Bay Area residents will be able to travel back in time to the Gold Rush era with a new immersive experience in San Francisco this summer.
Created by Red Barn Productions, the team behind the annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair, San Francisco Historium Spotlight is set to open Aug. 22-23 at Pier 35. The live theater attraction plans to offer visitors the chance to pan for gold, grab a drink in a saloon and explore “what it was like to be here during an amazing era of expansion and growth,” producer Drew Patterson, general manager of Red Barn Productions, said in a statement.
A partnership with the San Francisco Historical Society, it coincides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Presidio of San Francisco and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Ticket sales start June 22, with early-bird admission costing $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 5 to 12. Those younger than 5 can enter for free.
Visitors will be able to grad a drink at a saloon during the interactive experience. (Courtesy of Don Carson)
“The beauty of immersive events is we get to show our audience first-hand how truly incredible the multicultural history of San Francisco has been since the very beginning,” Patterson said.
San Francisco Historium Spotlight plans to highlight Gold Rush-era neighborhoods and maritime history, welcoming attendees into bustling Portsmouth Square where they can interact with hopeful miners and take in the energy of Gold Rush fever.
Entertainment throughout the space will include saloon shows, a one-ring circus, magicians, street performers and more. There will also be period-accurate shops selling keepsakes such as clothing and crafts in addition to bites like fish and chips, oysters and San Francisco’s famous sourdough.
More Information
San Francisco Historium Spotlight: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 22-23. Tickets start at $30 for adults and $15 for children. Pier 35, 1454 The Embarcadero, S.F. sanfranciscohistorium.com
Known for its immersive period transformations, Red Barn Productions launched its landmark event, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, in 1970. It has since become a cherished tradition, transforming Daly City’s Cow Palace into Victorian London for tens of thousands of visitors each year.
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This article originally published at Great Dickens Christmas Fair creators bring Gold Rush-era experience to S.F..