Arts and culture in Prince George, BC
Prince George galleries, museums, theatre, music and festivals: Two Rivers Gallery, The Exploration Place, Theatre NorthWest, the symphony, Coldsnap.
Updated
At a glance
- Two Rivers Gallery, opened in 2000, is the region’s main public art gallery for contemporary art.
- The Exploration Place, in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, is northern BC’s largest museum and science centre.
- Theatre NorthWest, founded in 1994, is the largest professional theatre company in northern BC.
- Coldsnap is a five-day winter music festival held in early February.
- The BC Northern Exhibition has run every August since 1912.
Prince George’s arts scene is bigger than many visitors expect. As the cultural hub for a huge region, it supports a professional theatre, a symphony orchestra, a contemporary art gallery, a museum and science centre, and festivals that bring national touring acts north in the depths of winter.
Galleries
Two Rivers Gallery
Downtown’s Two Rivers Gallery opened in June 2000 and is the region’s main public art gallery. It presents rotating exhibitions of contemporary Canadian art, keeps a permanent collection, and runs classes and workshops for adults and children. The gallery shop features work by Western Canadian artists and makers. It is usually closed on Mondays, with late hours one evening a week, so check current hours before you go.
Studio 2880 and the Community Arts Council
Studio 2880, run by the Community Arts Council, is a hub for local craft guilds, including potters, quilters, weavers, spinners and the Artists’ Workshop, with an artisan gift shop. Its building is one of the few surviving structures from the city’s Second World War army camp. The Arts Council also organizes public art and community programs across the city.
Museums
The Exploration Place
Set in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, The Exploration Place calls itself northern BC’s largest museum and science centre, and it welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year. Galleries cover natural history, local and regional history and science, and a dedicated space shares Lheidli T’enneh history and culture. Kids love the hands-on exhibits.
On the grounds is the Fort George Railway, billed as Canada’s shortest passenger railway, pulled by the wood-burning “Little Prince” steam locomotive built in 1912. The train runs seasonally when the track is in service, so confirm with the museum before you plan around it.
Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum
Opened in 1986, this mostly outdoor museum beside Cottonwood Island Park displays one of the province’s larger collections of vintage locomotives, rail cars, railway buildings, fire trucks and forestry equipment. It is a natural add-on to a walk on the Heritage River Trail.
Theatre and music
- Theatre NorthWest. Founded in 1994, it describes itself as the largest professional theatre company in the northern two-thirds of the province. It stages a mainstage season in an intimate venue converted from a warehouse, with a strong focus on Canadian plays.
- Prince George Playhouse. A city-owned venue for community theatre, touring shows and music, originally built by the Prince George Theatre Workshop Society, which has staged amateur theatre since the 1960s.
- Prince George Symphony Orchestra. A mix of professional and semi-professional musicians, the PGSO performs a full concert season at venues ranging from Vanier Hall to intimate pop-up concerts, and sometimes tours northern communities.
- Cinema CNC. Arts-house film series at the College of New Caledonia, including a festival of Canadian films in winter.
- CN Centre. The city’s big arena hosts major touring concerts.
Festivals
| Festival | When | What |
|---|---|---|
| Coldsnap Music Festival | Early February (five days) | Multi-night winter festival of folk, roots and world music in venues across town |
| BC Northern Exhibition (BCNE) | Mid-August | The city’s biggest summer fair since 1912: midway, livestock, 4-H, food and exhibits |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30 | Community walks, gatherings and events led by and with the Lheidli T’enneh |
Dates change year to year, so always confirm with organizers. For what is on this season, see Fall in Prince George and Tourism Prince George’s events calendar.
Coldsnap
Coldsnap began as the Prince George Folk Festival and has grown into one of Canada’s distinctive winter music festivals. Over five days in early February, it puts touring and local musicians into concert halls, dance-friendly event spaces, cafés and community venues. Braving −25°C for a warm room full of music is a very Prince George experience.
Public art and icons
- Mr. PG. The city’s lumberjack-style mascot, first built in 1960 to celebrate forestry. The current version, about 8.1 m tall with a head made from a spherical plastic tank, stands at the junction of Highways 16 and 97. He appeared on a Canada Post stamp in 2009.
- Carvings and sculptures along the Heritage River Trail and in Cottonwood Island Park, many by local carvers.
- Indigenous art in public spaces, including work commissioned for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Libraries and learning
The Prince George Public Library has its main Bob Harkins branch downtown and a Nechako branch in the Hart, with a strong local history collection. UNBC and CNC libraries are also open to community members.
Related
Common questions
What museums are in Prince George?
The Exploration Place museum and science centre in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, and the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum beside Cottonwood Island Park. Two Rivers Gallery is the main public art gallery.
Does Prince George have live theatre?
Yes. Theatre NorthWest produces professional mainstage shows each season, the Prince George Playhouse hosts community and touring productions, and groups such as the Prince George Theatre Workshop stage amateur theatre.
When is Coldsnap?
Coldsnap is held each winter, now a five-day festival in early February (February 4 to 8 in 2026), with concerts in venues around the city. Check the festival’s website for this season’s dates and lineup.
Where can I buy local art in Prince George?
The Two Rivers Gallery shop, Studio 2880’s artisan shop and the local farmers’ market are good places to find work by northern artists and makers.
