Huble Homestead’s longest-running event is set to kick off for the 35th time.
Homestead Days will take place from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3 and Monday, 4, and is expected to draw crowds of more than 200 visitors. Admission is by donation.
“Homestead Days is our longest-running event, and we celebrate Prince George's past the old-fashioned way,” said Krystal Leason, executive director of Huble Homestead. “We have a lot of fun on the schedule. It's two days filled with old-fashioned games and races. We've got eating contests for kids and adults. We'll have heritage skills demonstrated by our staff, so we'll be looking at crochet. One of our staff members is making fragrances, another has been learning blacksmithing, and one of our returning staff will be showing off her cross-stitch skills.
“Then we've also got other demonstrations going on those days. We've got Tracy Johnson from Cheeseneeds.com — she’ll be making cheese both days. Silver Tree Woodworking will be out with his pole lathe, so you can talk to him all about that. We will also have blacksmithing both days, not just with our staff member but with our actual blacksmith!”
A unique boxed lunch auction will take place both days, where attendees can bid on lunches prepared by staff.
For those who don't win a boxed lunch, a barbecue will be hosted throughout the event.
In addition, Huble Homestead will offer guided tours, a treasure hunt and a crowd favourite that's set to bring an explosive part of homestead life to attendees.
This highlight is the classic black powder shooting demonstration, which will take place on Monday and will be hosted by Taylor Sapergia, a director of black powder shooting at the Prince George Rod and Gun Club.
“We go out there with our muzzle-loading rifles and set up a couple of targets — usually one around 75 or 100 yards, about the size of a bread-and-butter plate,” said Sapergia. “Also, we put up some potatoes on spikes and shoot the potatoes. Of course, the round ball passes through the potato and blows it to pieces. The public enjoys that sort of reactive target — it’s quite a crowd pleaser.”
Sapergia is a longtime black powder enthusiast and has been shooting muzzle-loaders since 1973. He has served as director of black powder rifle shooting at the PG Rod and Gun Club for the past 49 years.
Despite last year's strong turnout, Sapergia said he encountered some pushback from an unexpected source.
“Ninety-nine point nine per cent of the time it's very favourable,” said Sapergia. “People love it — they come and they stand and they watch, they bring their children and they enjoy it. They hang around for 20 minutes or half an hour and watch a shoot, and then they wander off and do something else on the homestead.
“Last year was the only time we ever had an incident where we had a protester. He tried to undermine the whole thing. I was firm with him and told him to get the hell out of the way because we're shooting in that direction. He rubbed my fur backwards — he was just trying to make some kind of ideological statement.”
Huble Homestead strongly recommends that visitors leave dogs at home during the shooting demonstrations, as the loud noises from the rifles can easily scare them.
Anyone interested in trying black powder shooting can contact Sapergia, who is accepting new members. He can be reached at 250-552-1980.
Leason emphasized that one of the most important aspects of the event is connecting Prince George’s past with the present.
“I just want Prince George to know that their history is closer than they think,” she said. “Huble Homestead is not a very far drive, and a lot of the skills that we will talk about are skills that people have a renewed interest in.
“I think it's a really low-key, fun event for families and people of all ages to come out, see the beautiful historic site, the historic Huble House, learn a little bit about Prince George's history and get their hands on it.”
