Fort Langley’s Brigade Days: A BC Day must-see destination
July 30 – August 1, 2016
Photo Credit: Fort Langley NHS
A Weekend of the Sights & Sounds of 1850s Life in British Columbia Since 1979, people have flocked to Fort Langley on BC Day weekend to bring to life a tradition that goes back to the early 1800s: the arrival of the fur brigades. Every modern outdoorsman or adventure fan or Vancouverite who wants to get in touch with BC’s roots must come out this weekend to see this: dozens of men, women and children dressed in 19th century clothing
will be “roughing it” in their canvas tents, cooking over the fire, and sharing their old-fashioned skills with visitors.
Have you seen laundry done by hand, with a washboard and ringer? Then be sure to visit our Washer Women. Like folk music? We have stories and songs
three times a day. Are you into fashion? Be sure to see the fashion show July 31st at 1:30 pm. All weekend, you can mingle with the re-enactors who
will be at their tents, showing off their old-fashioned wares, weaving, sewing and cooking.
Cretons, Wild rice, duck and bulrush shoots, bear sausage, stew cooked with hot rocks, bannock: sound good? No? That’s OK, you don’t have to eat it,
but come and watch our re-enactors facing off with their traditional dishes on Sunday July 31st at 4 pm. Come early to see them cooking over their
fires and watch the re-enactors of all ages cook up their 1800s recipes, and see which dish the judges choose as the winner.
On BC Day, August 1st, bagpipe processions and an exciting canoe re-enactment on the Fraser River will take place between 12:30 and 2 pm. Then from 6-8 pm, join us for a FREE BC DAY concert in the fort. Live music with Celtic singer, Pat Chessell! Bring your blanket and a picnic or some take-out and enjoy a relaxing evening.
So grab your friends and come on out for a different kind of weekend. And while you’re going to time travel, you’ll need your smart phones: you’re
going to want to share some awesome photos with #exploreBCday #langleyfresh and #fortlangleynhs for our photo contest. http://www.tourism-langley.ca/bc-day-instameet/ P.S. There are even Pokemons, a gym and monuments on site!
SATURDAY JULY 30
10:00 am Site opens & Flag-raising Procession
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Pig Roast Demonstration
11:00 am Historic Weapons Demonstration
11:30 am Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
12:30 pm 2017 Hope Brigade Trail Talk
1:00 pm Trapping Techniques
1:30 pm Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
2:00 pm Fort Farm & Garden Talk
2:30 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
3:00 pm Washer Women (laundry demo)
4:00 pm Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
4:45 pm Flag Lowering
5:00 pm Site closes
SUNDAY JULY 31
10:00 am Site opens & Flag-raising Procession
11:00 am Historic Weapons Demonstration
11:30 am Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
12:30 pm Washer Women
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Ladies’ High Tea
1:30 pm Ladies’ Layers (Women’s Fashion of the 1800s)
2:00 pm Trapping Techniques
2:30 pm 2017 Hope Brigade Trail Talk
3:00 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
3:30 pm Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Encampment Cook-off
4:45 pm Flag Lowering
MONDAY AUGUST 1ST
10:00 am Site opens & Flag-raising Procession
10:30 am Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
11:00 am Historic Weapons Demonstration
11:30 am Washer Women (laundry demo)
12:00 pm #ExploreBCDay Instameet (advance tickets, meet in front
of Visitor Centre)
12:00 pm 2017 Hope Brigade Trail Talk
12:30 pm Bagpipe procession to Marina Park
1:00 pm Fur Brigade Arrival at Marina Park
1:30 pm Procession from Marina Park to Visitor Centre
2:00 pm Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
3:00 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
4:00 pm Folk Songs and Stories with Jim Edmondson
4:45 pm Flag Lowering
5:00 pm Site Closes
6:00 pm Site re-opens for a free BC Day Concert with the Langley
Community School Fiddlers opening for Celtic singer Pat
Chessell, proudly presented by the Langley Community
Improvement Society
