02 Barkerville’s Old Fashion Christmas

You’ll love Barkerville’s Old Fashion Christmas celebration, held the last two weekends before Christmas, on December 13-14 and 20-21. Enjoy carol singing at the romantic and intimate St. Saviour's Church, delicious home baking from the Wendle House or Goldfields Bakery, and unique and quality Christmas shopping at the Mason & Daly General Store and Mrs. Neate's Sewing Room. And you won’t want to miss a sleigh or dog sled ride!

Christmas is celebrated in Barkerville with special decorated displays and events. Children of all ages will want to visit with St. Nicholas in his Enchanted Forest in the Visitor Reception Centre. Take a family photo with St. Nick to remember this special visit. Caroling and church services will be held from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm on each Sunday. Horse drawn sleigh rides start at St. Saviour's Church on Barkerville’s main street, and continue on a quiet winter wonderland ride through town.

The Friends of Barkerville will welcome guests to the Barkerville Hotel with herb tea and hot apple cider. Perhaps someone on your gift list will enjoy special items from our Blacksmith Shop – choose from locally made bark carvings of miners and trappers and iron pokers and dinner gongs.

Mrs. Neate’s Sewing Room offers lovely handmade toys, animals and handmade needle work tools, all made by the proprietor. She also sells beautiful, delicate handmade porcelain Christmas tree decorations which are locally crafted from the Wells, Quesnel and Valemont area. The Mason and Daly store sells gift items, old-fashioned candy, children’s toys, clothing, and a variety of wonderful, unique presents. 

The famous Goldfield Bakery can do all your Christmas baking for you. Cream cheese strudels and baked holiday wreaths with candied fruit are only available during this magical time of year. It is almost impossible to walk away without purchasing these two items. You can also enjoy tasty lunches. Hot, homemade soup and sandwiches served on sourdough bread or tasty whole wheat are a favourite.

Barkerville is an authentic 1860s Gold Rush town, and one of the top five attractions in the Province. It is BC’s most significant heritage site and the largest historic site in western North America. Barkerville has won national awards for the quality and authenticity of its presentation. During the 1860s gold rush, it was the largest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco. This living museum is home to over 125 heritage buildings, many museum displays, live theatre, B&Bs, and unique shops with Victorian-era merchants. 

Between 800-1000 folks from all over the province enjoy these two special Christmas weekends. Your family will love making Barkerville part of your holiday traditions. For more information on Barkerville, click here; for more information on Wells, BC, click here.