JULY 16 – 19, 2015

What Is Billy Barker Days?

Quesnel’s Billy Barker Days is a family festival celebrating our gold rush heritage. The Festival features four days of entertainment for those seeking action, relaxation, fun and excitement. The community comes alive with business decorating, 1890’s costume rentals, Seniors’ Day and Kids’ Day, free stage entertainment in the park, plus the midway, dances, parade, rodeo, the Gold Dust Mall, and many other activities sponsored by other community organizations. The Festival winds up Sunday evening with Billy’s Spectacular Fireworks display. Whatever you are looking for, mark your calendar for the 3rd full weekend of July for Quesnel’s annual Billy Barker Days Festival.

A Brief History

In 1973 Town Council along with the Chamber of Commerce hatched the idea of a summer festival to showcase our beautiful town and its pride in our gold rush heritage to the many visitors stopping in Quesnel. With a budget of $3,000.00 from the Town, the first annual Billy Barker Days was underway. The organizing committee did some research and found that the best summer weather had typically occurred the third weekend in July, which happened to be when the Quesnel Rodeo was held. A meeting was struck between the two groups and it was agreed that the new Festival would be held in conjunction with the Quesnel Rodeo. The Quesnel Billy Barker Days Society now organizes and funds the Festival. The majority of our funding comes from Corporate Sponsorship. It is because of our business community that the Festival has endured for over 40 years. During this time some events have changed, some sadly no longer exist, but a few continue on – The Parade, Fireworks, Business Decorating, free Stage Entertainment, and Costumes. Four decades ago the vision of the committee was to host a family festival at little or no cost to the community and to visitors stopping to “see what was going on.” To this day committee members are proud to continue this tradition. Billy Barker Days sponsored LeBourdais Park events are free. You can spend one day or all weekend in the Park and enjoy Stage Entertainment, including the Headliners for free! The Billy Barker Days Society members are all volunteers, they work year ­round to ensure that the Festival is ready to go on the third weekend of July. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who come out for the weekend to help with this event.

“Stake Your Claim To The Good Times”

President’s Message

Once again, I, on behalf of the Billy Barker Days Society invite you, residents of Quesnel and visitors from across the country, to meet for fun and entertainment at B.C.’s #1 free family festival.

This event would not happen without hundreds of corporate sponsors providing funds/supplies to the Festival and once again, they have come through!  Their names will be listed in various publications/signage during the four days of this event – July 16th to 19th – support them as they support the Festival.

Also, take the time to thank our core group of volunteers, wearing the yellow shirts, as most of them work year-round to ensure the various events happen.  Stake your claim to the good times at our 42nd annual Billy Barker Days!

President Maureen Murray

Office@billybarkerdays.ca

Phone: 250-992-1234 ~ Fax: 250-992-5083
©2015 Billy Barker Days Society All Rights Reserved