This summer, the Britannia Mine Museum is turning up the fun by hosting a series of events to celebrate Canada Day on July 1st and Old Town New Queens: Pride Night at Britannia Mine Museum on August 5th.
The events feature the Britannia Mine Museum’s summer exhibit “More Than a Mine: Recreation in a Mining Town”, which pays homage to historic community celebrations and recreational activities of days past during its mining years between 1904 and 1974.
Canada Day Celebrations – Friday, July 1st, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Museum’s Canada Day celebrations will feature live music from local indie folk/rock musicians, Coldwater Road, who will be performing two 30-minute sets between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The duo is known for their rich storytelling lyrics deeply rooted in Canada’s western frontier, and their foot-stomping ballads and love songs will give visitors a reason to dance. The band will be releasing a new album this year focusing on Canadian History, including the song “The Mine and the Mill”, which was inspired by a visit to the Britannia Mine Museum.
Throughout the day Curator of Collections and Engagement, Laura Minta Holland and Assistant Curator Heather Flynn will be leading maypole dances and hosting a number of nostalgic games for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
On Friday, August 5th, the Britannia Mine Museum will be hosting its first ever afterhours pride night, “Old Town, New Queens” in its historic 99-year-old Mill building. A National Historic Site, the 20-storey Mill building will be transformed into a huge performance space featuring some of the most amazing LGBTQIA+ drag artists from the Lower Mainland.
“One of our summer exhibit’s goals is to diversify the voices we are sharing through the Museum’s historic displays,” says Derek Jang, Manager of Interpretive Delivery at the Museum. “Drag is an underground art form, so what better venue than a historic mine to celebrate and share the spotlight with the LGBTQIA+ community?”
Entry to the event includes a 45-minute drag performance as well as evening access to the Museum’s exhibits and STEAM experiments in the Terra Lab. Drag performers will be available for meet and greets at the gold panning pavilion through the night, with food trucks and an alcohol-free ‘mocktail’ bar available on site. A limited number of deluxe tickets will also include evening access to the Museum’s popular underground train tour.
Copper & Fire Arts Event – Saturday, September 17th
Britannia Mine Museum’s annual Copper & Fire Arts community event is returning Saturday, September 17th featuring talented local BC artists and their unique metal and earthen crafts. The event celebrates the arts and visitors can come experience the unique and creative ways minerals from the Earth can be showcased through art.
The family-friendly Copper & Fire Arts Event features earth-inspired jewellery, sculpture, copper work, gemstone art, pottery and painting, all inspired by the landscape, plant life and forests of the Pacific Northwest.
The Britannia Mine Museum recommends pre-purchasing tickets online as events tend to sell out. For more event details and to purchase tickets online, please visit www.BritanniaMineMuseum.ca