Doors Open Richmond returns this weekend with 40+ venues

Richmond's 19th annual Doors Open event returns this weekend with more than 40 institutions, facilities, and organizations opening their doors for self-guided visits from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7.

Since launching in 2008, the Richmond Museum Society has made this the longest-running Doors Open event in British Columbia and part of the national Doors Open Canada program. The event invites the public to explore interactive museums, cultural performances, and faith-based institutions they wouldn't normally access.

This year's highlights include a behind-the-scenes look at Richmond's geothermal energy system through Alexandra District Energy Utility, the Richmond Potters Club demonstrating ceramic creation, and the four-acre London Farm sharing stories of agriculture in Richmond from the 1880s to 1930s.

The Sacred Spaces tour will visit three locations on Saturday — the Eastern Catholic Church, Lingyen Mountain Temple, and Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple — and three more on Sunday, including the India Cultural Centre of Canada - Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Richmond Jamia Mosque, and Minoru Chapel. The Discover Doors Open showcases unique areas like The Sharing Farm, BC Emergency Health Services Station 269, and the Sea Island Heritage Society across both days.

Bilan Hassan, chair of the Richmond Museum Society, said the event celebrates what makes the city distinctive. "Richmond is shaped by a rich mix of cultures, unique perspectives, and lived experiences. The event celebrates that diversity by inviting the public to connect with the people and places that define the community."

Free bus tours around the city are also offered but require advance registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Most programs and facilities are walk-in, though some require advance registration. For details and planning, visit richmondmuseum.ca/doors-open.