This year’s Strawberry Social in Yale will coincide with Canyon Appreciation Day.
The annual event at Yale Historic Site has been a community tradition for decades and features gold panning, children’s games and crafts, musical entertainment, living history demonstrations, strawberry shortcake, giant community bake sale, and tea and coffee hosted by Hope Masonic Lodge inside the saloon tent. Organizers have also added a new artisan market this year, which will run all summer on weekends at the historic site starting at the end of June.
“It just continues to get larger and larger every year,” said site supervisor Deb Zervini. “It’s a chance for people to reminisce and see people that they don’t see all the time. Certain families make an effort to come out every year. It’s a fun time to sit and relax and talk to your neighbours.”
The Strawberry Social also provides an opportunity for visitors to check out the new family history exhibit and Living History Tent City, which features a medical tent, gold commissioner’s tent, general store, jail, and Chinese boarding house. A new blacksmith shed will be added this year.
The family history exhibit showcases six to eight prominent families that lived in Yale and are connected to the history of B.C. Yale Historic Site is also looking for stories and pictures from other former residents for a PowerPoint presentation.
This summer, the Yale and District Historical Society will be working with The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Fraser Valley Regional District and Emil Anderson Maintenance on a community enhancement project at the entrance to Yale. The highway pullout will have washrooms, picnic area, new fencing, and historical interpretive signage.
Yale Historic Site is also hosting a Barrel Race on June 22. Any businesses interested in sponsoring a barrel can contact Hank de Meulder at Erica Press or Yale Historic Site.
The Strawberry Social runs from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday (June 8). There will be a barbecue and raffle draws at the event, with proceeds benefitting the Yale and District Historical Society.
In honour of Canyon Appreciation Day, Hell’s Gate Airtram is offering free tram rides on June 8. There will also be live entertainment with Justin Dumont, Earthmen and Roger Dalton.
For more information, visit historicyale.ca or call 604-863-2324.