Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/11/2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location
Angels Camp Museum
Categories
Mark Twain WildWest Fest Returns to Angels Camp with Music, History, and Family Fun
The spirit of the Gold Rush comes alive once again at the Mark Twain WildWest Fest, a beloved community celebration honoring the rich heritage of Angels Camp and the American West. This year’s festival promises a full day of immersive entertainment, historical reenactments, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Festival-goers will enjoy two stages of non-stop live music, featuring crowd favorites Black Irish Band and Old West Trio, alongside roving performers, cowboys, outlaws, and axe-throwing demonstrations. Gold panning experts will offer live demos, inviting guests to try their luck just like the Forty-Niners.
More than ten artisan vendors will line the streets with handcrafted goods, local art, and delicious food. Families can explore the children’s petting zoo, shop at Henry Angel’s Trading Posts, and dive into interactive crafts like candle making, corn husk doll crafting, weaving, and woodworking.
Adding to the spectacle, historical impersonators and re-enactors will bring iconic figures of the American West to life—including Jeffrey Weissman as the legendary Mark Twain himself. Guests are encouraged to dress in period costume, with costume contests held throughout the day for Wild West, Victorian, Edwardian, Gothic, and Steampunk styles.
The Angels Camp Museum will be fully open, with docents guiding visitors through exhibits including the Jumping Frog Jubilee, Albert Michelson, the Carriage House, Altaville Foundry, and the Ranching & Mining building.
A special presentation, Andrew Galliardo: Life in A Mining Town, will showcase the poignant letters of a miner who journeyed west in 1856. Rediscovered in 2020 by his East Coast descendants, these letters offer a rare glimpse into the hardships and hopes of Gold Rush life.
The community also celebrates hometown hero Riley Kitchell, a three-time International Frog Jump Champion (2013, 2018, and 2025), whose achievements continue to inspire local pride.
Come dressed, come curious, and come ready to celebrate the wild, wonderful legacy of Angels Camp!
“The Mark Twain WildWest Fest is more than an event—it’s a chance for our community and visitors alike to step back in time, celebrate our history, and make new memories together.”
— Debbie Ponte, Event Chair
ADMISSION:
Pay AT The Door or Online
FREE: Kids 12 & Under
$10: 13 & Over
https://www.angelsmuseumfoundation.org/
PARKING
Free parking next door at the church or park at Bret Harte Theatre and take the shuttle provided by Calaveras Connect.
