The annual Walhaschindig event is coming up on Saturday, June 7, promising a full day of music, games, food, drinks, a yard sale, an open jam session, and much more.
Established in 2016, Walhaschindig shines a spotlight on the small community of Walhachin on the Thompson River between Cache Creek and Savona. The family-friendly event is by donation, with proceeds going to support the historic Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, built in 1911 and now serving as the community’s museum and hub.
Attendees will have an opportunity to view the museum and its many exhibits detailing the history of Walhachin, which flourished as a thriving community in the years leading up to World War I. Settlers had high hopes for the orchards that had been planted there, which were fed by a 12-mile-long flume bringing water to the fields.
However, when war broke out in 1914 many of the community’s young men enlisted, and soon there were few people left to tend the flumes and orchards. Walhachin never fully recovered, but it is still home to several dozen people, and the museum is open to all from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday, through Sept. 30 (free admission).
Over the years the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall has undergone several renovations, and the Friends of Walhachin Society recently received a grant of $3,104 from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to build a railing around the hall’s stage, which will allow for the safe display of more items.
The funding will also allow the society to put up more signage, which will assist visitors and travellers in locating the community, located a short drive off Highway 1 but not visible from there. The signs will also highlight the existence of the museum and note its operating hours, which the society hopes will increase the number of visitors to the historic hall.
Walhaschindig kicks off at 10 a.m. on June 7 and runs through 6 p.m., with live music throughout the day. The Kamloops Ukulele Orchestra gets things rolling at 10:15 a.m., followed by Ashcroft’s Colin Mastin at 11:15 and Tangleroot (Kamloops) at noon. Norman Invasion (Kamloops) plays from 1 to 1:45, TrainRex (Kamloops) starts playing at 2, Ashcroft’s Jordan Danger is on at 3, and Dr. Mike (Kamloops) starts at 4 p.m., followed by a jam session at 4:45.
Bring your appetite, because there will be Mexican food, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, pie, and ice cream all day. A licenced beer garden will be serving up adult beverages, and there will be family games, a yard sale, and 50/50 draws throughout the day. Debit and credit cards are accepted on site.
