Start preparing for a raucous good time in Groveland on Saturday, September 21st when the 30th annual 49er Festival kicks off at 9:00 am with a gunfight, flyover, and the Main Street Parade featuring all of the characters a small-town parade can dig up! Enjoy the best seats in town on the Groveland Hotel balcony, accompanied by a house-made whiskey sour or mimosa from Provisions Taproom. If you’re an early riser you can begin your day at 7:00 am with a pancake breakfast served by the Little House in the Community Hall.
Following the parade, the fun continues with a Chili & Salsa cook-off at Mary Laveroni Park, booths & vendors, auction, raffle, contests, and live music. During the day there will be a Poker Run (yep, poker games hosted by downtown merchants) and Old West Gunfights. Open to anyone, you can participate in the Hot Chili Charlie Beard Contest or the Western Costume Contest. One of the more popular events is the chainsaw carve off – the most applause determines the winner! Great prizes have been donated to the raffle, and the auction will contain a $50 certificate to Provisions Taproom. Throughout the day Stompbox will be performing covers of all the great songs we love to sing and dance to.
Old West Days were started in 1989 by town locals as a way to promote the community and celebrate its gold mining history. Once a three-day event, it included a softball tournament, and ended, mostly, in the bar on Sunday. Now organized by the Yosemite Highway 120 Chamber of Commerce with the help of many volunteers and sponsored by community businesses, it has been pared down to a manageable one-day, family friendly event. Chili Charlie arrived on the scene after the name change to 49er Festival. For at least ten years he has been the event’s mascot, each year decked out in different attire. Take a selfie with Charlie at the event!
Following the festival activities, the downtown merchants are hosting the monthly Open House Groveland from 4:00pm-6:00pm. The theme for September’s Open House is “Libations.” Stroll throughout town and visit participating merchants who will be hosting various adult beverage purveyors for tastings and special discounts. The Groveland Hotel will be hosting local vintner Yosemite Cellars – the closest vineyard to Yosemite National Park.
After a fun-filled day, relax on the patio at the Groveland Hotel with a nosh from Provisions Taproom. A nice way to finish a fabulous fun day!