California Official Visitor's Guide 2022 - 67

130 CALAVERAS COUNTY FAIR
& JUMPING FROG JUBILEE
Angels Camp
In 1865, Mark Twain publicized the Gold Rush
pastime of frog-jumping in his story " The
Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, "
and ever since, Angels Camp has made sure the
sport endures. Bullfrogs steal the spotlight at
this four-day May event, which kicks off with a
parade, carnival rides, and music performances.
The revelry culminates in the International
Frog Jump Grand Finals, in which 50 frogs leap
across the stage toward amphibian glory. Since
1986, no frog has been able to break Rosie the
Ribiter's record of 21 feet plus almost 6 inches.
131 SAN JOAQUIN
ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL
Stockton
Grilled, skewered, deep-fried, roasted, boiled,
broiled, or baked-if there's a creative way
to cook asparagus, you'll learn about it here.
A springtime homage to the skinny green
stalks loaded with antioxidants, this three-day
extravaganza attracts thousands of visitors to
Asparagus Alley and Asparagus Plaza, open-air
food courts where you can taste asparagus
lumpia, asparagus corn dogs, and asparagus
ice cream, and take in a midway lined with
carnival rides, cooking demonstrations, car and
craft shows, and live music.
132 MONO BASIN
BIRD CHAUTAUQUA
Lee Vining
Show off your ability to mimic a mountain
chickadee or a varied thrush in the Mono Basin
Bird Calling Contest, a popular feature of this
June avian festival. Birders come from all over
the country to see what species they can spot
in the wildly diverse mountain and desert
landscapes surrounding Mono Lake. Renowned
ornithologists, bird guides, and wildlife artists
make presentations and lead fi eld trips.
133 SAN FRANCISCO
PRIDE PARADE & CELEBRATION
San Francisco
The City by the Bay puts on one of the largest
Pride festivals in the world with an all-day
parade, rainbow-hued fl oats, over-the-top
costumes, cabaret performances, inspirational
speeches, and a joy- and hope-fi lled vibe. The
massive event attracts people of all orientations
who wish to celebrate the huge strides made
by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
queer civil rights movement-and who can
resist a great party?
134 HALF MOON BAY
ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
Half Moon Bay
This coastal farming town bursts with pumpkin
pride, and in October, the gourd-worship reaches
full tilt. Dress up in orange and race in the 5K
Pumpkin Run, sip pumpkin-fl avored beer, watch
Farmer Mike carve 300-pound pumpkins into
whimsical sculptures, or stuff your face in the
pumpkin pie-eating contest. The premier event
is the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off ,
in which mega-gourds the size of Volkswagens
tip the scales at more than 2,000 pounds.
October the gourd- orship r aches
full tilt. Dress up in orange and race in the 5K
Pumpkin Run, sip pumpkin-fl avored beer, watch
Farmer Mike carve 300-pound pumpkins into
whimsical sculptures, or stuff your face in the
pumpkin pie-eating contest. The premier event
is the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off ,
in which mega-gourds the size of Volkswagens
p the scales at more than 2,000 pounds.
135 GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL
Gilroy
Y G
C F
TI
Garlic lovers from around the globe pilgrimage
to Gilroy to attend this food and wine fest
celebrating one of Central California's biggest
crops, the " stinking rose. " Follow your nose
through Gourmet Alley, where garlic cloves are
incorporated into all the expected foodstuff s-
garlic fries, shrimp scampi, escargot-plus a
few surprises like garlic ice cream and garlic
upside-down cake. Live bands entertain the
crowd from multiple stages, artists sell their
wares, and the chi and the childrldren's area off ers games,
crafts, and other kiddie fun.
Garlic lo ers from around the globe pilgrimage
to Gilr y to attend this food and wine f
elebrating one of Central California's bigg
the " stinking r
crop
through Gourmet Alle
ollow your no
where garlic clo
shrimp s ampi,
ar
s ar
incorporated into all the expected foodstuff s-
arlic frie
-plus a
w surpris s like garlic ice cr am and garlic
upside-down cak
cr
ar
d from multiple s ag
Live bands entertain the
artis s sell their
en's ar a off ers game
136 ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL
Monterey County
You can stuff artichokes into burritos, pair them
with foie gras, puree them in soup, and dip
them in aioli. Or you can go for the shock factor
and bake them into cupcakes. The " Artichoke
Center of the World " sponsors this food-centric
festival featuring chef demonstrations, an
artichoke sculpture contest, a charity golf
tournament, and plenty of old-fashioned charm.
San Francisco
Pride Parade
137
CALIFORNIA
AVOCADO
FESTIVAL
Carpinteria
Expand your
avocado horizons
at " Avofest, " an
October gala
honoring this
nutrient-dense
fruit (no, it's not
a vegetable). The
three-day party features live music,
art shows, and vendors serving up yummy
green concoctions from avocado smoothies
to refreshing avocado ice cream. Enter your
recipe in the guacamole taste-off , learn about
Santa Barbara County's avocado industry, and
don't miss the Largest Avocado Contest. The
champion usually tops four pounds.
138 SANTA CLARITA
COWBOY FESTIVAL
Santa Clarita/Newhall
Polish up your pointy-toe boots and practice
your swagger for this April hoedown at William
S. Hart Park. Cowboy culture is the focus of
an event roster featuring a cowboy cook-off ,
chuckwagon barbecue, roping demonstrations,
mechanical bull riding, and readings by cowboy
poets. Five stages showcase live bands playing
folk, country, and bluegrass music. Even if you
can't spin a lasso, you'll want to eat the Dutchoven
peach cobbler.
Mono Basin
Bird Chautauqua
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