Remember that time you were in Wales and you came across that little open-air market filled with booths offering the most marvelous items for the most reasonable prices and you later found out that it had a history that went back hundreds of years? It’s those little markets, the surprise festivals, and the special events in the places you visit that add extra sparkle to your vacation experience, and even though you may not expect it, this will be true in your Yosemite area visit as well. The small towns in this region are known for their celebrations, offering a wide variety of experiences, experiences that will be all that much more special when you return home to your Love Yosemite! California retreat; this guide will show you all about the local events in Yosemite and all the comforts of home found in our beautiful properties.
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Bass Lake Events and Festivals
Bass Lake, both the town and the village, is home to a surprising number of events and festivals, many of which we have listed below. For those staying in our romantic Bass Lake escapes, these festivals will be within a short distance of where you will sleep.
Fishing Derby, 2 Days in May
Registration for this fun event opens in February, with tickets costing $35 for adults (16+) and $15 for kids under 16, making it an extremely affordable event to participate, especially when you consider that there are approximately $55,000 in cash prizes offered for winners of the competition. The object is to catch, and turn in, fish that have been previously caught and tagged, with each tag offering cash prizes that coordinate with the number on the tag. We like to participate in the derby, because the fish are turned in live and returned to the water, to be a prize catch another day. You have two days and are allowed to turn in three tagged fish each day, so the opportunity to catch a big cash prize is doubled.
Light Up the Sky Bass Lake Fireworks & Boat Parade, July 4, Bass Lake
When you are located in and around one of America’s first national parks, you kind of take an extra pride in being an American, and the Light Up the Sky Bass Lake Fireworks and Boat Parade, held every July 4th (Yes, even if it is a weekday!) is one event you shouldn’t skip! Start the celebration early, heading to the beaches of Bass Lake in the morning, perhaps renting a boat from the marina, planning on a day of sun and water fun, but when 7PM strikes, be sure to pick a spot where you can see the boat parade pass you by! The patriotically decorated boats will be decked out in their finest red, white, and blue attire, each captain hoping to win the prize for most patriotic. After the boat parade has completed its procession, the fireworks extravaganza begins around 9 PM, offering the perfect ending to an Independence Day celebration you will never forget!
Annual Bass Lake Halloween Carnival, Last Saturday in October, 54432 Road 432 in Bass Lake
When traveling at Halloween, you can pretty much guess that your kiddos are going to be asking about where they can wear their Halloween costumes, and if you are traveling to the Yosemite area, you can tell them “At the Annual Bass Lake Halloween Carnival, of course!” Finding family friendly activities is important during any vacation but it is especially so during the spookiest holiday of the year, and our Halloween Carnival is always guaranteed to be a success! Offering a Bounce House, Halloween themed games, a dunk tank, face painting, and of course, food, the event is free to attend but does require money to play the games and to purchase food. It also offers a costume contest with some really cool prizes, so you may want to step up your costume skills!
Coarsegold Events and Festivals
We love all the towns that make up the Yosemite area, but we would have to lie if we didn’t say there was something extra special about the town of Coarsegold. The last remaining Gold Rush Town, people today still participate in mining for gold (on a much smaller scale) or panning for gold, but of course, it is the events of Coarsegold that we want to talk about today.
Annual Coarsegold Rodeo, the First Weekend in May, 44777 Rodeo Grounds Lane, Coarsegold Rodeo Ground
The rodeo comes to this historic Western town the first weekend in May and has done so for over 70 years, bringing broncos, cowboys, and big rodeo buckles to the forefront of our minds. Offering two days of all of the above, plus barrel racing, mutton busting, and rodeo royalty, we love this annual event and the history of the rodeo grounds themselves. Many world champion cowboys have appeared at this wonderful rodeo and live music that plays throughout the two days will have you wishing every day could be rodeo day, even when you return to real life and your own home sweet home. General admission adult tickets for ages 13 and over are just $25 per person, kids’ tickets for ages 3-12 are just $10, and if you are traveling with kids that are 2 and under, they are absolutely free. VIP tickets currently run for $200 and include rodeo swag, private bar, and the best seats in the house!
Music in the Meadow, First Saturday in June, 31899 Highway 41, Coarsegold Historic Museum
Music in the Meadow is an annual fundraiser for the Coarsegold Historic Museum, offering food, drinks, and live music of a variety of genres, including Oldies, Classic Rock, 80s, and Country. A silent auction offers a large selection of prizes that you never knew you needed until you saw them written down on the auction sheets, and the food, beer, and wine is sure to add to your experience. Bring a chair and sit in the shade provided by trees and a very large canopy, relaxing and singing along with the songs to which you know all the words. The museum and its outbuildings will be open during this four-hour event, offering the opportunity to enjoy a glimpse of the past, and a 50/50 drawing, aided by some of the youngsters in the area, offers a small-town charm you will be glad you were able to explore!
Coarsegold Tarantula Awareness Festival, Last Saturday in October, Coarsegold Historic Village
October is when tarantula mating season takes place, and it seems only natural that this takes place during the spookiest holiday season of the year, so why shouldn’t we offer a Tarantula Awareness Festival, introducing the world to the quirks of the hairy little creatures that have been the star of Hollywood horror movies and many an arachnophobes nightmares. You may not be aware of their importance to our ecosystem as they eat between 400 to 800 million bugs every year. The festival will give you the opportunity to meet some wonderful tarantulas, offering a long list of contests, starting with a pumpkin cheesecake contest and ending with a pet costume contest. Also offering live music, a pumpkin dance, a scream off contest, a children’s costume parade, and a trick or treat parade with the parents, and the live tarantula derby which is the last event of the 6.5-hour day, this event is sure to be a favorite of children and parents alike!
Oakhurst Events and Festivals
The town of Oakhurst is known as the “Gateway to Yosemite National Park,” offering a small-town charm and big country views, and because your Love Yosemite! retreat may be located in this town, you may be interested in the events listed below.
Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous in April, Oakhurst Community Center, 39822 Road 425B
April may be our favorite time of the year, as the snow melts, the sun begins to shine brighter, and we know that for one week in the month the Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous sets up shop in the Oakhurst Community Center. Providing a wonderful place for woodworkers to get together, share their projects, and potentially learn new skills, it is also a wonderful opportunity for average people to purchase the projects and maybe even take some classes. Offering classes, workshops, and a beautiful selection of woodworks that will make a beautiful souvenir, this event “wood” definitely offer a fun way to fill in a few hours!
Oakhurst Fall Festival, October, 49074 Civic Circle Drive, Oakhurst Community Park
As we mentioned above, when traveling with kids during Halloween, it is important to find things holiday related for them to do, and the best part of the Oakhurst Fall Festival is there are activities that both adult and child will be delighted by. Offering face painting, character meet & greets, and the opportunity to wear their new costumes, mom and dad will be thrilled at the wine and beer tastings, live music, and shopping at the vendor booths that will be found throughout the grounds of the park. Everyone, of course, will be enamored with the super selection of food trucks serving everything from gourmet treats, sweet desserts, and downhome comfort foods! The festival is free to attend, but don’t leave your wallet behind if you want to partake in games, food, shops, or drinks!
Oakhurst Farmers Market, Thursdays, June Through September, 4PM-7PM, 40596 Westlake Drive, True Value Home Center
Small town farmers markets always fascinate us, especially as they offer a peek into the ecosystem of where you are visiting, and the Oakhurst Farmers Market is the perfect way to test our theory. Selling local produce, home baked goods, and hand crafted items that will make beautiful gifts and souvenirs, spending a Thursday evening walking the aisles, purchasing goods to stock the kitchen of your Love Yosemite! vacation rental or souvenirs to bring home as a reminder of the wonderful time you had during your California getaway. Peaceful, fun, and rewarding, our Oakhurst Farmers Market will be an experience that will bring you joy.
All the Comforts of Home
Offering all the comforts of home, plus many, many luxury amenities, your time spent in our Love Yosemite! California retreats may bring you a peace and joy you never would have associated with a vacation rental until today. Family barbecues, pool parties, and barbecues create beloved memories, ensuring that you will spend as much time outside as you do inside, with many more activities taking place inside each and every one of our California retreats.
Step inside spaces that are light and bright and feel welcomed, accepted, and find yourself feeling welcomed and at home, a trait that not all vacation rentals seem to offer. Other companies may feel that they are giving you a place to stay, what more could you need, but you only have to step inside to feel the Love Yosemite! difference. Follow the paths created by wood floors and start your exploration of comfortable rooms, starting with the living rooms, reveling in the quiet moments as you watch television, sit in front of a roaring fire, and relax like you have never relaxed before.
Come Home to Love Yosemite!
No matter what event you are experiencing, you can feel reassured and at ease, knowing that you will come home to Love Yosemite! every night of your stay. Our homes are designed to be an integral part of your vacation experience, offering pristine spaces that you will grow to love. Reserve your favorite Love Yosemite! California retreat today!
