HISTORIC GARRISON DISTRICT
The Historic Garrison District is the National Historic Site is where you'll find an enticing blend of musicians, artists and historic re-enactments. It is Fredericton's historic and cultural heart. Located in the city's beautiful downtown, corner of Queen and Carleton Streets, next to the St. John River, the Garrison is a centre for heritage, culture, craft and entertainment. Visitors will find a variety of attractions and activities in the Historic Garrison District including the Changing of the Guard, tours, concerts, artisans at work, gift shops, and live theatre.
HISTORY
Set back behind a wrought iron and stone fence, Fredericton’s Historic Garrison District originally consisted of the two-block area bounded by Queen, York, Campbell, and Regent Sts. British troops were garrisoned here from 1784 until 1869.
The first buildings on this site were made of wood and later replaced by stone structures. Fredericton’s Historic Garrison District was declared a National Historic Site in 1964, and in 1965 was designated a protected Provincial Historic Site.
EDVENTURES FREDERICTON
Choose from a diverse program of workshops including jewellery making, textiles, photography, painting, music, pottery, heritage programming and so much more. Over 120 workshops are delivered by experts, with small class sizes and personalized attention. Workshops are week long, weekend, or 1 day, offered from July 4- August 14, 2011.
ATTRACTIONS
Attractions within the Historic Garrison District include, Fredericton Region Museum, School Days Museum, NB Sports Hall of Fame and New Brunswick College of Craft and Design Gallery.
GARRISON ENTERTAINMENT
Free nightly entertainment in the summer includes outdoor concerts, outdoor summer theatre, croquet match, Changing of the Guard, and Under the Stars Classic Films Series. Click Garrison Entertainment for more details.
A DAY IN A SOLDIER'S LIFE
11:15am (French) & 1:15pm (English) at the Guardhouse. Daily, except Wednesday & Sunday. July 2 - September 5, 2011 Price: $8 per child + tax 506-460-2129
This 1 hour historical experience is geared towards children 4-12 years of age. Each child dresses in the red tunic of the British regiment and is provided with a guided tour of the Guard House, military office and cell block, as well as restored Barracks room where more than 200 British soldiers were stationed during the early 1880's. Each child receives a souvenir photo.
FREE HERITAGE WALKING TOURS
Three different tours, approximately 1 hour each, start from City Hall with a costumed guide. July & August 506-460-2129
10am - The River Route - Follows Queen St. through Historic Garrison District to the Pedway and then downriver to the Lighthouse and Beaverbrook Art Gallery and turns back up Queen St. to Officers' Square ending at the Changing of the Guard.
2:30pm - The Capital City Circuit - Follows Queen Street to Parliament Square and along Church St. to George St. past the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market and through the central cemetery and back into the Historic Garrison District.
5pm - The Garrison Gait - Within the wrought iron and stone fence markings of the Historic Garrison District.
Audio tours are available from Heritage Trust to guide listeners on a one-hour walking tour highlighting key landmarks of the city’s built heritage. Tours can be downloaded in mp3 format (including iPods) from www.heritagefredericton.org
SHOPPING
Corner of Queen & Carleton Streets in the Old Soldiers' Barracks. Visit our unique shops where local artists are crafting and selling their wares in the lower level of a thee-storey stone & wooden structure built by the British Army in 1827. The Fredericton Arts Alliance artists-in-residence series is also hosted on-site with a rotating schedule of fine craft and visual artists demonstrating their various disciplines. From the River Valley Crafts shop you can receiving visitor information, obtain tickets for programming within the Historic Garrison District, purchase NB-made fine craft souvenirs and refreshments.
FESTIVALS
The Garrison District plays host to several festivals including the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival and the NB Fine Craft Festival.
