Don’t miss the annual Brigade Days festival at Fort Langley National Historic Site, August 3-5.
Period re-enactors from all over British Columbia and Washington will convene for three days of 1800s living, live music and the exciting Arrival of the Fur Brigades on the Fraser River.
Throughout the long weekend, 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. Visit with the re-enactors and watch demonstrations of sewing, trapping, cooking and historic weapons. On Sunday August 4, a day of interesting demonstrations in the encampment culminates with the traditional Fur Trade Cook-off at 4 p.m. Arrive early to watch the re-enactors of all ages cook up their 1800s recipes, and see which dish the judges choose as the winner.
On Monday August 5 at 1 p.m., don’t miss the highlight of the year, the Arrival of the Fur Brigades. Re-enactors will paddle to Fort Langley and unload their cargo of furs, barrels and dignitaries at Fort Langley’s Marina Park. Cheer on the canoe brigades, and hear the exciting bagpipe and black powder salute.
The Arrival of the Fur Brigades portrays an annual event dating from 1848, when Fort Langley became the main depot for the Hudson’s Bay Company on the west coast. Every summer in the 1850s, the fur brigades traveled down the rivers to Fort Langley. The brigades came down in canoes full of furs and other goods that had been traded from Aboriginal people at the Interior forts. They unpacked these goods at Fort Langley to be repacked and shipped back to England. The fur traders then repacked their canoes with European supplies to take back to the Interior posts.
At 6 p.m. on Monday, August 5, celebrate B.C. Day with the annual Picnic in the Fort, a free concert sponsored by the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society. The concert includes performances by the Langley Community School Fiddlers at 6:30 p.m. and Tiller’s Folly at 7:15 p.m. Bring a blanket, chairs and a picnic, or pick up food from the barbecue offered by the Full Barrel Café, such as poutine, hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream sundaes.
Regular admission fees apply for the weekend, or visit free with your annual pass. Regular day admission costs $3.90 per youth (ages 6-16); $6.55 per senior (age 65+); $7.80 per adult (ages 17-64) and $19.80 per family (2 adults and up to 5 youth). Download the event schedule at: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/fortlangley.
Fort Langley was first built in 1827, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1923 and is one of Parks Canada’s national treasures. Parks Canada is pleased to preserve and present this part of Canada’s history at Fort Langley National Historic Site on behalf of Canadians and visitors from around the world.
Fort Langley National Historic Site’s Brigade Days
August 3, 4 and 5, 2013
Dozens of re-enactors don their period costumes and convene for a weekend of period demonstrations and fun. Join in on all the fun at 23433 Mavis Avenue, Fort Langley, B.C. Info: 604-513-4777 or www.parkscanada.gc.ca/fortlangley
Saturday, August 3
10:00 am Site opens & Flag-raising Procession
10:30 am Historic Weapons Demonstration
11:00 am Road to Canada Play
11:30 am Fort Farm & Garden Talk
12:00 pm Trapping Techniques
12:30 pm Fur Trade Game Show
1:00 pm Road to Canada Play
1:30 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
2:00 pm Fur Trade Wedding
2:30 pm Fort Farm & Garden Talk
3:00 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
4:00 pm Eureka! Gold Rush Demonstration
5:00 pm Site Closes
Sunday, August 4
10:00 am Site opens & Flag-raising Procession
10:30 am Historic Weapons Demonstration
11:00 am Road to Canada Play
11:30 am Fort Farm & Garden Talk
12:00 pm Trapping Techniques
12:30 pm Rope-making Demonstration
1:00 pm Road to Canada Play
1:30 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
2:00 pm Fur Trade Wedding
2:30 pm Fort Farm and Garden Talk
3:00 pm Eureka! Gold Rush Demonstration
3:30 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
4:00 pm Encampment Cook-Off
5:00 pm Site Closes
Monday, August 5
10:00 am Site Opens & Flag-raising Procession
10:30 am Historic Weapons Demonstration
11:00 am Road to Canada Play
11:30 am Fort Farm & Garden Talk
12:00 pm Fur Trade Wedding
12:30 pm Bagpipe procession to Marina Park
1:00 pm Brigade Arrival at Marina Park
1:30 pm Procession from Marina Park to Visitor Centre
2:00 pm Fur Trade Wedding
2:30 pm Fort Farm & Garden Talk
3:00 pm Historic Weapons Demonstration
3:30 pm Rope-making Demonstration
4:00 pm Eureka! Gold Rush Demonstration
5:00 pm Site Closes
6:00 pm Gates Re-open
6:30 pm “Picnic in the Fort” – FREE concert featuring: Langley Community School Fiddlers and Tiller’s Folly. Gates open at 6 p.m. BBQ fare, baked goods & ice cream sundaes available to purchase from the Full Barrel Café Note: pets are not permitted on the historic grounds.