The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin’s 25th anniversary celebration is coming up on Sunday, Aug. 7.
The celebration will be held 25 years to the day that the ribbon was cut to open the museum located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Borland Street, says William Adams, the museum’s executive director and curator.
He said Mayor Walt Cobb was part of the ribbon cutting when the museum originally opened and he will be there again as mayor for the unveiling of the 25th anniversary commemorative plaque.
The celebrations will take place both at the museum and in Boitanio Park.
The First Nations welcome and plaque unveiling will take place at the museum from 11 a.m. to noon with Rick Gilbert as master of ceremonies and Mayor Walt Cobb, CRD representatives Steve Forseth, Joan Sorely and museum president Mike McDonough participating in the official plaque dedication.
From noon to 4 p.m. the museum will host an open house with admission by donation.
At noon the celebration continues with a 25th anniversary Heritage Festival in Boitanio Park from noon to about 5:30 p.m. with a giant birthday cake served at 12:30 p.m.
“It will be a fun-filled event for the whole family,” Adams says.
People are invited to bring along a picnic basket for a community picnic over the noon hour or enjoy lunch from one of the food vendors that will be on site.
There will be traditional games for children and music on the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Stage all afternoon.
Audrey Dye and her helpers are organizing traditional games such as checkers, jacks, two-legged races, egg and spoon races, paint can stilt walking, traditional stilt walking and more.
The entertainment will include two performances by Tiller’s Folly, the quintessential B.C. trio that writes and performs songs about B.C. and Canadian historical figures: two performances with John Bartlett and Rika Ruebsaat, who are cultural historians and singers and scholars of traditional song; plus performances by local musicians Leslie Ross and Flannel Roots.
Children and adults are also encouraged to get into the heritage spirit by dressing in their own “old-time costumes” from clothing that they already have in their closets, Adams says.
Some easy ideas for men and boys include wearing suspenders, vests, old fashioned felt or straw hats, and neckerchiefs. For women and girls a long skirt or old fashioned blouse, apron, straw hat or bonnet, neck scarf, shawl, or bow in the hair will fit the occasion.
Adams says the volunteer roster is filling up nicely now but there are still a few volunteer positions left to help out as greeters at the museum and with activities in the park, such as serving birthday cake.
To help with the project contact the museum at 250-392-7404 or by e-mail at mcc@wlake.com.