The day when Yukon was officially established as a Canadian territory is near upon us, and everyone is ready to enjoy the day in the best way possible. Discovery day is full of adventure activities. Moreover, it is happening after the pandemic, so you can expect many people to join in the fun.
But before we dive into the adventurous and excruciating things of the discovery day, let’s first recall this historical day and refresh our memory of the day Yukon became a Canadian territory.
Discovery Day and Yukon
Discovery Day is a statutory holiday celebrated on the third Monday of August month. The historical events of Discovery Day can be tracked from 17 August 1896. This was the time when George Washington Carmack – an American prospector, found gold at Yukon’s Bonanza Creek.
When the news of his discovery reached the ears of people and citizens of nearby towns, hundreds of thousands of people flocked around the Klondike goldfields in the next two years to find gold around that area and make a great fortune out of it.
But unfortunately, out of those 100,000 men, only 40,000 or so men had any success in their endeavour. This race to dig the unseen gold continued till 1899, until a bubble burst drew the attention of miners and prospects for higher gold mining opportunities.
After the end of the years-long gold rush, the Yukon Order of Pioneers convinced the Yukon’s council to remember the gold rush as Discovery Day and celebrate it as a national holiday. Since then, Discovery Day has been celebrated all over the Yukon with high enthusiasm and fun; parades, speeches, dance performances, fairs, sports and many such events take place in several parts of Yukon.
The miners may not have reaped fruits in gaining gold, but their efforts have led to the establishment of Yukon as an official and independent territory of Canada.
Adventurous things you can do on Discovery Day
We have already talked a lot about the history and significance of Discovery Day, and let’s dive right into the adventures you can do on or during Discovery Day.
Gold hunting
- An expedition to the Kluane National Park, Yukon, to find gold or any other precious metal. Of course, gold hunting doesn’t necessarily mean finding gold. But you can go with a goal in your mind and look for metals, ores, minerals, or even cool rocks to bring into your home and use as a decoration.
- The point of the whole expedition is not to find something to make you rich but to relinquish the spirit of our ancestors who started a years-long gold expedition to find gold.
- So, this Discovery Day, discover the joy of going on an expedition with your friends, families or children and give them an experience of gathering information and data by exploring nature and wonders.
Trailing and trekking
- If you are not fond of exploring, go for a trailing or trekking adventure. The Kluane National Park, Yukon, has 17 peaks, so choose a safe and suitable trail for your trip and go for an adventure. The thrill and fun of adventuring in the wilderness of nature are one of the greatest experiences you can get during Discovery Day.
- But before you buckle up and leave for the adventure, keep your safety in mind. If a trail is too long or you may need to camp outside, take help from a professional or an expert.
- The mountains in Yukon are also home to several genetically different Grizzly bears. And the last thing you would want on your trip is to encounter a Grizzly bear. So, keep your safety in check, no matter if it’s night or day.
Family trip
- If you want to keep it safe and want to enjoy yourself away from the grizzlies, then visit the Discovery Day’s events near you.
- Discovery Day events are being organized in Dawson City from 11 August to 15 August; you can take part in the Discovery Day Golf tournament, fastball tournament, check out the horticulture exhibition, or enjoy several other functions and events like Can-Can dance, face paintings, art and craft display and writing competition in Yukon.
- You can also take a trip to Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park to witness the historical gold rush from a century ago. The best part about this trip is that it’s free. You can also experience junior ranger activities for kids, camp and go for a short hike in the nearby mountains. You can also read historical books or watch movies like “Call of the Klondike: A True Gold Rush” during your visit.
Throw a lovely party
- If there’s one thing that you can do at your home is organize a party. Of course, it is not necessary that your party should be lavish or you must invite your whole neighbourhood, but you can surely call your near and dear ones to join the party and have a thrilling event at your home.
- This is the best way to enjoy for people who do not like travelling or have enough energy to walk around the amusement park. After all, at the end of the day, it’s the personal satisfaction that matters more than anything else.
- So, a small family or friends reunion with classic dishes and drinks accompanied by long talks can also be the best way to enjoy Discovery Day.
Funds for Discovery Day
The gold rush indeed made some of the people rich, but everyone who joined in the rush had to spend some money for it, be it travelling to that place or buying items and tools for the expedition. Similarly, no matter what you have to do, there is always a cost to it.
If you are running short on funds due to which you cannot take your family for the expedition or to the festival, then let PrestoCash help you. We understand how it feels when you cannot take your family to a fun event because of a lack of funds.
We do not want you or your family to experience this, so take an online loan in Canada from us and use it to have a blissful day with your family. Our long return policy will assist you in paying off your loan easily with the simplest EMI option. So, don’t let money problems stop you from enjoying yourself with your family.