotel Saloon!
Special Activities
PARADE
11:50am
Begins at the St. Saviour’s Church and finishes at the games clearing by the Chinatown Arch
Games
12:00pm
Games occur in consecutive order:
- Broad Jump
- Ladies’ Nail Driving
- Funny Face
- Men’s Hammer Toss
- Ladies’ Egg & Spoon
- Egg Toss
- Greasy Pole Climb
FESTIVITIES AT THE HOUSE HOTEL SALOON
7:00pm
Join us at the House Hotel Saloon for an evening of live music and dancing!
Theatre Royal
4:00PM
An hour of music, comedy, and fun for the entire family!
Tickets sold separately. Available at the Welcome Centre. Box office is open 1pm-2pm daily.
Theatre Admission Prices
General: $20.00
Seniors: $17.00
Youth (3-12): $10.00
Children 3 and under: FREE
REGULAR PROGRAMMING
Cameron & Ames Blacksmith Shop
All-Day
Experience a working 1870s Blacksmith Shop! Hear the anvil chorus and smell the sizzle of hot metal smoke. Handcrafted iron works are available for purchase.
Indigenous Cultural Session
All-Day
Dahooja, Weyt-kp, Hadih! Barkerville is located in the shared territory of seven nations: Lhtako, Nazko, Lhoosk’uz, Ulkatcho, ?Esdilagh, Xatśūll, Simpcw, and Lheidli. We invite you to learn our stories and our role in the gold rush.
Chinese Cultural Sessions
All-Day
Want to learn more about the culture of the Chinese and the practices they brought with them to the Gold Rush? Learn about the Chinese tea culture, Tai chi and Tai chi Sword. Chinese music and performances, Chinese chess, herbal medicine the list goes on.
Cariboo Sentinel Newspaper Shop
All-Day
Founded in 1865, the Cariboo Sentinel newspaper runs for 10 years and reaches global circulation. Visit the print shop to purchase custom-made paper items and also see the editor setting type and operating an original platen press.
Gold Panning Lesson
All-Day
Get a taste of the Barkerville Gold Rush. Take a step back in history and learn how to gold pan with the old gold miners at the Eldorado Gold Panning and Gift Shop. Pan for a sample of gold to take home. $15 per lesson.
Come into the gift shop and choose from a variety of items available for purchase.
Morning drum circle
9:00am
Join us for a traditional Indigenous drum circle at the Gathering Place to start the day and honour the Original Peoples of this land. 15 minutes.
Amazing Tales from the Gold Rush Trail
9:15am
A historical overview of British Columbia’s Gold Rush at the Barker Co. Shafthouse. A chronicle of the events and people who prospected their way to Williams Creek and how they followed the geological indicators to the fabulous riches of the Cariboo Gold Fields. 30 minutes.
Guided Town Tour
10:00am
Absorb an in-depth understanding of the gold rush history, Barkerville, and the colourful characters of years past by attending one of our enlightening and entertaining town tours, hosted by Barkerville’s historical interpreters. The tour is highly recommended for first-time visitors. Tours begin in front of the Pavilion building and last approximately 70 minutes.
Chinese School Lessons at the Myatovic Cabin
11:30am
School is in session at the Chinese School house. Come and learn about the spoken Chinese language, Chinese calligraphy and how to do math on an abacus. 30 minutes.
Barkerville Cemetery Tour
11:30am
Meet Barkerville’s archaeologist at the Methodist Church and journey on a 1 km walking tour to Barkerville’s original cemetery; the final resting place of Barkerville’s famous (and not-so-famous) residents and one of the most interesting historic cemeteries in British Columbia. 60 minutes.
Court Session at the Methodist Church
1:00pm
Learn about early justice in the Colony of British Columbia while our Gold Commissioners re-enact a famous court case from the Gold Rush Era.
Victorian School Lessons at the Doody House
1:15pm
Experience school like it was when Barkerville was thriving. All are welcome to attend this authentic classroom session. Line up at the schoolhouse doors when you hear the school teacher ringing the bell. Don’t be late, and kindly remove your hats before entering. 30 minutes.
Waterwheel Show
2:00pm
See deep shaft placer mining in this lively demonstration of 1870s technology using an authentic wooden Cornish Waterwheel. Learn about the importance and operation of the wheel in a comical and entertaining presentation that is fascinating for the whole family. 30 minutes.
Chinatown Tour
2:45pm
Explore one of Canada’s oldest Chinatowns. Find out more about the life of Chinese miners and merchants in Barkerville, and how their culture was maintained and adapted to the rugged land of the Cariboo. To join in on the tour, meet in front of the Lung Duck Tong restaurant. Approximately 60 minutes.
Evening drum circle
5:30pm
Join us for a traditional Indigenous drum circle at the Kelly Hall to finish off the day and honour the Original Peoples of this land. 15 minutes.
Barnard’s Express
Francis Jones Barnard’s B.X. Express freighting company shaped communication and travel to and from Barkerville and was the main cartage and passenger service on the Cariboo Waggon Road. Take a horse-drawn tour of Barkerville in an authentic stagecoach!
Thursday – Monday
10AM – 5PM
Every half hour, last ride at 4:30
(Schedule subject to change)
Tickets
Purchased separately at Barnard’s Express
General (13-64): $12
Seniors (65+): $10
Youth (4-12): $8
Children (0-3) Free
Dominion Day and the “New” Canadian Flag
Canada’s very first Dominion Day celebration was held in Barkerville as a fervent display of support for Canadian confederation three years before British Columbia joined in 1871.
Just past midnight on July 1, 1868, the Dominion of Canada’s first anniversary, Barkerville citizens launched their own version of a 21 gun salute. Cannons were in short supply, so black powder charges were detonated between stacked anvils, providing a loud and raucous start to Canada’s inaugural birthday party. A full slate of activities followed throughout the day and long into the evening, capped off with a fireworks display.
The very next year Cariboo’s “new” Canadian Flag, with its iconic beaver and wreath, was raised in the dead of night to the top of a newly constructed flagpole. The next day began with the now traditional anvil chorus and the ensuing celebrations were legendary.
Extensive historical research suggests that Barkerville began celebrating Dominion Day (Canada Day) eleven years before it was officially recognized.
In 2024, we celebrate much the same way, with games and an evening of entertainment, dancing and refreshments!
