2012 SPECIAL EVENTS IN COLUMBIA
(SEE DETAILS BELOW)
Town Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . every
Sat & Sun at 11 am
Gold
Rush Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . every 2nd Saturday
Columbia Birthday Celebration . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . Mar 27
Easter Victorian Parade & Egg Hunts . . . . . . . . . April
8
36th Annual Wine Tasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 15
33rd Annual Old Mill Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 21
150th Anniversary of Cinco de Mayo . . . . . . . . . . May 5
53rd Annual Firemen’s Muster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 5-6
Memorial Day Salute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May
28
Columbia Diggins 1852 . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . May 31-June 3
4th
Annual Sarsaparilla Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . June 9
Ghost Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June
9, July 7, Aug 11, Sept 8, Oct 6
46th
Annual Father’s Day Fly-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 16-17
Summer
Arts Camp-Central Sierra Arts Council . . June
18-22
Glorious
4th of July Parade, Games, BBQ . . . . . . July
4
Big Band Street Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . July 21
History’s
Mysteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 28, Aug 18, Aug 25, Sept 1
California Admission Day Parade . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 8
Back
to School 1861 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 15
40th
Annual Columbia Art Show . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 16
30th
Annual Poison Oak Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 29
30th
Annual Fiddle & Bango Contest . . .
. . . . . Oct 6
28th
Annual Harvest FestiFall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 13-14
Stories
in Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Oct 20
5th
Annual Illumination of the Jack-O’-Lanterns . . Oct
27
Veterans
Day Remembrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov 11
Candy
Kitchen Cane Making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov
23-Dec 16
Lamplight
Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov 30, Dec 1
A
Miner’s Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 8-9, 15-16
Christmas
Equestrian Parade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 9
30th
Annual Las Posadas Nativity Procession . . . . Dec 9
6th
Annual Merry Merchants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 14
Dates may change without notice
2012 EVENTS IN COLUMBIA STATE HISTORIC PARK
TOWN TOURS -- every Saturday
and Sunday at 11 am
Enjoy an hour-long walking tour of town led by a park
staff member or docent. See the actual
gold discovery site, learn about the buildings and
early merchants of Columbia.
Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
GOLD RUSH DAYS -- every
2nd Saturday 1 to 4 pm
Columbia opens many exhibits and venues
that are not normally open to the public.
These venues are interpreted by highly knowledgeable staff and docents
in period dress. Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
March 27, 2012 -- Tuesday afternoon
COLUMBIA BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION
On this day we celebrate the discovery of gold by the Hildreth party (March 27, 1850). Gather in the middle of town for a speech,
cake, punch, and reenactments as well as docents in costume throughout
town. Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
April 8, 2012 -- Sunday late morning to early afternoon
COLUMBIA’S VICTORIAN EASTER
CELEBRATION
Dress up in your Victorian Easter finery and march
in the Victorian Easter Parade.
Registration begins at 11:00 am, and the parade is at 12:30.
Children will enjoy Columbia’s popular Easter Egg Hunts. The Small Fry Egg Search at noon is for ages 3 to 5; and after the Easter Parade, the
Junior Egg Poachers (ages 6 to 8) will try their luck at 1 pm, and finally the Great Egg
Scramblers (ages 9 to 12) at 1:30 pm.
Find the golden egg and win a prize!
These free events are sponsored by the Columbia Chamber of
Commerce. Call 209-536-1672.
April 15, 2012 -- Sunday
36th Annual COLUMBIA WINE TASTING
The 36th Annual Columbia Wine Tasting will be
held on Sunday, April 15, 2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Columbia State Historic Park.
A benefit for the Columbia College Culinary Arts Program, tickets are
$50 per person, or $60 at the door (Note: This is the 2011 price—subject to change).
Over 70 wineries and local food purveyors will be represented in the
popular event. Sponsored
by the Columbia College Foundation.
For tickets or more information, call 209-588-5089 or visit
www.gocolumbia.edu/foundation.
April 21, 2012 -- Saturday
33rd Annual OLD MILL RUN
10K Run, 2-Mile
Run/Walk, Kids Mini Mile, Kids Mile. Events begin at 9 a.m., and benefit the
Tuolumne County Community Christmas Eve Dinner.
Contact Cathie
Peacock for more information at 209-586-4802
May 5, 2012 -- Saturday
150th Anniversary of CINCO
DE MAYO in Columbia
Details to be added. Call 209-536-1672.
May 5-6, 2012 – Saturday &
Sunday
53rd Annual FIREMENS MUSTER
Volunteer
fire crews from around the western United States will take part in the
competition, presented by Columbia Volunteer Fire Department Engine Co. No.
1. The muster parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in Columbia. Other events include hose cart
races, bucket brigade, skills competition, hand pumper
contests and a Saturday dance. Admission is free. Call 209-532-8718 (Brendan Simunaci) or 209-532-3772 for more information.
May 28, 2012 – Monday
MEMORIAL DAY SALUTE
Memorial Day services start at 11 am on Monday, May 28 in the old
Veterans section at the Columbia Cemetery. The ceremony takes about
20 minutes. There will be prayers, information on Memorial Day, the
Battle Hymn of the Republic and a salute to those buried in this section. The ceremonies are conducted by the Columbia
Foot Dragoons and the Columbia Grenadine Belles. For more information, call 209-536-1672.
May 31-June 3, 2012 – Thurs-Sun daytime
DIGGINS 1852
Step back in time to the year 1852 and discover what life
was like in a gold diggings encampment! Over 150 volunteers help recreate this
time in history by living the life of a miner, merchant, actor/actress, and
more. School tours are led Thursday and
Friday by reservation. Sponsored by the Columbia State Historic Park
and Friends of Columbia State Historic Park.
Call 209-588-9128 for more information.
June 9, 2012 – Saturday
4th Annual SARSAPARILLA
ROUNDUP
Features free contests from noon to 4 p.m., including mug
slide, horseshoes, bottle cap fling, pin the label on the bottle, spelling bee,
and belching contest; and frosty cold sarsaparilla. Sponsored by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Call 209-536-1672.
June 9, July 7, Aug
11, Sept 8, Oct 6, 2012 -- Saturday evenings
GHOST TOURS
Have you heard that there are ghosts in Columbia? Join us on the tour to find out
where they lurk and the stories behind those who lived in Columbia during the Gold Rush. Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
June 16 & 17, 2012 – Saturday
& Sunday
46th Annual FATHER’S
DAY FLY-IN, 8 am to 5 pm Saturday & Sunday
Sponsored by the Columbia Airport. Call 209-533-5685 for more
information.
June 18 through 22, 2012 – Monday
through Friday mornings, 9 am to noon
SUMMER ARTS CAMP
Summer Arts Camp is designed to partner children ages 7 to
12 years old with professional artists and performers so students can explore
their creative self-expression and appreciation of the arts. Meet each morning in the Solari Garden at the corner of Jackson and Columbia
Streets. On Friday, June 22 the merchants of Columbia host a reception for our young
artists. Call 209-532-2787 for more
information. Registration on a first
come/first served basis. Hosted by the Central Sierra Arts Council.
July 4, 2012 -- Wednesday
COLUMBIA’S GLORIOUS 4TH
OF JULY CELEBRATION
Celebrate our nation's birthday the old-fashioned
way! Come to Columbia State Historic Park on the 4th of July and
participate in the many activities the 49ers enjoyed way back when, including a
glorious parade up Main Street at noon.
Folks in Columbia began the 4th of July
parade tradition in 1852. After the
parade, listen to the Great Mother Lode Brass & Reed Band concert, dance in
the street, and try your skill at the many contests popular in the early days
of Columbia.
The kids will enjoy trying to climb the greased pole, hunting for a
needle in the haystack, and participating in the bucket brigade and the cake
walk. Other contests for kids of all
ages include nail pounding, watermelon and pie eating, egg relay race and egg
toss, and a five-way tug-of-war. The
parade and concert are free, and entering the contests only costs a buck. Finally, to top off your day, a tri tip
barbecue dinner will be served at 4 pm.
Barbecue tickets are $8.50 for adults and $5.50 for children under 10 (2011 prices—could change). Come early for the best parking and bring lawn
chairs. The festivities will begin with
a flag raising and firing of the cannon at 11 am.
Sponsored by the Columbia Chamber of
Commerce. For more information, call 209-536-1672.
July 21, 2012 – Saturday evening
BIG BAND STREET DANCE
Step back into the 1940s and put on your dancing shoes to
boogie down to the music of Rod Harris and his orchestra. This free event is sponsored by Friends of
Columbia State Historic Park. Call
209-532-3184 for information.
July 28, Aug 18, Aug
25, Sept 1, 2012 -- Saturdays
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES
We invite families or groups to solve an actual crime that
occurred in Columbia in the 1800s. You will witness the event, interview key
members to the crime and get a chance to subpoena them in court. Then you will select one person from your
group to question people on the stand.
At the end, you will determine the outcome of the crime. Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
September 8, 2012 – Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
CALIFORNIA ADMISSION DAY
PARADE
The Native Sons of the Golden West, Columbia Parlor #258,
sponsors a California Admissions Day Parade in Historic Columbia. The Native
Sons have a tradition of preserving California History--the parade is one of
those that started in 1876, and revived in 2008. There are many other events
held on Admissions Day in Historic Columbia, the parade is just one of
them. For information, call 209-588-1565.
September 15, 2012 – Saturday evening
BACK TO SCHOOL 1861
Join us for a beautiful evening at the historic
schoolhouse. During this reminiscent
event, take a tour of the upstairs, sit in on a lesson taught by a docent
dressed as an 1860s school teacher, play games of long ago, listen to music,
and help make hand-cranked ice cream. Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
September 16, 2012 – Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm
40th Annual COLUMBIA ART SHOW
This fine art show
features almost 50 local painters, sculptors and photographers who will display
their art on the shady streets of the Columbia State Historic Park. This event is FREE to the
public. For more information, call 209-536-9047.
September 29, 2012 – Saturday
afternoon
30th Annual
POISON OAK SHOW
at the St. Charles Saloon in Columbia State Historic Park.
Aren’t you just itchin’ to participate? This event is like a traditional flower show,
except all entries must include poison oak!
Some of the categories are: best
arrangement of poison oak, most original poison oak dish (with recipe), best photograph of poison oak, best photograph of poison oak
rash (or in person). Sponsored
by the St. Charles Saloon.
For more information, call 209-533-4656.
October 6, 2012 – Saturday, 10:30 am to 4 pm
30th Annual FIDDLE
& BANGO* CONTEST & CHILI COOK-OFF
The Fiddle & Bango Contest
(yes, “bango”) is held at the gazebo in Columbia State Historic Park.
More than 40 musicians compete for prizes in the following categories: fiddle, banjo, vocal, guitar, mandolin and
miscellaneous. The grand prize is a gold
nugget, and there are cash and gift certificate prizes in each category. The entry fee to compete in each category is
$12 and contestants sign up between 9 and 10:30 am. The Fiddle & Bango Contest is free to the viewing public. Bring lawn
chairs, hats and sunscreen. T-shirts
will be available for sale ($20). All
ages and music genres are represented in this contest, which is sponsored by
the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Competition begins promptly at 10:30 a.m., and continues all day, except
for a lunch break, which features a CHILI
COOK-OFF. For $5 get your miner’s tin cup, spoon, and
ballot and enjoy chili cooked and served by Columbia Chamber teams at various
locations in town. For more information,
call 209-536-1672. (2011 prices—could change)
October 13 & 14, 2012 –
Saturday & Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm
28th Annual HARVEST
FESTIFALL
Join us for a cornucopia of country
crafts, comestibles, demonstrations of skills, and music and dancing on the
shady streets of Columbia State Historic Park,
decorated for the harvest season. Wear
your Gold Rush duds and enjoy a visit to the past. Fun for everyone, and it’s
free!!! Almost fifty vendors, dressed in
1850s attire, will display their handmade arts and crafts for sale, including
pottery, jewelry, apparel, home décor, wood furniture, baked goods and many
others; and some will demonstrate their skills.
Attractions include demonstrations of spinning and weaving by the Mother
Lode Weavers & Spinners, face painting, miniature horses, and entertainment
by various local groups of musicians and dancers. Sponsored by the Columbia
Chamber of Commerce. Call 209-536-1672.
October 20, 2012 -- Saturday evening
STORIES IN
STONE
Visitors are led through Columbia’s historic cemetery by costumed
volunteers carrying lanterns where they will visit 13 grave sites. The dead come to life as interpreters tell
about their lives, how they died, and how they came to lie in Columbia’s cemetery. Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
October 27, 2012 – Saturday 5:30 p.m.
5th Annual ILLUMINATION
OF THE JACK-O’-LANTERNS
Carve your pumpkins, turning them into classic peg-toothed
grinners, artfully chiseled ghouls, leering witches, or any family-friendly
design of your choosing. Bring your
carved gourds to the Columbia Museum on Main Street for judging, and enjoy the live
musical entertainment. Prizes will be
awarded for the most original, most gruesome, most entertaining, etc. At dusk the jack-o’-lanterns will be illuminated. This free event is hosted by the Columbia
Chamber of Commerce, and fun for all ages. Call 209-536-1672.
November 11, 2012 -- Sunday, 11 a.m.
VETERANS DAY REMEMBRANCE
In Columbia’s historic cemetery at 11 am, the Columbia Foot Dragoons
explain the significance of Veterans Day and how it came into being, and fire a
single volley. For more information,
call
209-536-1672.
November 23 through December 16, 2012 -- weekend days
COLUMBIA CANDY KITCHEN CANE
MAKING
Participate in making traditional candy canes during the
holidays. Must send a
request to the store by postcard before Labor Day to enter lottery for
reservations. Hosted by Nelson’s Columbia Candy
Kitchen. For information, call
209-532-7886.
November 30 & December 1, 2012
-- Friday & Saturday evenings
LAMPLIGHT TOURS
Join us for a walking play that wanders the streets of Columbia at night and ends with music,
dance, and refreshments. Make this an
annual holiday event for you and your family and learn more about the
Christmastime of years past. Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
December 8 & 9 and December 15
& 16, 2012 -- Sat & Sun daytime
A MINER’S CHRISTMAS
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! Contact Columbia State Historic Park
at 209-588-9128.
December 9, 2012 -- Sunday 11
am
CHRISTMAS EQUESTRIAN PARADE
Sponsored by the Mid-Valley Unit of the Back Country
Horsemen. Call 209-823-3538 for more
information.
December 9, 2012 – Sunday 5:30 pm
30th Annual LAS POSADAS NATIVITY PROCESSION
Las Posadas is a Spanish tradition that
re-enacts the biblical story of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Since 1983 the
people of Columbia have put on their own version of Las
Posadas each December--with a
distinctive 1850s flavor. Characters in
this re-enactment include Mary and Joseph and their donkey, the three Wise Men,
tax collector and innkeeper, and miners and musicians and other costumed
townspeople. Columbia's Main Street is decorated for the Christmas
season, and luminaria light the way
for the procession, while on-lookers hold candles and join in singing
Christmas carols. For more information, call 209-536-1672.
December 14, 2012 – Friday
evening, 5 pm to 8 pm
6th Annual MERRY MERCHANTS
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the MERRY MERCHANTS
invite you and yours to enjoy an evening of old fashioned Christmas charm in Columbia!
Shop in the tradition of times gone by without the hustle and hassle of
malls or traffic jams. As you stroll
through the Columbia State Historic Park on this enchanted evening, listen
to the sounds of the season—Christmas carols and songs performed by local
children, and stories told by storytellers.
Delight in traditional tastes—roasted chestnuts, hot gingerbread, and
more; and warm yourself from the inside out with cups of delicious hot holiday
specialties. Enjoy a free carriage ride
on decorated Main Street.
Fun for all ages. Call 209-536-1672.
Otherpages of interest on our Website...
