The Richmond Museum presents the 18th annual Doors Open Richmond on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 at locations across the city. This year’s event brings together more than 50 partner sites spanning art studios, national historic sites, agricultural farms and religious organizations that highlight the diversity of the city. While the event is largely self-guided, the Richmond Museum will offer two different bus tours for those interested in exploring the sites thematically.

Highlights from this year’s program include:

• KPU Farms - a new site joining Doors Open Richmond this year, which invites families to explore sustainable growing methods and a rich variety of locally grown crops;
  
• Seawrack Press Studio - perfect for those interested in learning about the rich traditions of paper making and bookbinding; and
  
• LuLu Island Winery - visitors can walk the vineyards for a one-of-a-kind look at wine making and a guided tasting. 

While the popular bus tours are currently waitlisted, visitors may wish to use these itineraries to plan their own self-guided tour. The Sacred Spaces tour brings visitors to different places of worship along No. 5 Road, known as the “Highway to Heaven,” and additional neighbourhoods in Richmond. This itinerary includes stops at Lingyen Mountain Temple, Eastern Catholic Church and Vedic Cultural Centre, or Richmond Ismaili Jamatkhana, Richmond Jamia Mosque and Steveston Buddhist Temple. 

The Discover Doors Open tour is a specially curated itinerary that showcases different partner sites, such as The Sharing Farm, Effat Mirnia Art Studio, Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple, Athiana Acres, LuLu Island Winery and FT Art Studio. 

In addition to the in-person program, visitors can learn more about sites through two new videos that will be screened at the Richmond Cultural Centre Annex Lounge and richmondmuseum.ca/theatre. This year’s videos will take a look behind-the-scenes of the Steveston Kendo Club, one of the oldest clubs of its kind in Canada, and the Gateway Theatre as they present the stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. 

While most programs are available on a walk-in basis, some will require advance registration. Visitors can find out more and plan their Doors Open experience at richmondmuseum.ca/doors-open.

Established in 2008, Doors Open Richmond is the longest-running Doors Open event in BC. The local event is part of the Doors Open Canada program supported by the City of Richmond, the BC Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada. The event is organized by the Richmond Museum Society.