Barkerville Historic Town is open this weekend and folks can hear sleigh bells jangle during a horse-drawn sleigh ride up the main street of British Columbia's Gold Rush Town.
Barkerville will be open for business from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Dec. 7-9 and it will be bustling with special events and activities.
Guests can to enjoy traditional Christmas carols sung by costumed interpreters, and sip some tasty apple cider while shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts and carefully crafted Christmas decorations at the Mason and Daly General Merchants, C. Strouss & Company Dry Goods, and McPherson’s Watchmakers and Jewelry Store.
The Cameron and Ames Blacksmith Shop will be offering hand-forged treasures and lumps of coal for those with unusual “naughty and nice” lists to consider, and McMahon’s Confectionary is sure to satisfy the sweet tooth of the most carefully hung stocking.
The Goldfield Bakery will have soup and sandwiches available for lunch, as well as traditional Victorian Christmas fare to take home, and a stop by the Wendle House is sure to whet the appetite with traditional baking and fireside conversation.
Barkerville guests are encouraged to wander among a variety of beautiful museum displays and visit with Father Christmas himself in the “Enchanted Forest.”
On Saturday and Sunday, twice per day, the Sheepskin Claim’s own Mr. Teach will be playing festive music at the Methodist Church, and on Sunday afternoon St. Saviour’s Anglican Church will hold its annual Christmas service at 3 p.m.
For those theatrically-minded visitors, a special performance of the one-man drama, The Fred Wells Show, will be available at the Kelly Saloon Saturday through Monday at 2 p.m. and site-wide sleigh rides will be happening over all three days for a nominal charge.
For more information on Barkerville’s spectacular Christmas events, visit www.barkerville.ca.