This year’s inaugural First Saturday event was wet and cool, but still saw quite a few hardy souls braving the damp to enjoy a variety of activities. June’s First Saturday is coming up this weekend and the weather forecast looks much nicer.
And there are certainly plenty of activities to enjoy this First Saturday as Kimberley celebrates heritage, plus a shuttle bus — courtesy of Kimberley Community Transit — to get you back and forth if you don’t have wheels.
The first Saturday in June has always been Marysville Daze and you can start your first Saturday there with breakfast at Marysville Arena with the Mark Creek Lions beginning at 8 a.m.
Most Marysville Daze activities take place in the arena, and there’s lots to do for both kids and adults. Just outside Tony Austin from Dragon’s Iron Forge will give a blacksmithing demo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Marysville Heritage Schoolhouse will be open for tours and the RCMP will be at the arena with a bike safety rodeo for the kids.
The folks from Fort Steele will be demonstrating gold panning. Down at Marysville artisans, the business is celebrating 10 years in business with artists and artisans on site. Entertainment, including an arm wrestling tournament continues at the arena all afternoon, and culminates with a dance at 730 p.m. Saturday evening.
But it’s not just Marysville where fun can be found this First Saturday. The Kimberley Underground Mining Railway will be offering both express and interpretive rides, and the original schoolhouse, the replica of the Orpheum Theatre, the miner house and the power house are all open for tours.
Then it’s over to the Platzl for all kinds of entertainment beginning at noon. The entertainment lineup includes the Kimberley Pipe Band, Darin Welch, Fraser Armstrong, Van and Shelagh Redecopp, Sam Hornberger, Sound Principles and Trena Spears.
While the music plays enjoy an art market, plein air painters, art workshops, Zentangle and a Kids Zone with face painting, story time at the Library and a creative station.
If you’re in the mood to be a little more active, the 5 Peaks Trail Race will be run on the Lois Creek Trails on Saturday, and a guided Photography in the Nature Park tour will meet at the Higgins Street entrance at 9 a.m.
Then in the evening, the Oars play Centre 64, with tickets only $7.