Calendar of Events
Bear Valley and Environs
May-October 2005

For more details on Calaveras County (CC) events, contact the Calaveras Visitors Bureau at 1-800-225-3764 or www.gocalaveras, com; for Alpine County (AC) events, contact the Alpine County Visitors Bureau at 1-530-694-2475 or www.alpinecounty.com; for events at Bear Valley (BV), contact Bear Valley at 1-209-753-2325.

May 2005

May 19-22    Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee Frog jumping contest made famous by 19th-century author Bret Harte; Angels Camp, CA; 1-209-736-2561. (CC)

June 2005

June 17-19    Sierra Nevada World Music Festival Three-day music festival at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds; Angels Camp, CA; www.snwmf.com. (CC)

June 17-19    Calaveras Wine Association Passport Weekend Sampling and tasting of local wines and gourmet delicacies at most Calaveras County wineries; 1-209-736-6722. (CC)

June 19    12th Annual Father's Day Fishing Derby Four age groups compete for planted trophy fish at White Pines Lake; Arnold, CA; 1-209-795-3112. (CC)

July 2005

July 2    Annual Bear Valley Search and Rescue Benefit Day-long benefit, including volleyball tournament, live band, and picnic; Bear Valley, CA; 1-209-753-2321 (BV)

July 2-3    Sierra Nevada Folk Art Festival Arts and crafts, entertainment, food and beverages; Arnold, CA; 1-925-372-8961. (CC)

July 9    Eva Schicke Memorial Ride A 45-mile memorial motorcycle ride on Highway 4 from Angels Camp to Bear Valley in memory of the first female California Department of Forestry firefighter lost in the line of duty. Eva Schicke died on September 12, 2004, fighting a forest fire near Yosemite National Park; ride proceeds will go toward a memorial to be placed at Ms. Schicke's CDF Helitack station in Groveland, CA; 1-408-980-7920 or www.evaschickememorialride.com.

July 9    The Death Ride This grueling 129-mile bike ride, celebrating its 25th anniversary, begins and ends at Turtle Rock Park near Markleeville, CA, and includes transit of five mountain passes and 15,000 feet of climbing; www.deathride.com. (AC)

July 30-August 14    Bear Valley Music Festival Now in its 37th year, the Bear Valley Music Festival brings live classical, operatic, jazz, bluegrass, and popular music to the High Sierra beneath its 1,250-seat Festival Tent, nestled against a granite cliff backdrop. Headlining the talented artists appearing at this summer's three-week festival are Mary Wilson and the Supremes; Bear Valley, CA; 1-209-753-2574 or www.bearvalleymusic.org. (BV)

August 2005

Through August 14    Bear Valley Music Festival See listing above. (BV)

August 7-13    Bear Valley Young Musicians Camp For young musicians playing at the intermediate level, this camp gives them the opportunity to participate in the annual Bear Valley Music Festival under the tutelage of professional musicians and counselors from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, with time for outdoor sports, games, and crafts; Bear Valley, CA; 1-925-672-8734. (BV)

August 20    Family Day at Calaveras Big Trees State Park Fun events for the whole family, free with park admission; 1-209-795-2334. (CC)

September 2005

September 3    10th Annual Logging Jamboree Fun and games and good eats at White Pine Lake, near Arnold, CA. (CC)

September 4    Bear Valley Triathlon A 600-yard swim in Bear Lake, 10.5-mile bike ride, and 3.4-mile run; post-race barbecue at Tamarack Lodge; Bear Valley, CA; 1-209-753-2080. (BV)

September 17    9th Annual Concours D'Elegance at Ironstone Vineyards Wine tasting reception; pre-event buffet dinner; over 100 years of automobile history on display, from Buicks to Duesenbergs; live auction; and Concours Gala; proceeds benefit California 4-H Youth Development Programs; Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA; 1-209-736-9285. (CC)

September 17    Bear Valley Bike Fest Fun family event near Bear Valley, CA; 1-209-753-2080. (BV)

September 24    4th Annual Basque Barbecue A barbecue featuring classic, hearty Basque cuisine, with all proceeds going to the Angels Camp Library; in Foothill Village; Angels Camp, CA; 1-209-736-2198. (CC)

October 2005

October 1    12th Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp and Gold Rush Street Faire Grape stomping competitions, live music, silent auction, barbecue, costume contest, belly-dancing, and wine tasting; Murphys, CA; 1-209-736-6722. (CC)

October 1    Lumberjack Days Popular event includes a parade, lumberjack contests, crafts, foods, and more; West Point, CA; 1-209-293-4325. (CC)