OAKHURST – Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park offers yet another event to close out the summer season in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Heritage Day takes place on Saturday, September 18, 2021, from 8 am to 8 pm.
Paul Adelizi, president of Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park, promises a day filled with fun, games, prizes and demonstrations.
Mountain Heritage Day is the latest iteration of an event born decades ago originally called Sierra Mountaineer Days, remembered fondly by long-time residents of eastern Madera County and beyond. Missing from this year’s event is the traditional parade, but a lack of personnel made that too difficult to pull off this year.
Nevertheless Fresno Flats has planned a multitude of activities to capture the interest of all ages.
Kids will be able to fish in the Huck Finn Fishing Pool, filled with up to 500 pounds of trout. Raley’s has donated 2,000 lbs of ice to cool the pond and keep the fish comfortable. A “touch pond” affords kids the opportunity to touch the trout.
Sportsman’s Warehouse has committed to a little kids’ archery range.
Local experts are primed to present talks of ten to fifteen minutes on an introduction to black powder guns and hunter safety from 10 am to 11 am. At 12 noon the Taylor log cabin roof will be dedicated, along with presentation of certificates of appreciation to donors.
That’s not all.
Heritage Day features a kids’ carnival with old fashioned games (such as “throw the dart at the balloon”), for the old-fashioned price of 25 cents per ticket.
Larry Smith demonstrates woodcarving.
Demonstrations abound, such as woodcarving with Larry Smith, candle making, rope making, “fake” cow milking, old-time laundry and blacksmithing. Coarsegold Gold Panning group plans to be present, as well.
Sun Mountain Gun Club presents an off-site black powder demonstration at their site in Coarsegold.
Fresno Flats has gathered up over $3,000 worth of raffle prizes, reason enough to attend, with the raffle taking place at 5 pm. A list of raffle prizes can be found here.
Will there be food? Of course! Matsumoto Samurai Kitchen and North Fork BBQ serve lunch, while North Fork BBQ dishes up a surf-and-turf dinner starting at 5:30 pm.
Various Mountain Artisan Market vendor booths offer products for sale.
While you’re there, check out opportunities to volunteer for Fresno Flats. The organization can always use help in a variety of capacities. A big thank you is in order to students from Glacier High School, our student docents, Sunrise Rotary and the local chapters of Caring Veterans of America and Soroptimist International for their kind assistance.
Welcome fall and say farewell to summer with a day at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park. For further information, visit their website, their Facebook page, email them or call them at 559/683-6570. All photos courtesy of Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park.
