Coyote Sam Wants To Stop Round-Up

Sonora, CA — South Washington Street traffic in downtown Sonora was interrupted by a traditional Mother Lode Round-Up event, Coyote Sam and his band of “Outlaws” on horseback.

Each year the Outlaws try to stop to the Mother Lode Round-Up in a chaotic event featuring five outlaws in a mock gun fight with the Sheriff’s Posse. The Outlaws harass the Round-Up Queen Contestants and Sheriff’s Posse fight back.

The event spills out into the street as five outlaws on horseback call for Sheriff Mele to come out of a restaurant. The Sheriff Mele, the Sheriff’s Posse, and many others are at the annual Round-Up sponsors luncheon. Sheriff Mele eventually gives up his riding boots to save the queen contestants and the thieves trot off thinking they have stopped the Roundup for good.

This will be the 55th year of the Mother Lode Round Up and it will be held on May 12 and 13th.

The next big event is the Horsemanship Competition on May 5th at 10am at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. The Queen Pageant is Sunday, May 6th at 5pm at the Sonora Elks Lodge. The Band Review is Wednesday, May 9th at 6pm at Sonora High School. The Calcutta is Thursday, May 10th at 6pm at the Sheriff’s Posse Grounds. The Parade is Saturday May 12th at 10am, and the rodeo starts later in the day at 2pm at the Fairgrounds.

The Mother Lode Round Up is part of several events happening in May for more read the blog “Big Plans For May” here.