Barkerville, BC – What better way to celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday, than by having high tea with the ‘queen’…

High tea will be served at the ‘Wake Up Jake’ restaurant in the historic townsite later today.

Barkerville opened for its 2013 season this past Thursday and admission today is by donation, before regular rates begin tomorrow.

In addition to tea time, visitors can pan for gold, take a guided tour, sit in on a lesson in the schoolhouse or watch a live show at the Royal Theatre.

Photo above right shows the archway leading into the townsite’s well-preserved China town.  Barkerville’s ‘Travelling Exhibit to China’ will be at the Bob Harkins Branch of the Prince George Public Library on May 30th.  The exhibit chronicles the history of Chinese people who came to the Cariboo during the gold rush.  The presentation is runs from 7pm until 8:30pm and will also feature local resident Jane Wei Liang with a discussion of Chinese immigration and contributions to Prince George.