Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Venus sets over the peak of Mount Lucille, Christmas Eve 2019

We wish you all the best for 2020 and hope you have a chance to experience our winter wonderland, whether by snowmobile, skiis, snowshoes, or just enjoying the scenery from car or train windows. Our award winning groomed snowmobile trails have lots of powder. The Yellowhead ski trails on Bell Mountain are groomed and ready to explore. The area area also offers fine snowshoeing away from the set trails, or try snowshoeing the 24 km network of exciting new trails with a view on McBride Peak. Indoors there is the opportunity for drop in skating with rental skates available, drop-in curling, plus fit pit and convert-a-court all in the Robson Valley Recreation Centre. There are plenty of ways to have fun in our Robson Valley winter!

Join us for Remembrance Day in McBride

Welcome to the 2019 Fraser Heritage Festival!

Arts in the Parks–A Three Day Festival

This long weekend, visit the Robson Valley and enjoy free art, music and history celebrations in some of Canada’s most breathtaking scenery.Day 1: Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 Arts in the Ancient Forest Park.

A universal access boardwalk runs to a waterfall through more than 400 metres of forest.

Celebration Details:

Time: 11 am – 4 pm

Location: Ancient Forest / Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park by Highway 16, approximately 113 km east of Prince George and 95 km northwest of McBride.

What: Family-friendly Art in the Park event to celebrate the beauty, biodiversity and magic of the Ancient Forest / Chun T’oh Whudujut.

The event will begin at 11am with welcoming to the Territory by the Lheidli T’enneh First Nations and a dedication of the festivals in memory of Mary Gouchie by singer-songwriter, Kym Gouchie.

After the dedication brief words from the festival planning committee and elected representatives will follow:
MC Dannielle Alan, Regional District of Fraser–Fort George Area H Director
Shirley Bond, Member of the BC Legislature,
Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament
Gene Runtz, Mayor of McBride
Lyn Hall, Mayor of Prince George
Nowell Senior will tell his story of the forest.

Dome Creek artists Hugh Perkins (left) and Kathy Juncker hand felt natural fibers to make incredible pictures inspired by the Ancient Cedar forests around Dome Creek.

Arts in the Park will begin with local artists and musicians, from dancers and quilters, knitters and painters, sculptors and felters, basket weavers and wood turners scattered throughout the forest performing and showing off their creations. Attendees can wander throughout the forest enjoying the many sights and sounds, while searching for Gandalf and the mystical forest fairies.

If all this excitement makes you hungry there is also lunch available by donation through the Dome Creek Community Association as supplies last.

Cost: Free to attend

 

Tentative timeline:
11:00 am: Event begins!
11:00 – 11:20am: Lheidli T’enneh First Nations Territorial Welcome and Prayer   Kym Gouchie
11:20 -11:45pm: Committee welcome
11:30 – 4:00pm: On going events
BBQ lunch
Music stations
Visual artist stations
Guided naturalist walks (starting at 12:00 pm and 1:15 pm

Getting to the Celebration:

You never know who you may meet up in the Ancient Forest on Saturday!

Complimentary accessible buses from Prince George and McBride are available by pre-registration on a first come, first serve basis. Please RSVP through Engage Sport North via: https://events.eventzilla.net/e/art-in-the-park-discovering-chun-toh-whudujut–august-31-2019-2138765868?resp=on&dateid=2138461461

 

Please note the departure times for the bus you choose; you must take the same bus back.

Bus options: Leaving McBride at 9:30 am from McBride Railway Station
Arrive Ancient Forest at 11am
Enjoy the festival 11am -1pm
Leave forest at 1:00pm
Arrive back in McBride 2:30 pm

Parking:
Please work with the parking attendants at the Ancient Forest to make parking as easy as possible and car pool with friends and family if possible!

Things to Consider:
Please bring a water bottle
Please dress appropriately for the weather
Bring extra snacks as needed

Thank You to our Celebration Supporters and Sponsors:
Lheidli T`enneh First Nations, Caledonia Ramblers, Robson Valley Arts and Culture Council,  Northern Development Initiatives Trust, Village of McBride, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Dome Creek Community Association, BC Parks,  Diversified Transportation,  City of Prince George, Tourism PG, Engage Sports North,  many local musicians and artists!

Day 2: Arts in Steve Kolida Park, McBride, Sunday 2 September 2019

The passenger train arrives at McBride’s railway station in its first year, 1919

Come Celebrate With Us!
Sunday, September 1st from 11 AM to 4 PM at Steve Kolida Park in McBride next to the railway station.
Join artists, vendors and performers as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our own Heritage Railway Station. The model railway will be open and the Valley Museum will give guided history tours. McBride Pedicab Co is offering free rides and CN Rail is sponsoring a free BBQ hosted by Live Different. Free cake! With live music, artist demonstrations and lots of crafts, baking and other goodies for sale the park will be full of fun – JOIN US! And be sure to visit the museum show celebrating the station’s 100th anniversary at 521 Main Street, open until 8 pm August 30 and 31, closed Sundays and Mondays.

The station has witnessed many changes since the early 1920s, but the downtown railway parks have been preserved. Photos courtesy Valley Museum and Archives.

Day 3: Kinney Lake Alphorn Concert, Mount Robson Provincial Park, Monday 2 September 2019

Even the clouds seemed to get into the spirit during this 2014 performance. A hushed audience was treated to notes returning from mountain sides kilometres away across Kinney Lake.

Join us in the natural amphitheatre of Mount Robson for a Kinney Lake Alphorn Concert, 2 Sep 2019,  with Jane Houlden and Keith Berg starting noon at Kinney Lake. It takes about an hour to walk from the parking lot along the Berg Lake Trail to Kinney Lake, 4.5 km.  Come enjoy the beauty of the hike, the scenery and the sound of the alphorns echoing off the mountain sides!

Keith Berg and Jane Houlden play alphorns right below the peak of Mount Robson

Community Markets back for the summer

Enjoy a friendly get together while you shop in downtown McBride on Fridays and at the Dunster Community Hall on Saturdays!

In McBride, the community market is back for the summer with a wide range of offerings that are grown, made or assembled in the valley. Drop by the Pavilion in Steve Kolida Park at Main and First, McBride to see what is happening this week and maybe stop for a picnic in the park. It runs every Friday 11 am to 2 pm until August 30, 2019.

The Dunster Farmer’s Market is back for the summer at the Dunster Community Hall by Highway 16. Drop by from 11 am to 1 pm Saturdays just to browse, or stop for burgers and coffee for lunch with neighbours. 28 km east of McBride, 38 km west of Tete Jaune. Baking, local garden produce, crafts, bedding plants, rummage, conversation, community!

Celebrate with us! Ice cream and Canada Day…

Don’t miss the famous annual Dunster Ice Cream Social on Saturday June 29! Doors open at 7 pm, but the lineup always starts early. An incredible variety of ice cream and potluck cakes and pies is followed by live music courtesy Roadside Splinter from McBride to help you dance it all off! Admission:  Adults $8.00  6-10 years old $6:00, 5 and under free. Watch for some unusual characters arranged along Highway 16 as you head to the Dunster Community Hall,  28 km east of McBride, 38 km west of Tete Jaune.

Then join the fun in McBride on Canada Day at Kolida Park at First and Main!
 Schedule of festivities on July 1:
11 pm-2 pm kids’ activities, 
11 am-2 pm BBQ (fundraiser for Live Different)
, 2 pm Singing of O’ Canada, Chamber of Commerce Welcome,  Village of McBride Welcome and Annual Cheryl Sansom Award, followed by Canada Day Cakes served by McBride Seniors. At dusk, fireworks begin in the Ball Park.
Hosted by: The McBride and District Chamber of Commerce, The McBride Volunteer Fire
Department, The Village of McBride, McBride Visitor Centre, Whistle Stop Gallery, McBride and District Public Library, Valley Museum and Archives, the volunteer efforts of the Community of McBride and made possible with the support of Heritage Canada and “Celebrate Canada”.

Community Market back in McBride

Enjoy a friendly get together in downtown McBride on Fridays! The community market is back for the summer with a wide range of offerings that are grown, made or assembled in the valley. Drop by the Pavilion in Steve Kolida Park at Main and First, McBride to see what is happening this week. It runs every Friday 11 am to 2 pm until August 30, 2019.

Museum summer programs begin

Dunster Station Museum opens noon to 4pm Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to coincide with arrival of the VIA Rail passenger train. The museum is operated by the Valley Museum and Archives.

The Dunster Station Museum is now open for the summer! Come and see the many photos and artifacts from Dunster’s history, and try out the new deck, tables, chairs and umbrellas. Open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 to 4 pm. For driving directions, read about Dunster here.

The 2019 Natural History Speaker series has begun. Come out to hear botanist Barb Zimmer with Men, Orchids and Mountains at 7 pm, Friday June 7 at the new museum and library at 521 Main Street, McBride. This free event is hosted by the Valley Museum and Archives, McBride and District Public Library, and the Community Literacy Program. For more information contact the library at 250-569-2411 or museum at 250-569-3000.

 

Help celebrate 2019 Pioneer Days in McBride!

Come out to Main Street at 10 am Saturday June 1 to see what everyone has been working on for the annual parade, and see honoured pioneers in beautiful old cars.

The weekend starts the day before, Friday May 31, in Kolida Park by the railway station with a honey bee presentation, kids fun run on the McBride Mountain trails, and a free community barbeque. Come by the Visitor Centre for details, we are open until 8 pm tonight.

Right after the parade on Saturday, follow the cars trucks and tractors to the show n shine. From 11am to 1 pm the magical model railway is open in the railway station next to the visitor centre. Activities for kids in Kolida Park include a bouncy castle, face painting and fire department bucket brigade.

Also downtown is live music, the annual horseshoe tournament, slo-pitch and bingo, and a dance at the community hall rounds out the day.

Sunday June1 starts off with a pancake breakfast at the Elks Hall. Then head over to watch or try your hand at old time loggers sports. Lots more live music in the park, kids games, and ongoing tournaments fill out the day, ending with the announcement of a lucky winner of the draw for a whole logging truck load of firewood!

For more than 80 years the McBride Elks club has been organizing the annual parade and sports, first as Elks Flag Day on July 1, and for many decades since as Pioneer Days in June.

Click for full weekend schedule and more photos. Roster for the ball tournament is here.

This weekend is humming with winter fun in McBride!

In Your Dreams: Let your fancy take flight at the Rec Centre with the McBride Figure Skating Club’s season finale show 7 pm Saturday March 9. Get caught up in the drama and brilliant music of another fine cabaret, Head Over Heels, by Wishbone Theatre in McBride Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, March 8-10, 2019. Cool off outdoors at Snofest Sunday March 10 from 1-3 pm, with free skating and skate rental, free curling (bring clean shoes), and head outside for free hotdogs and hot chocolate at Steve Kolida Park downtown, where you can try your skill in snowshoe and ski races or have a go at street hockey. See the events calendar for details and enjoy winter in the beautiful Robson Valley! Remember that the clocks move forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time 2 am Sunday March 10.