ON-GOING EVENTS:
Gold Rush Days: Discover first hand what the life of a miner in early Columbia may have been like, with a chance at riches and a world of hard work to be had in the southern mines. At Columbia State Historic Park in Tuolumne County, the Gold Rush Days are presented by park docents in period attire. They will lead programs throughout the park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Gold Rush Days is presented each month on the second Saturday at Columbia State Historic Park, 4 miles north of Sonora in Tuolumne County, just off Highway 49. Free admission and free parking. Info: (209) 588-9128

MAY 2008:
May -June 8: Hank Williams ‘Lost Highway’: Country and Western music icon Hank Williams touched the hearts of millions in his short career. Now his unique magic as a performer and the simple spell of his yearning songs return to life in this spectacular musical biography. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120
May 3 & 24: Columbia Ghost Walk: Since Columbia consists almost entirely of historic buildings, it is repleat with ghost stories.

Storyteller Carol Biederman has collected her favorites and she shares them with park visitors as she leads them from site to site (including the cemetery) telling an appropriately eerie tale at each stop. Tel: (209) 532-1479
May 3-4: Columbia Fire Muster: Columbia is the home of volunteer fire crews from around the Western United States. These men and women travel to the park to participate in a variety of events designed to test their skills in modern and historic fire fighting endeavors. Hose cart races, bucket brigade competition and hand pumping contests are just a few of the events scheduled. There will also be a parade and a dance on May 3rd. Info: (209) 536-1672
May 29-31: Columbia Diggins 1852: At Columbia State Historic Park, in early June of each year, docents and staff recreate an early tent town to demonstrate the daily life of the young state. At Columbia Diggins, Tent Town 1852, you’ll get a chance to wander through the early Tent Town, enjoy entertainment at the theatre, step into the Saloon and order a Sarsasparilla, or browse in the authentically recreated Browns Mercantile. Bakers produce bread out of a recreated stone and brick oven, and you can observe costumed docents demonstrating a variety of early mining techniques, and even get muddy yourself, if you choose. Discover first hand what the life of a miner in early Columbia may have been like, with a chance at riches and a world of hard work to be had in the southern mines. Tel: (209) 536-1672

JUNE 2008:
June 7 & 21: Columbia Ghost Walk: Since Columbia consists almost entirely of historic buildings, it is repleat with ghost stories. Storyteller Carol Biederman has collected her favorites and she shares them with park visitors as she leads them from site to site (including the cemetery) telling an appropriately eerie tale at each stop. Tel: (209) 532-1479
June 8: Hank Williams ‘Lost Highway’: Country and Western music icon Hank Williams touched the hearts of millions in his short career. Now his unique magic as a performer and the simple spell of his yearning songs return to life in this spectacular musical biography. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120
June 15-16: Father’s Day Fly In: Pancake breakfasts, antiques, airplane & helicopter rides plus much more, including a spaghetti dinner and live music. Columbia Airport. (209) 533-5685
June 27-Sept. 7: “South Pacific”: South Pacific" - Set in an island paradise during WWII, and centering on two parallel love stories, South Pacific features an extraordinary balance between gorgeous music and a Pulitzer Prize winning script. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120

JULY 2008:
July-Sept. 7: “South Pacific”: South Pacific" - Set in an island paradise during WWII, and centering on two parallel love stories, South Pacific features an extraordinary balance between gorgeous music and a Pulitzer Prize winning script. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120
July 4: Glorious Fourth Celebration: Old fashioned Fourth of July with flag raising, firing of anvil, parade at noon, games from 1 pm to 3 pm and a tri-tip barbecue 4 pm to 6 pm. Held at Columbia State Historic Park, presented by Columbia Chamber of Commerce. (209) 536-1672

AUGUST 2008:
Aug. -Sept. 7: “South Pacific”: South Pacific" - Set in an island paradise during WWII, and centering on two parallel love stories, South Pacific features an extraordinary balance between gorgeous music and a Pulitzer Prize winning script. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120

SEPTEMBER 2008:
Sept. 7: “South Pacific”: South Pacific" - Set in an island paradise during WWII, and centering on two parallel love stories, South Pacific features an extraordinary balance between gorgeous music and a Pulitzer Prize winning script. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120
Sept. 19-Nov. 2: “The Big Bang”: Music by Jed Feuer/Lyrics by Boyd Graham. A lyricist and composer hope to lure investors (the audience) into backing their new musical, "The Big Bang," which acts out the entire history of recorded time. The production they envision will feature a cast of hundreds, costumes by the thousands and 302 prosthetic devices. Its twelve hour length, which will take up four of your evenings, is budgeted at $83.5 million. But for the moment, the team is a little cash-strapped, so they're forced to act out this backer's audition by themselves in the living room of a borrowed apartment in Manhattan. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120
Sept. 21: Fine Art Show: Over 40 local artists display paintings, pottery, sculpture, and photography on the shady streets of Columbia State Historic Park. Info: (209) 533-4656
Sept. 25-26: Columbia City Hotel’s ‘Ghostly Gatherings’:  Carol Biederman  will be your hostess for a fine dinning experience and ghostly story telling. Your night begins with a wonderful dinner liberally seasoned with ghostly tales. Following dinner, you will be led by lamplight up to the Columbia Cemetery. There your lamp guides will escort you to selected grave sites where the "residents" will leave their resting places, and for a few moments take on mortal countenance to share their stories with you. Info: (209) 532-5341
Sept. 27: Poison Oak Show: Poison oak and the creative mind. This event is like a traditional flower show, only all the entries must include Poison Oak. There will be live music at the St. Charles Saloon. Tel: (209) 536-1672
Sept. 28: Rose Show: Rose Show at the Eagle Cotage (Next to Fallon Theatre), sponsored by Golden Sierra Rose Society. Tel: (209) 536-9415

OCTOBER 2008:
Oct.-Nov. 2: “The Big Bang”: Music by Jed Feuer/Lyrics by Boyd Graham. A lyricist and composer hope to lure investors (the audience) into backing their new musical, "The Big Bang," which acts out the entire history of recorded time. The production they envision will feature a cast of hundreds, costumes by the thousands and 302 prosthetic devices. Its twelve hour length, which will take up four of your evenings, is budgeted at $83.5 million. But for the moment, the team is a little cash-strapped, so they're forced to act out this backer's audition by themselves in the living room of a borrowed apartment in Manhattan. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120
Oct. 4: Fiddle & Bago Contest: Fiddle & Bango (yes,"Bango") Contest singers, songwriters & musicians perform for the chance of winning prizes donated by local merchants. During the first contest, the word banjo was accidentally misspelled on the official banner by a painter. The misspelling has become a tradition. FREE admission! Over 40 artists and vendors. Food, fun and music! Info: (209) 536-1672
Oct. 11-12: Harvest Festifall: The emphasis is on traditional American wares at this festival. Demos of historic methods such as rope making, weaving & candle dipping are performes & sale of various arts & crafts highlight this event. Info: (209) 536-1672

NOVEMBER 2008:
Nov. 2: “The Big Bang”: Music by Jed Feuer/Lyrics by Boyd Graham. A lyricist and composer hope to lure investors (the audience) into backing their new musical, "The Big Bang," which acts out the entire history of recorded time. The production they envision will feature a cast of hundreds, costumes by the thousands and 302 prosthetic devices. Its twelve hour length, which will take up four of your evenings, is budgeted at $83.5 million. But for the moment, the team is a little cash-strapped, so they're forced to act out this backer's audition by themselves in the living room of a borrowed apartment in Manhattan. The Fallon House Theatre. Info: (209) 532-3120
Nov. 21-Dec. 21: ‘The Christmas Foundling’: Sierra Rep’s own Christmas tradition returns by popular demand. Inspired by the tales of Bret Harte, this original holiday play blends themes of home and family in a Gold Rush setting. It is Christmas Eve, 1852 at a cabin near rough-and-tumble Columbia, and a pair of miners are suddenly left with an orphaned infant. Over the years, the boy binds a loose-knit group of miners into a family. Then one night, a Boston woman arrives to claim the child as her nephew, and all those who love him must choose his future. Info: (209) 532-3120
Nov. 28-Dec. 21: Candy Cane Making: Watch the making of the Candy Canes at Columbia Candy Kitchen. All sizes and types for sale in the store. Info: (209) 532-7886

DECEMBER 2008:
Dec. 1-21: ‘The Christmas Foundling’: Sierra Rep’s own Christmas tradition returns by popular demand. Inspired by the tales of Bret Harte, this original holiday play blends themes of home and family in a Gold Rush setting. It is Christmas Eve, 1852 at a cabin near rough-and-tumble Columbia, and a pair of miners are suddenly left with an orphaned infant. Over the years, the boy binds a loose-knit group of miners into a family. Then one night, a Boston woman arrives to claim the child as her nephew, and all those who love him must choose his future. Info: (209) 532-3120
Dec. 1-21: Candy Cane Making: Watch the making of the Candy Canes at Columbia Candy Kitchen. All sizes and types for sale in the store. Info: (209) 532-7886
Dec. 5-6: “Lamplight Docent Tour”: Docents in period costume perform a series of skits depicting life in Columbia during the holiday season. Reservations fill up quickly, so reserve early. Fundraiser for Friends of Columbia State Historic Park. Tel: (209) 536-1672
Dec. 6-21: A Miner’s Christmas: This event offers an array of activities for the entire family. Costumed interpreters recreate the mining camp of the 1850s as homesick miners roast chestnuts and hot cider, and perform live music for park visitors. 19th century toys and games, Victorian Holiday craft making, and Christmas storytelling make this an enjoyable experience for the entire family, an antidote for the big store holiday shopping experience. And don't miss the candy store where you can watch candy canes being made. Events are scheduled for 3 weekends, Dec 6-7, Dec 13-14.and Dec 20-21. Tel: (209) 536-1672
Dec. 14: Las Posadas Nativity Procession: Los Posadas procession down Main Street of historic Columbia, gold rush style. The procession is given a Mexican flavor in this event. The streets are lined with candle filled paper bags & participants stroll down Main St. to the "manger".
Dec. 14: All Equestrian Christmas Parade: All Equestrian Christmas Parade sponsored by Mid Valley Unit of Back Country Horsemen of California. Call 209-559-2620 to be a part of the parade.