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Need some fresh ideas for holiday gifts that generally don’t find by shopping online? Head for some of California’s finest Western fests the weekend of November 8-10, 2019,  where you can purchase hand tooled leather saddles, bags and purses at Santa Ynez Vaquero Show & Sale.

If Native American arts with silver, hand tooled jewelry accented with turquoise, artfully woven hats, ceramics, sculptures, blankets and some cool leather-fringed jackets made by American Indians pique your interest, go to the Autry National Center’s American Indian Arts Marketplace.

While the focus isn’t on “merch” at the annual Death Valley 49ers Encampment, it’s cool to watch the wagon trains travel through dry and dusty Death Valley where special recognition is given to the California bound pioneer wagon parties of 1849-50.

And speaking of 49ers, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains are golden in the autumn when the Cowpoke Fall Gathering takes place at the historic Blue Goose Fruit Shed in Loomis. It’s stage entertainment like city folks have seldom witnessed with yodelers, cowboy poetry and some mighty fine ballads. The entertainment artists sell and sign their original music albums, art and books at this event that will delight Old West fans. The music and cowboy poetry is perfect for a Western themed party.