California Gold Rush Festivals and Celebrations

California Gold Rush Days, Festivals

California Gold Rush Festivals

JULIAN: Gold Rush Days Celebrates 150 Years Since Gold Discovery, April 6-7, 2019, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Julian Mining Company
4444 Highway 78
Julian, California,
$fees for activities, juliangoldrushdays.com

Julian Gold Rush Days celebrates the discovery of gold in 1869 in this mountain community and invites visitors to learn more about its history with a weekend of entertainment. Arts and crafts market, food and drink vendors, and plenty of good ol' family fun! Gold Panning, old fashioned chores like Laundry, and "corn-struction" for the little ones. Fee charged for: Tomahawk Throwing, Fossil and Artifact Dig, Gold Panning and Train Ride.

Past events

COLUMBIA: Gold Rush Days 2nd Saturday 1-4 p.m.
Columbia State Historic Park
Main St. & State St.
Columbia, CA
visitcolumbiacalifornia.com
Free
Columbia Gold Rush Days the second Saturday of every month engages all ages with special exhibits, stores and residences not regularly open to the public. Docents are dressed in attire you would see if you could step back to the 1840s-50s.

SMARTSVILLE Smartsville & Timbuctoo Pioneer Day April 27, 2019, 9 am -4 pm, PioneerDay.info
Traditionally held on the last Saturday in April, Pioneer Day honors the early pioneers who came to California for gold and stayed to raise their families. Organized by the Smartsville Church Restoration Fund, Inc., the non-profit organization working to restore the historic, former Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (1871). Pioneer Day includes historic guided tours, music on stage, historic personage interpretations at our intimate Timbuctoo Theater venue, great food, exhibits and displays, arts and crafts vendors, children's activities, games, and lots of plain old good fun. Guided tours of the town site of Sucker Flat and the hydraulic mining areas throughout the day. The former Catholic Church, constructed in 1871, will be open for inspection so that recent restoration work can be observed, and numerous other local Smartsville historical sites will be identified on a map for self-guided tours. Timbuctoo Theater, where experts and pioneer family members present unique insights into life in the early days of Smartsville and Timbuctoo, vendors sell handmade arts and crafts, food and so much more!

SONORA: Old West Fest May 18, 2019, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
sonoraca.com
Downtown Sonora
94 N Washington St
Sonora, CA 95370
Free
Old West Fest celebrates Gold! but this event will give tribute to the farming, ranching and lumber industries along with the acknowledgement of the movies made around these parts. Dust off your boots. The fun begins the night before, (Friday, 17th), when the stagecoach comes to town! A movie will be shown at the Opera Hall (250 S. Washington St.) and is presented by the Sonora Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday, May 18th, The Farmer's Market , Twirlers from Twain Harte will be dancing, musicians will be filling the air, tractors and presses will keep beat to their own rhythm while homemade pies and an ice cream socials will be going on. Old West Fest Sip & Taste this event call 209-532-7725 or email swilkinson@sonoraca.com (250 S. Washington St.) presented by the Sonora Chamber of Commerce.

COLUMBIA: Columbia Diggins, Tent Town 1852. May 14-17, 2020, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
parks.ca.gov
Step back in time to the early days of Columbia. Experience Mining demonstrations, theater performances, bakery and laundry businesses, boarding house and lots more. Over 100 costumed volunteers and re-enactors recreate life in 1852 Columbia. Entrance is approx. $8-10 for adults

The BEST SMALL TOWN GOLD RUSH FESTIVAL IN CALIFORNIA is a local tradition honoring the early pioneers who came to California for gold, and stayed to raise their families. Traditionally held on the last Saturday in April, this year's event occurs on in downtown Smartsville, located just off State Route 20 about half way between Marysville and Grass Valley. Pioneer Day offers fascinating historic guided tours, stage entertainment, historic personage interpretations, music, great food, exhibits and displays, arts and crafts vendors, children's activities, games, and lots of plain old fun. Guided tours of Smartsville, the town site of Sucker Flat and the hydraulic mining sites are conducted during the day. New this year will be an expanded story-telling area where experts and family members of pioneers will give visitors unique insights into life in the early days of Smartsville and Timbuctoo. Vendors will be selling handmade arts and crafts, food, and historical items. Local history books as well as a variety of souvenirs will be on sale. Pioneer day is meant to be a family-friendly festival with activities and entertainment that are also oriented to children. Everyone is encouraged to come in gold rush era costumes. Music on stage includes the popular Rough and Ready Fruit Jar Pickers, and more. Characters in a league with Black Bart, Lotta Crabtree, Mark Twain, Lola Montez, and a host of others will be wandering about, eager to share stories with whoever will listen. Some will give brief stage presentations. In addition, a raffle of items from local merchants will be conducted, a number of demonstrations of old-fashioned craftsmanship will be available, and there will be activities for all ages. Organized by the Smartsville Church Restoration Fund, Inc., the non-profit organization working to restore the historic, former Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, proceeds benefit restoration of the historic former Catholic Church. The former Catholic Church, constructed in 1871, will be open for inspection so that recent restoration work can be observed, and numerous other local historical sites will be identified on a map for self-guided tours.

PARADISE Gold Nugget Days April 26-29, 2018
goldnuggetmuseum.com paradisechamber.com
Paradise, California
Gold Nugget Days Parade Saturday April 28, 2018
Parade route: Skyway at Center Street, down Skyway, left on Birch St., to the Paradise Community Park. Theme: Decades of Gold
Gold Nugget Days 4th Weekend in April. Donkey Derby, Old Magalia | Parade, Skyway | Children's Art Contest, Paradise Depot | Carnival and Petting Zoo | Cowboy Chow Deep Pit BBQ, Museum grounds | Children's Costume Contest | Melodrama

COARSEGOLD: Coarsegold Rodeo May 4-5, 2018, cgrodeogrounds.com

RAMONA: Ramona Old West Days No event announced recently
Ramona Fairgrounds
421 Aqua Lane
Ramona, CA
Free, ramonaoldwestdays.com
The Guns of the Round Table, a Gun Fighting and Living History Re-enactment Group, presents shows based on the years 1870 to 1890. With special emphasis on gun safety, the lively and entertaining troupe offers a glimpse into an era Californians can usually only find out about in books. Cowboy living in Old West Cow Towns, travel, drama, and daily chores such as Laundry, Whip Skills, Roping, Butter Churning, Apple Peeling come to life with demonstrations and reenactments. The award winning group enjoys acting, which sometimes requires playing dead.

TAYLORSVILLE: Pioneer Day 2018 TBA
June 17, 2017, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Taylorsville Pioneer Day Indian Valley Lake Almanor Area Chamber of Commerce Indian Valley Museum Cemetery Street Taylorsville, CA (530) 284-1046 Free

YREKA: Gold Rush Days June 16, 2018, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Miner St., Broadway Lane and 4th St. Yereka, CA
Free yrekachamber.com | visitsiskiyou.org

GREENVILLE Gold Digger Days July 21, 2018
Sat.-Sun. Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce "Gold Digger Days Celebration" Annual celebration in Greenville, CA More info from the chamber office: 530.284.6633 -

JOHNSVILLE Gold Discovery Days July 21-22, 2018
Plumas-Eureka State Park 310 Johnsville Road Blairsden, CA 96103 (530) 836-2380 J
plumas-eureka.org
5 miles west of Blairsden on County Road A-14

BODIE: Bodie Day August 10, 2019
Come enjoy a day from the past! Daytime Festivities Living History Presentations Special Tours There will also be a bodiefoundation.org

PINE GROVE: Roaring Camp Open May-September
Roaring Camp
3010 Tabeaud Rd,
Pine Grove, California 95665
roaringcampgold.com
This gold mining camp is located along the Mokelumne River in Amador County.

RANDSBURG: Randsburg Old West Day September 21, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (third Saturday of September)
Street fair with country western and bluegrass bands, food booths, antiques, collectibles, and other vendors. Gunfighters, Mounted Posse, Vintage Car Show, and other Entertainment. The day starts off with an all you can eat Pancake Breakfast (8-11 a.m.) at the Opera House $10 donation. Location: Rand Desert Museum, Butte Ave. 161 Butte Ave., Randsburg CA, Free to Public. facebook.com/RandsburgOldWestDay

COLOMA: Coloma Gold Rush Live October 12-13, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

(2nd weekend in October annually)

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park commemorates this event with Gold Discovery Day. Other events: History comes to life at least once a month at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park! Come out on each 2nd Saturday of the month if you want to step back in time and rub elbows with miners and pioneers depicting life in the mid 1800′s. When the rush for gold started in 1848, thousands of people from all walks of life flocked to the Coloma Valley. Historical interpreters will share what life was likeť during the Gold Rush. Come talk to miners, mountain men, dutch oven cooks, ladies sewing, spinning, doing wash and candle dipping. You might just be able to dip your own candle or make some rope. Kids can try their hand at some pioneer games or saw some lumber with a good old fashioned whip saw! When: Second Saturday of Each Month Where: Marshall Gold Discovery SHP, Hwy 49 Coloma Ca Fees: While this is a free event the State Park does charge a day use fee of $8 per car marshallgold.org/living-history-days

SACRAMENTO: Gold Rush Days next event is planned for May 2019 oldsacramento.com

FORESTHILL Divide Heritage Festival September 1-2, 2018
Foresthill's Heritage
Festival Foresthill, CA
foresthillchamber.org
Foresthill Memorial Park Celebrating A Proud Heritage and A Bright Future! Every year at the end of summer the community of Foresthill remembers its colorful past seated in gold mining, timbering and outdoor recreation with California's State Gold Panning Championships, a Logging Contest, American Legion's Pig Roast, a Chili Cook Off and many activities for children.

COLUMBIA Miners Christmas Dec.
visitcolumbiacalifornia.com
(209) 588-9128
Sit around a campfire drinking hot cider or coffee and join in conversations with miners as they roast chestnuts. Children can make some favorite crafts of the 1850s and keep an eye out for Father Christmas as he wanders the streets looking for good boys and girls!