OAKHURST – Entering its 28th season, the Oakhurst Fall Festival, a “small-town fair,” offers fun, food, a Ferris wheel and much, much more. Taking place the second weekend of October–this year October 8, 9 and 10–the Oakhurst Fall Festival is the largest event in Eastern Madera County and brings together a variety of carnival rides, food booths, specialty vendors, a Saturday wine and beer-tasting from local vintners and breweries, as well as top-notch entertainment. Visitors and vendors alike arrive from all parts of California (and sometimes beyond) to participate in the fun. The event takes place at Oakhurst Community Park.
Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce produces the yearly event, and the committee has been hard at work since March to make sure this year’s festivities are the best ever. Chamber past-president and committee co-chair Donna Smith says, “This family-friendly event offers locals and visitors a ‘Small Town Fair’ themed experience, and people of all ages are sure to find something they like. I’m so thankful to the Oakhurst Chamber and Festival Committee for putting on such a fun-filled event.”
Gates open to the public at 3 pm on Friday, October 8, and the fun lasts until 9 pm that evening. You can party on Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm. Sunday’s hours are 10 am to 4 pm. Daily admission is $3 per person; kids under 5 enter free. Save money and add convenience by purchasing the three-day pass for only $5. Ride tickets are not included and are sold separately.
Let the Force Be With You
Let the Force be with you on Friday evening at 7:00 pm sharp when the Jedi Academy returns with its heroes and villains. Borrow a light saber for the evening, or take home your very own, and be prepared to be battle-challenged, in an entertaining way. Other children’s activities feature face-painting, rides, games and much more.
Among the featured events at this year’s festival is the Saturday night Small Town Barn Dance from 7 to 9 pm, to the music of local favorite 82 DeLuxe. Toes are sure to be tappin’ and feet stompin’, so get your dancing shoes on. Additional live entertainment during the weekend includes the Yosemite High School Marching Band, Terry Robinson, What Comes Next and live music with Ed and Larry.
What would a Small-Town Fair be without carnival rides? This year’s festival is bigger and better than ever. Blow your mind with the Mind Winder, the Ferris Wheel, Big Slide, inflatables, jeeps and midway games.
Our area’s finest vintners and brew masters come together Saturday afternoon from 12 noon to 5 pm for superb wine and beer-tasting. Join local favorites such as Oakhurst’s South Gate Brewing Company and Idle Hour Winery, O’Neals-based Westbrook Wine Farm and Friant’s Fäsi Estate Winery, as well as Coquelicot/Chateau’s Winery. A special addition this year is hard cider from Mariposa-based Sierra Cider. Beer and wine-tasting tickets as well as souvenir glasses are sold separately and not included in the daily admission price.
Each year the festival adds new features. This year it’s a Donut-Hole Eating Contest sponsored and operated by County Supervisor Candidate Bobby Macaulay as well as a Community Hands Canvas Project sponsored by Fullmer’s Appliance Repair.
This event couldn’t take place without the sponsorship of many businesses. Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce thanks Vulcan Materials Company, Central Sierra Enterprise, Sierra Tel, Visit Yosemite Madera County, Acorn Properties, Andrews Electric, Ameriprise Financial, Camarena Health, Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, Claiborne Lavoie and Associates, Emadco Disposal Service, Foster & Parker Insurance, Fullmer’s Appliance Repair, Granite West Funding, North Fork Rancheria, Premier Valley Bank, The Pines Resort, The Redwoods in Yosemite, The Wandering Bride, United Security Bank, Vyve Broadband, Walt Bannon Drilling, Western Sierra Garden & Gifts, Yosemite Drug and Yosemite Mortgage.
For further information, contact Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce by phone at 559/683-7766, by email at chamber@oakhurstchamber.com. Visit their website or their Facebook page for up-to-the-minute information. All photos courtesy of Visit Yosemite Madera County.
