If you want to celebrate Christmas like it鈥檚 1919, you鈥檒l need to head over to Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society Dec. 7-8.
That weekend, the FVHRS will once again be running its as they present Christmas as it would have been celebrated 100 years ago.
鈥淚t was the first year of peace after the Great War,鈥� said Michael Gibbs, a volunteer with the FVHRS. 鈥淓ach year, we always celebrate Christmas 100 years in the past from whatever year we are in.鈥�
Gibbs told the Cloverdale Reporter visitors to the railway will discover a bit of history and take in a lot of fun. Each volunteer at the railway dresses in period costumes and offers riders tidbits of history through storytelling.
鈥淭his year the troops are all back from Europe, but there is another problem citizens of the time would have been undergoing鈥攁 lot of people were dying from the Spanish Influenza as it gripped the post-war world.鈥�
Gibbs said the narrative will take visitors into the details of Canadian family life at Christmas in 1919 and how local people were affected by worldwide events.
In addition to riding the rails on the historic interurban train and witnessing the historical narrative the Society will present, Gibbs said visitors will get to sing Christmas carols and wonder at the delights of Santa鈥檚 workshop.
鈥淭he station will be dressed up as 1919, with its own corner store,鈥� added Stephen Plant, the director of guest experience for the FVHRS. 鈥淚n the museum area, we will have live music playing most of the time.鈥�
Plant said volunteers will describe 1919 in Cloverdale and what it was like.
鈥淲e explain the ending of the war. We play period Christmas carols. We introduce a real WWI soldier, who was awarded the Victoria Cross. Our character appears wearing an authentic WWI Canadian Army uniform and displaying his medal. We then introduce a real WWI Canadian Army nurse, who was awarded the Royal Red Cross. She appears displaying her medal.鈥�
Plant also said there is a surprise for kids鈥攁nd the young at heart鈥攁long the way when the train makes a stop at the railway car barn.
Gibbs is encouraging anyone who is interested to buy tickets ahead of time.
鈥淭he trains sold out last year,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are only six train rides each day鈥攆rom 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.鈥攁nd they are always in high demand.鈥�
Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students (11-18), and $10 for youths (3-11). Children under three years get in free. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting .
鈥淓verybody loves the Christmas train!鈥� Gibbs exclaimed. 鈥淏ut what is really important to us is that we are able to engage our guests and elevate their experience.鈥�
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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