Groveland’s Largest Event Of The Year
It is the largest event of the year in Groveland. The annual 49er Festival and Chili and Salsa Cook-off takes place this Saturday.
Samantha Winkler with the Yosemite Highway 120 Chamber of Commerce, was Friday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day”.
Saturday’s events begin in Groveland at 7 AM with a pancake breakfast at the Community Center hosted by the Lions Club, followed by the the annual flyover at 8:45 and THE parade on Main Street (Highway 120) beginning at 9 AM.
After the parade, most of the events will move to Mary Laveroni Community Park with music, vendor booths, kids activities, live and silent auctions, beer, wine, the famous chili-cook-off, a salsa cook-off and other food as well. The event comes to an end at 5 PM.
A few years ago, a mixture of events proved to be economically devastating for Groveland, which relies heavily on tourism. This was due to both the Government Sequester, which closed Yosemite National Park, and the Rim Fire (California’s third largest wildfire in history).
By the time the 49er Festival arrived, participants were greeted that afternoon with a torrential downpour of rain and lightning and the event came to a quick end.
According to Winkler, the tourists have returned this year and the entire community is ready to welcome visitors to the town for this Saturday’s events. The theme of the festival this year is “Plant a Tree, Save a Forest”.
For more information regarding the ’49er Festival, Chili and Salsa Cook-Off, view http://49erfestival.blogspot.com/
The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard every weekday morning on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 AM.
