The 48th Billy Barker Days festival begins July 18 with events across Quesnel.
It will kick off on Thursday with crash-to-pass racing, senior's day and teen time.
On Friday the rodeo will begin and a children's day event will be held. Saturday will see the parade, the barn dance and old-time costumes for selfies. Sunday will have the first ever Billy Barker Days drone show and a teddy bear clinic.
The Billy Button gold nugget draw will take place on on Sunday at 5:45 p.m. at LeBourdais Park.
Other events will run throughout the entire festival including the Gold Dust Mall, a gold panning workshop and carnival rides.
Cindy Tousignant is the vice-president of the Billy Barker Days Society. She's been involved with Billy Barker Days for a decade and will be helping run the teddy bear clinic.
"The teddy bear clinic was set up about 25 (or) 30 years ago by some members to introduce children to the medical field in a non-threatening way," Tousignant said. She explained that children can take their stuffed animals to doctors, optometrists, dentists and pharmacists to help reduce fear children have of seeing health care workers.
While she loves putting on the workshop and the headliners, Tousignant's favourite part of Billy Barker Days is seeing people come together.
"I love watching people. I love the little kids that are playing in the park and you can hear the happy squeals," she said. "Or the little old lady who grabs her grandson and dances in front of the stage."
Tousignant is also looking forward to the drone show because it's one of the new things to this year's festival.
Full schedules for Billy Barker Days can be purchased from the souvenir booth and the Billy Barker Days office. It includes a map of the parade route, a list of bands and when they play and a schedule for the events throughout the four day festival.
