Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Celebrate Barkerville’s rich Chinese culture! 

Saturday, August 23rd, 2025

Brought to you with support from the Province of BC and Northern Development Initiative Trust

Special Event Programming

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LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOP

10:00am – 3:00pm

Choose and decorate your own traditional lantern at the Welcome Centre Grand Room!

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Chinese School Lessons at the Myatovic Cabin

10:00am
45 minutes

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.

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OPENING CEREMONY

11:30am
30 minutes

Join us at the Chinatown Arch as we open the 2025 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival!

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

CHINATOWN TOUR

12:00pm
60 minutes

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.

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CHINATOWN TRIVIA

1:15pm
50 minutes

Test your knowledge gained from the Chinatown tour in this exciting trivia contest!

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CHINESE GAMES

3:00pm
90 minutes

Participate in an array of games that challenge contenders of all ages!

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White Pigeon Lottery

4:30pm
30 minutes

Lottery tickets will be distributed throughout the day.  Join us at the Barker Co. Shafthouse to pull the winning tickets!

2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival - Credit Mia Cirotto

LION & DRAGON DANCES

7:00pm
30 minutes

Don’t miss these exquisite and colourful dances!

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EVENING PERFORMANCES

8:00pm
60 minutes

Join us at the Theatre Royal for an hour of entertainment that will immerse you in Chinese music and dance.

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LANTERN PARADE

9:15pm
60 minutes

The evening finishes with a colourful parade starting at the Chinatown arch and ending at the bottom of town.

Regular Programming

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THEATRE ROYAL

2:00pm Daily

Featuring music, comedy, and fun for the entire family!
Tickets sold separately. Available at the Welcome Centre.
Theatre Royal Box office is open 1pm-2pm daily.

Theatre Admission Prices

General: $20.00
Seniors: $17.00
Youth (6-16): $8.00
Children 5 and under: FREE

BROUGHT TO YOU WITH SUPPORT FROM

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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 & Gift Shop. Pan for a sample of gold to take home. Visit the shop for prices.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

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.

Sentinel Printing Press

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. 

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Amazing Tales from the Gold Rush Trail

9:15am
30 minutes

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.

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Guided Town Tour

10:00am
70 minutes

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 Mitlite Iskum Pavilion.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Victorian School Lessons at the Doody House

10:30am & 11:30am
30 minutes each

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.

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Walking Tour and Court Session in Richfield

11:15am
75 minutes

Gather at the Kwong Sang Wing Store for your walking tour to Richfield with the Gold Commissioners of the Cariboo, followed by a court session at the historic courthouse.

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Court Session at the Methodist Church

3:45pm
30 minutes

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.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Waterwheel Show

4:30pm
30 minutes

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.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

BARNARD’S EXPRESS STAGECOACH RIDES

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, in person (prices include GST)

General (13-64): $12
Seniors (65+): $10
Youth (4-12): $8
Children (0-3) Free