A spate of recent announcements has been filling up the live entertainment calendar for the city. Here is a list of some of the highlights to help plan your summer in the local region:
Theatre Royal Summer Show Gala
Barkerville's own live theatre has a special presentation and reception on June 18 to showcase this season's vintage stage production.
National Aboriginal Day
From Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park to Fort St. James National Historical Site and all points across the region, local festivities on June 21 will celebrate our millennia-old founding cultures.
Casse-Tte: A Festival of Experimental Music
Now in its fourth year, this unique music showcase brings cutting edge composers and performers onto the stage at Exploration Place from June 23-26.
Williams Lake Stampede
The premier rodeo in northern B.C., now and historically, the Williams Lake Stampede is a bucking' and rockin' good time. Music headliners this year are Karen Lee Batten and the Chris Buck Band, chainsaw carving phenom Ryan Cook will do demonstrations, and the bulls and broncs'll be wild from June 30 to July 3.
Canada Day / Dominion Day
Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park is ground zero for the Prince George events that celebrate our nation of nations - a country founded on still-active and distinct indigenous cultures in partnership with international cultures given room to retain their colours and traditions in this mosiac of a place. Barkerville, Fort St. James National Historic Site, the Historic Huble Homestead and other cultural headquarters also have activities planned.
Pride Parade
This annual eruption of LGBTQ appreciation includes a drag show, brunch, a festival and the ever-growing parade to draw pride to our city's gay community and straight alliance with equal rights. Most stuff happens July 9, with some appetizing extras on neighbouring days.
Billy Barker Days
Quesnel, our neighbouring Cariboo city, always wows the region with Billy Barker Days. From the annual rodeo (starts July 5) to auto racing to rock band Chilliwack, this year is set to impress July 14-17.
Barber Of Seville
Fraser Lyric Opera presents Rossini's hilarious comedy The Barber of Seville. Professional singers from across Canada join with talented local singers at Theatre North West on July 15-17.
Grassy Plains Summer Festival
On the south side of Francois Lake is a quiet music event gaining in weight. With an emphasis on country and bluegrass, this festival is a sweet secret musicians are starting to tell. This year's is July 16-17.
Downtown Summerfest
The one-day burst of civic pride happens July 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a sidewalk sale, music showcase, food festival, and community appreciation day all rolled into one.
Mary Poppins
Judy Russell Presents is back with another all-local production of an international musical theatre favourite. This year she is opening the umbrella on Mary Poppins starring Amanda Spurlock as Mary, Adam Harasimiuk as Bert, and a who's who of our region's singing and dancing talent. There will be 16 performances at least, from July 19 to 31 at the PG Playhouse.
Flo Rida
The superstar hiphop-urban music artist comes to CN Centre along with special guests Drumndj, Brett Jones and DJ Kav on July 20.
Sound Of Summer
Mathias Rock, The Flying Machine, Phat Funk, and The Statistics and a zombie dance party come to Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park for this fourth annual youth-operated local festival on July 23.
PG Zombie Fest
This event just won't die. July 23 is the second edition of the noon "walk of the undead" starting at City Hall invading the streets with locals in costumes, eager to hunt brains for some apocalyptic fun (plus vendors, info booths, music, artists, etc.).
ArtsWells Festival Of All Things Art
Peace and inspiration underpin this world famous extravaganza of culture running July 29-Aug. 1 at the hamlet on the doorstep of Barkerville. All imaginable forms of art have a space at this event, with more than 100 acclaimed music acts either performing or teaching (or both).
Homestead Days
This is the longest running event at the Historic Huble Homestead. Step back into the era of farming, pioneers and the first local relationships with area First Nations. This collection of tours and activities happens July 31-Aug. 1.
Caledonia Day
Fort St. James National Historic Site showcases the fur trade era on Aug. 13.
Metallion Festival
Now in its third year, this tonnage of tunage will bring the likes of HellChamber, The Order Of Chaos, Cocaine Moustache, Tyrants Blood, West Of Hell, host band Deveined, and many more. It happens in the back fields of Brookside Resort on Aug. 12-13.
Robson Valley Music Festival
Songs of peace, love, folk and blues emanate from the hamlet of Dunster on Aug. 12-14 featuring Coco Love Alcorn, Five Alarm Funk, Linda McRae, Frank Yamma, Brandon Isaak, Barefoot Caravan and many more.
Vanderhoof International Airshow
This event alternates years with Quesnel Skyfest. This year, it's Vanderhoof's turn to blow up the local skies with aerobatics and astounding airplanes. It's a one-day rush on Aug. 13.
MOM Festival
Music On The Mountain (now the Meadow) brings a hot gumbo of music forms to Fort St. James. This year's action includes punk legends D.O.A., Twin Peaks, Wax Mannequin, Sunny Daye, Beehive Collective, Scott Cook and many more from Aug. 19-21.
BCNE
The 104th edition of the BC Northern Exhibition happens at Exhibition Park in and around the CN Centre/Kin Centre complex from Aug. 18-21. Loaded in displays, entertainment, agriculture, industry and mini-donuts, this annual fixture is a Prince George favourite.
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
A traditional Chinese celebration lights up Barkerville with activities, entertainment, a lantern parade at dusk and fireworks.
Roots Music Festival
The Blackburn Hall is the host of this folk, western, bluegrass, aboriginal, country mixture of music. This year's edition is Aug. 25-28.
Potato Festival
Huble Homestead shines a highlight on the lowly potato. One of the area's staple food sources, the potato shows its rightful roots on Sept. 4 and 5.
Cowboy & Drover Jubilee
Western culture and traditional livestock farming are showcased at this annual Barkerville weekend, Sept. 9-11.
Pops in the Park: Gilbert & Sullivan
The Prince George Symphony Orchestra kicks off their 2016-17 season with the ever popular free show at Lhiedli T'enneh Memorial Park at 2 p.m. on Sept. 11.
Keith Urban
The American Idol judge and country megastar brings special guests Dallas Smith (and Prince George bandmate Jer Breaks) and Maren Morris to CN Centre on Sept. 13
Travis Pastrana's Nitro Circus Live
This glitzy autosport showcase is wheely exciting. See 30 of the world's best extreme athletes in freestyle motorcross, BMX, etc., plus a host of contraptions being launched 50 feet in the air by the crazy Nitro daredevils - all at PGARA Speedway on Sept. 16.
Out Of Time 3: A Dark And Steamy Knight
Steam-punk and who-dun-its come together Sept. 23-25 for Barkerville's annual murder mystery western sci-fi event.
TNW play Fly Me To The Moon
Theatre North West kicks off the 2016-17 season with a tale of death that will make you laugh, think, and try out your Irish accent. It runs Sept. 15 to Oct. 5.
Chief Kwe'h Unveiling
On Sept. 17, Fort St. James National Historic Site has scheduled a special ceremony honouring a respected indigenous leader from that area. Details still to be announced.
Salmon and Metis Day
The music, food, and culture of the Metis people are showcased on Sept. 18 at Fort St. James National Historic Site, and there are few symbols more indicative than the salmon.
Red Green
Comedic star of stage and screen, Canadian archetype Red Green bring his "I'm Not Old, I'm Ripe" Tour to Vanier Hall on Sept. 22.
Ice Age On Ice
The Ice Age animated movie franchise comes to life and skates prehistoric figures at CN Centre for five shows between Oct. 15 and 16.
Canada-Russia All-Star Hockey
The junior stars of the CHL play a series of games versus the junior stars of Russia. Prince George is part of the action. The puck drops at CN Centre on Nov. 7
Mamma Mia
The smash musical theatre tribute to the music of ABBA is on its farewell tour. The Broadway production comes to CN Centre on Nov. 9
Florida Georgia Line
Back for an encore performance, country hitmakers Florida Georgia line, along with their special guests Granger Smith and Chris Lane, take the CN Centre Stage on Nov. 16.
Terri Clark
The Canadian country hit machine will be on-stage and acoustic at Vanier Hall on Nov. 4. She also plays Quesnel on Nov. 7 at the Quesnel Senior Centre.
TNW play Alice In Wonderland
The Lewis Carroll classic story of a girl's surreal adventures in a magical dream world will come to life at Theatre North West from Nov. 17 to Dec. 7.
PGSO Gala Concert
Entitled "Promenade", this Prince George Symphony Orchestra special presentation at Vanier Hall calls on the community to dress as opulently as possible while enjoying grand treatment and red carpet live music.
Celtic Thunder
One of the most popular shows to make Prince George a regular venue, the Irish cultural music show Celtic Thunder returns with their all-new Legacy Tour on Nov. 26 in CN Centre.
