Discovery Day is a significant public holiday in the Yukon territory of Canada. The holiday honours the discovery of gold, which eventually led to the establishment of the territory. Celebrated on the third Monday in August, it marks the historic event in 1896, when Skookum Jim Mason, together with George Carmack and Dawson Charlie, discovered gold in Bonanza Creek, an event that led to the Klondike Gold Rush.
This holiday is an opportunity for the people of Yukon to pay tribute to their history while engaging in various festivities. Activities include parades, barbecues, historical reenactments, and music concerts. Many people visit the Dawson City Museum to learn more about the historic Gold Rush era. Discovery Day is also seen as a celebration of Yukon's unique culture, environment, and heritage.
Despite Discovery Day being unique to Yukon, the spirit of the event resonates all across Canada, inviting tourists nationally and internationally. The day is marked by the spirit of adventure, capturing the bravery and fortitude that characterized the original gold seekers. And while it recalls a critical event in the economic and social development of the territory, Discovery Day also showcases the many transformations that have occurred in Yukon since those initial gold prospecting days.