The history of the Golden City stretches back over 100 years.
It was founded as a gold mining town but gave rise to one of the top recreational destinations in the world.
This weekend the city’s heritage as a mining town—and the spirit of its people past and present—are the focal point of the three-day celebration called Golden City Days (GCD).
The event has been going strong every fall since 1972—with a one-year hiatus in 2007—and has paid homage to the city’s past with a feast for the senses.
GCD coordinator Terry Brinson said the main goal of the festival was to preserve the heritage of Rossland and its history.
“It’s very important,” she said about the festival. “This town has been around since the 1800s and it just fascinates me the history of the place and I learn more things every year about it.
The weekend starts with the Time Capsule Project sealing ceremony on the front lawn of the Rossland Library on Friday.
That same night at 7 p.m. at the Miners’ Union Hall, an evening of fantastic live music will unfold with the Evening of Entertainment Extravaganza. Tickets for this licensed event must be purchased in advance at Café Books West, or by contacting Lisa at 250-362-9063 or old_grey_mare_55@hotmail.com.
The annual pancake breakfast will be held at the Rossland Firehall on Saturday morning.
That will be followed by the parade at 11 a.m. The parade will loop around Jubilee Park, down St. Paul Street, across Second Avenue and end at Nickleplate Park.
After the parade many vendors, informative displays, live entertainment and concession area will be open. The Petting Zoo will be outside on Spokane Street. The Nelson and District Credit Union-sponsored inflatable fun park in the will be held in the Rossland Arena parking lot.
The craft vendors and food booths, featuring burgers, sausages, pulled pork, wraps, fries, kettle corn, baked goods, and cold drinks, will be located in the arena parking lot as well.
Rounding out the food selection will be the famous baron of beef served up by the Rossland Legion Ladies Auxiliary in the lower Legion Hall.
Saturday afternoon's Sour Dough Alley Stage entertainment includes the Trail Pipe Band, Golden City Fiddlers, Les Carter, Kootenay Jack, and the well-known band, No Excuse, featuring Karli Harrison. The afternoon's entertainment will finish with a set from Paul Dasti's trio, No Fine Print—just in time to watch the Outhouse Races.
The Outhouse Races will feature teams who will push, pull, and run around their home-built contraption to the finish line. Gather at the edge of the arena parking lot near Second Avenue to witness the revival of this old-time traditional contest.
The Slo-pitch Tournament will run all weekend at various Rossland ballparks with the Huck en Berries Jump Jam and Dreadhead Enduro DH race on Saturday.
In the former Emcon lot, skateboarders will gather to take part in the KSS Miner Threat Jam.
Sunday’s activities on the MacLean Elementary School grounds feature a mini bocce tournament, community white elephant sale, Stake Your Claim children’s “dig for gold” event, burgers, hot dogs, and music by the Rossland Radio Co-op.
Closing out the weekend is the fourth annual Mountain Mayhem West Kootenay Roller Derby Championships.
Evening of Entertainment Extravaganza
Local talent such as Norm Worsfold, Tim Bourchier and The Vultures, Grant Mara's Wishes, Don Birtch, Dawn Graham, Les Carter, Kyla Hanna, and Kootenay Jack will be taking to the stage.
Nelson’s hot Balkan five-piece brass band, Oxygen Orkestar, will close out the evening. And, of course, an evening of music wouldn’t be complete without the Golden City Fiddlers, who will be opening the evening with some pre-show, foot-stomping fiddle music.