Jumping for Joy at California’s May Fairs
Jumping Jehosaphat! The jokes abound about jumping around in May when America’s favorite frog event, Calaveras County Fair Jumping Frog Jubilee arrives on the scene in the Sierra foothills. It is but one of a list of fairs spread throughout the state in the month when things really get hopping.
Many say “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” story jump-started Mark Twain’s career. For 90 years it has been a staple at the annual county fair that’s “Going Frog Wild” May 17-20, 2018. On Thursday, the first day of the fair, there’s a 90th Frog Jump Birthday Celebration complete with free cupcakes while supplies last, and a kids free frog jump at noon on Rosie the Ribiter / Main Stage.
Frog welfare is taken seriously here! The fair has an animal welfare policy which includes frogs, perhaps because of what was done to Dan’l Webster, Smiley’s frog that could outjump any frog in Calaveras County (from the Mark Twain Jumping Frog story.) One day a feller, a stranger in the camp took a tea- spoon and filled the prized frog full of quail shot pretty near up to his chin.
California May Fairs
- SAN BERNARDINO: National Orange Show Citrus Fair May 2-6, 2018
- LA HABRA: Spring Citrus Fair May 4-6
- DIXON: May Fair May 10-13
- ANGELES CAMP: Jumping Frog Jubilee and Calaveras County Fair May 17-20
- CHOWCHILLA: Chowchilla-Madera County Fair May 17-20
- PORTERVILLE: Porterville Fair May 9-13
- ANTIOCH: Contra Costa County Fair May 17-20
- KING CITY: Salinas Valley Fair May 17-20
- ORLAND: Glenn County Fair May 17-20
- VICTORVILLE: San Bernardino County Fair May 19-28
- SACRAMENTO: Sacramento County Fair May 24-28
- CHICO: Silver Dollar Fair May 24-28
