Have you ever wondered what it was like to live the life of a miner in 1908? Working  underground, lots of black powder and mucking out, missing your family, partying up a storm on Saturday nights and eating in the miners’ bunkhouse under the watchful eye of “Cookie” the mining camp cook.

Well, now you can experience at least some of the conditions of the early miner’s life as well as sample a fabulous dinner typical of the time. The Heritage Mica Festival is pleased to bring a special dinner/theatre experience to life on Wednesday, Aug. 15 along the Silver Queen Mine trail, underground in the mine and at the miners’ bunkhouse. Meet Johnny Russell and his Ma, Katie Lally, Miss Whitfield, the ore wagon driver and Tim the prospector along the trail to the mine. Get to know Mr. Edward Smith, the mine owner as he eats his way through a large portion of Ma Russell’s pie.

Your evening is topped off when you enter the miners’ bunkhouse to join 30 other guests in dinner at the trestle tables while itinerant musicians entertain. The bunkhouse is lit by lanterns and your food is served by Cookie and his assistant while you visit with the spirits of the miners. Tickets for the Aug. 15 date are selling quickly and are required at least one week in advance. The cost is $55 per person, which includes your park entry permit and all taxes. Tickets can be purchased by calling us at 613-267-5340 or e-mail eventsmurphys@ripnet.com.

Dinner in the miners’ bunkhouse as part of the dinner/theatre event at the Silver Queen Mine. (Photo by David Zimmerly)

For a truly unique experience for the cultural explorer, you can upgrade your dinner/theatre experience to the “Culture, Crier and Canoes” package. This two-day package includes the dinner/theatre as described above as well as overnight accommodation at the Best Western Plus Parkside Inn and Spa, an afternoon wine and cider sampling at a reception in the Perth Museum hosted by the Perth Town Crier, a guided tour in a Voyageur Canoe and more. The cost is $450 for double accommodation and $310 for single. Contact us for details.

Check out the Heritage Mica Festival page for all festival events continuing throughout the summer.