From the first minutes of opening day on May 14 to the early evening hours of May 31, admission to Barkerville Historic Town is by donation — for the fourth year in a row.
“Since our first sesquicentennial celebration in 2012, Barkerville’s ‘pay what you can’ May admission special has been a great way of saying thanks to our local and regional supporters,” says James Douglas, Barkerville’s Visitor Experiences manager.
“With weather this spring being as warm as it is, we expect a lot of folks will enjoy making a snow-free trek to Barkerville this month, and we can’t wait to see them.”
Barkerville Historic Town is gearing up for an eventful 2015 season filled with education, entertainment and three sesquicentennial celebrations: 2015 marks the 150th anniversaries of Barkerville’s Cariboo Sentinel newspaper; the Cariboo Amateur Dramatic Association’s first public performance (in a saloon); and completion of the legendary Cariboo Waggon Road from Yale to Williams Creek.
On May 18 — Victoria Day — visitors to Barkerville are invited to enjoy Royal Tea (with royalty) as Barkerville’s own “Queen Victoria” visits the world-famous Wake Up Jake Restaurant for two sittings of afternoon High Tea, at 1 and 3 p.m. Barkerville’s 17th annual Victoria Day Royal Tea event will provide fun (and food) for the whole family, and reservations are recommended but not required.
With a unique streetscape of more than 130 heritage buildings, authentic displays, satellite museums, restaurants, shops and accommodations Barkerville still has so much to explore, and with three sesquicentennial anniversaries at hand, this season is the perfect time to visit.
For more information about Barkerville’s season of sesquicentennials, including the 17th Annual Victoria Day Royal Tea, please phone Judy Mooring, Visitor Experiences, at 1-888-994-3332, ext. 29 or e-mail barkerville@barkerville.ca.