SeeCalifornia.com

This weekend at Big Bear Lake the annual Old Miner’s Days Parade takes place on June 13, 2015. Pictured is a burro race which, according to an article written in 1970, came about when a  bunch of fun seeking Big Bear businessmen were looking for a diversion and came up with a unique idea. It was decided to obtain burros and race them down the main street of the town with the businessmen vying for a prize. In addition to this sport an old time celebration commemorating the gold find in Holcomb Valley grew about it and the whole thing became known as Old Miners Days. Today the festival which lasts all summer long includes the parade, Chili Cookoff July 11 and other events throughout the seasons. Next weekend on June 20 Yreka celebrates its gold rush heritage with one of the biggest, most dynamic gold rush festivals in California, Gold Rush Days. Live music and entertainment fills the downtown corridor. There are more gold rush celebrations throughout the year, as well.