Join us on a journey into the rich and complex story of Indian Chintz.

On this 30-minute guided experience, you'll uncover the true story of Indian Chintz - a centuries-old textile tradition born in the Indian subcontinent, and shaped by global trade, colonialism and cultural exchange.

Discover how Indian artisans created dazzling multicoloured cottons using intricate hand painted  and block-printed techniques. You'll also learn how these fabrics became luxury items in royal courts and unpack the role of chintz in the rise of fast fashion.

Open House

Daily until Sept 2, 2024

12:00 - 2:00pm

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Come visit historic Helmcken House, on the east side of the museum building.

Join the Royal BC Museum at this year's Symphony Splash for an afternoon of hands-on fun in the Splash Family Zone! Inspired by our current feature exhibition, Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, we're bringing a creative twist to this community celebration.

Join us on a journey celebrating the women who have raised their voices in the social and political movements that shape our world.

Music is a powerful force - bringing people together, inspiring action and transforming communities. This 30-minute guided tour of our feature exhibition Beyond the Beat: The Music of Resistance and Change highlights the impact of women in music across genres and causes. Learn how  women have used music to challenge injustice, express identity and lead change.

Touch, smell, see and move through the vibrant history of Chinese Canadian life featured in Marlene Yuen's mural, The Journeys Here, in the Odysseys and Migration exhibition.

Interact with real belongings, places and motifs pulled from the Royal BC Museum's handling collection and community resources. There is something for everyone to connect with!

From gold rushes to temperate rainforests, British Columbia’s past and present is vast and diverse. Join one of our knowledgeable educators for a highlights-only tour through the museum’s immersive Human and Natural History galleries.

Join us for a tour of protest through music.

From advocating for 2SLGBTQI+ rights and environmental justice to challenging racism and sexism in the music industry, music has long been a powerful tool for resistance and change. This 30-minute guided tour of Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change takes you on a journey across genres and movements, exploring how music amplifies voices and inspires action. There's something for everyone on this tour through sound and solidarity.

Chinese peoples have migrated to what is now known as Canada since first stepping foot in Mawaachat/Muchalaht First Nations territories in 1788. 

In this 30-minute tour of the Chinese Canadian Museum's Odysseys and Migration exhibition, journey through key points in Chinese Canadian history, interwoven with the true story of Wong Guey Dang, a Chinese Canadian labourer, restauranteur and great grandfather of the tour guide, Mina.

Join Provincial Carillonneur, Rosemary Laing, for a live recital. Music will feature songs written for the carillon, Canadian folk tunes and popular songs.

The Netherlands Centennial Carillon can be heard throughout the inner harbour, but the best place to enjoy the recital is from a bench in the Native Plant Garden or another area of the precinct around the Royal BC Museum.

Join one of our educators for a guided walking tour of our Native Plant Garden! Learn about the plant neighbours we share here on the BC coast, including some of their Indigenous uses. Approximately eight different plants will be highlighted.

Snakes, reptiles, amphibians, oh my!  Visit the Royal BC Museum tent at this special CRD Parks event.  There will be exhibits, displays, and activities all about some of our sssslithery, sssslimy, and sssscaly friends. 

Meeting Location: Filter Beds picnic area at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

Chinese peoples have migrated to what is now known as Canada since first stepping foot in Mawaachat/Muchalaht First Nations territories in 1788.

In this 30-minute tour of the Chinese Canadian Museum's Odysseys and Migration exhibition, journey through key points in Chinese Canadian history, interwoven with the true story of Wong Guey Dang, a Chinese Canadian labourer and restauranteur.

The tour begins outside the Odysseys and Migration exhibition on the 2nd floor.

Join us for Maker Saturday and help shape the future of the museum!

We're dreaming up a new space just for kids and families - and we want to hear from you. Try out fun,  hands-on activities and let us know what you'd love to see in a space made for you.

Your voice can help make the museum even more welcoming, creative and fun!

Insect bodies and behaviours have a lot to teach us. Join us as we look closely at some insect specimens from the Royal BC Museum collections. Bring your curiosity for this interactive investigation into the world of Insects!

Grades 3 to 5

Pre and post visit resources: https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/playlist/investigating-insects/

Registration information coming soon!

Eat. Drink. Explore.

Bust out your scrunchies, flannel, and baggy jeans—it’s time to party like it’s 1999! Step back into the ultimate era of neon, mixtapes, and iconic pop culture at this totally rad 90s-themed After Hours event. From throwback tunes to nostalgic games, this night is all about celebrating the decade that gave us Tamagotchis, dial-up internet, and the Macarena.

Join us for an intimate storytelling experience inside historic Helmcken House, one of British Columbia's oldest residences.

As part of The Story Collection series, this site-specific event invites you to walk through the historic home while storytellers share personal tales inspired by themes of memory, place and belonging. Set against the backdrop of rooms that have witnessed generations of life, these stories will explore how the places we inhabit shape who we become. Each room becomes a stage, each story a bridge between past and present. 

Drop the needle, tune in and turn it up. Needle Drop is a collective vinyl listening series hosted in the gallery of Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change. 

Each session features records spun by special guests, followed by open dialogue on the social and political movements that shaped - and were shaped by - the music. Whether it's protest anthems, underground grooves or revolutionary rhythms, we'll gather to listen deeply and talk boldly about the soundtracks of change. 

Come to vibe, reflect and join the conversation.

Celebrating Everything That Makes and Shapes the Earth

UNESCO International Geodiversity Day is a worldwide celebration, bringing people together each year to promote the many aspects of geodiversity.

This free, fun-filled day features guest exhibitors, speakers and interactives for the geodiversity enthusiasts of all ages!

Drop the needle, tune in and turn it up. Needle Drop is a collective vinyl listening series hosted in the gallery of Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change.

Each session features records spun by special guests, followed by open dialogue on the social and political movements that shaped - and were shaped by - the music. Whether it's protest anthems, underground grooves or revolutionary rhythms, we'll gather to listen deeply and talk boldly about the soundtracks of change.

Come to vice, reflect and join the conversation.

October is the time to celebrate bats! Learn how we depend on bats and how you can help these amazing flying mammals. Join a Royal BC Museum educator for this special online program with NatureKids BC. See bat specimens up close, learn what they do in the winter and practice using your bat wings in a fun activity. Watch the recorded program later from our video library on Youtube.