Kernville Whiskey Flat Days Festival

February 16-19, 2024

Whiskey Flat Days Rodeo, too!
gotokernville.com | officialwhiskeyflatdays.com

Whiskey Flat Days invites people from all over to head to Kernville for some genuine fun such as a Parade, Carnival Rides, Rodeo, Gun Fights, Melodrama, Old West Encampment, Whiskey Flat Mayor's Race and more. Best of all, many of the activities are free to see.

John E. McNally Rodeo Arena
487 Scodie Ave.

• Iron Horse Rodeo - Friday, February 16, 2024, 5 p.m.
• Wild West Daze Rodeo - Saturday, February 17 - Sunday, February 18, 2024, 12 p.m. 

Whiskey Flat Encampment Activities

The encampment held on Scodie Ave. across from the Fairgrounds is a three day event (Fri-Sun) with authentic demonstrations of life in the Old West! The event includes Gunfights & History, Wells Fargo Station & Eatery, Cowboy Cook'n, Horse Trader and Livery, Horse Shoe'n and Horse Doctor'n, Whiskey Flats Saloon, Justice of the Peace, Saddle Maker and Leather Craft, Bath House, Beautifier and Hygienist and Story Tellers of the Wild West.

KAWAIISU INDIAN VILLAGE at Whiskey Flat Days Free Living History event Noon to 5pm, in Kernville, CA
Archery, Drumming, Flute, Painting and Dancing are just some of the free activities planned for the whole family to enjoy! Whiskey Flat Days is an annual Kernville, CA event that celebrates the 1860's Gold Rush period in Southern California. The Village is part of the Whiskey Flat Encampment below the Rodeo grounds. In addition to the Indian Village there is a Mountain Man Camp, a Cowboy and Mining Town and a Civil War Camp. 

Whiskey Flat began during the California fever era with miners seeking their fortune in 1860 at Big Blue Gold Mine on the Kern River, located in the Southern Sierra Nevada. Alcohol wasn't allowed at the mine site, so one guy threw a couple of whiskey barrels down on the flat south of the mine and it became Whiskey Flat. That name did change to Kernville, but the memory lingers in an annual event founded in 1957.

It is always held on Presidents Day Weekend in February. Take a step back in time and celebrate life in the 1850's. This old-fashioned, western style festival includes a parade, gunfighters, carnival, music, vendors, and a Whiskey Flat Encampment. The parade is held on Saturday morning in downtown Kernville and includes mules, gunfighter entries, and all things containing the Old West theme. Rodeos, Parade, Old West Encampment, Live Music, Vendors and the Carnival.

Kern Valley Indian Camp Friday & Saturday ~ Noon to 5:00pm Sunday ~ 10:00am to Noon includes: , Authentic Crafts, Native American Hand Games, Native American Food, Demonstration on Basket Making . Beading, Regalia Making, and other items, Drumming, singing, dancing, Speaking in Local Native Language, Native American Cultural displays using artifacts from ancestors, actual building of the huts from natural native resources, display and information of the local native plants used by Local Native Americans, Activities throughout the day. Constructed houses used in the 1800's by the Native Americans in this area, Open fire pit used for cooking, Story Teller of Native Americans from the valley. whiskeyflatcamp.org

Enter the Epitaph Contest, Frog Jumpin' Contest, Whiskerino Contest, and more!

Whiskey Flat Days Rodeo includes pen Team Roping, Bull Riding, Hide Race, Jr. Bull Riding, Sheep Riding, Open Barrel Race, Jr. Barrel Race and Calf Scramble, WHISKEY FLAT WILD WEST DAZE RODEO - Address: John E. McNally Arena Kernville, California.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.