This Saturday children from all over Vancouver Island will come together at the Qualicum Beach Museum to get a taste of local history.
On August 15 it’s the 9th annual Children’s Museum Day, a free family-friendly event.
“Basically it’s a day for the children,” said Qualicum Beach Museum manager Netanja Waddell. “We’ll have several activities strewn throughout the museum grounds.”
This year’s theme is “pioneer times” and activities will include crafting old fashioned toys like whirligigs, learning to wash clothes with a vintage scrub board, shake splitting and making canoes out of paper.
Tiger Lily Farms will provide pony rides, the local marimba band will perform and Oliver the Owl from the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre will even grace the event.
The communication room will also be open where kids can send telegraph messages.
It’s a popular event in Qualicum Beach and Waddell said usually around 300 people come out to enjoy the festivities.
This year, visitors can check out the museum’s recent renovations completed earlier this summer.
“It’s been such a good year,” said Waddell. “We’ve doubled our numbers and donations, the renovations have had a big impact.”
She said more locals have visited the museum this summer, alongside the regular influx of tourists.
“The space is a little more inviting and appealing,” she said of the recent changes.
“We’ve been getting incredibly positive feedback and we seem to be getting more local people which is really exciting because that’s always been the aim — this is an integral part of the community.”
Children’s Museum Day will take place at the Qualicum Beach Museum this Saturday, Aug. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be provided. The Qualicum Beach Museum is located at 587 Beach Road, opposite the train station. For more information contact 250-752-5533 or visit www.qbmuseum.ca.
