Barkerville will be launching its shoulder season in early May and has the dates set for the 2025 season's full opening and events.
The historic site's shoulder season will begin May 16 which will have limited shops, restaurants and exhibits open. The main season will begin May 31 and run until Sept. 7. The Cottonwood House Historic Site will be open during Barkerville's main season as well.
When the main season begins visitors can watch shows at the Theatre Royal, ride the stagecoach and partake in guided tours while the site's interpreters enact street scenes.
Barkerville's special events are also scheduled with the first being the Dominion Day Celebrations on July 1. Dominion Day will have a noon parade, games for all ages and evening festivities.
The next event will be Indigenous Peoples' Celebration on Aug. 16 where culture from the region's Indigenous peoples will be showcased. A week later the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival will be held on Aug. 23, a festival that's been taking place for over 20 years at the historic site. Both of these events were cancelled in the 2024 season after the Antler Creek fire caused Barkerville and Wells to be evacuated.
"We are excited to welcome back these cherished events for both visitors and staff," said Carrie Chard, general manager at Barkerville in a news release. "The wildfire last summer forced us to postpone the Indigenous Peoples' Celebration and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival as we navigated through opening the gates back up after being evacuated. However, our resilient town has emerged largely unscathed and I am hopeful that we will see a wonderful turnout as people come together to enjoy the events that they were unable to attend last year."
Barkerville's campgrounds are also available for booking. The Forest Rose Campground will welcome visitors during the shoulder season while the Lowhee Campground will open June 19. Both will close Oct. 1.
Barkerville's Olde-Fashioned Christmas will return on the weekend of Dec. 13 and 14, where visitors will be able to take sleigh rides, listen to carollers and see Father Christmas at the historic site ahead of the holidays.
For more information about Barkerville’s main and shoulder season offerings, special events, and where to stay, visit barkerville.ca.
