2006-2007 Orange Book: Internet Directory
Events

EVENTS IN THE BACKCOUNTRY

JANUARY

Ramona Rodeo Queen Pageant-- Each year the Queen and Junior Queen who will reign over the Ramona Rodeo in May are chosen from a group of young ladies. Contestants must demonstrate their horsemanship skills, poise and talent before a panel of judges and an audience of rodeo fans.

Borrego Springs Community Concert Series -- The Borrego Springs Community Concert Assn. has, for 23 years now, brought four top quality concerts a year to Borrego Springs. The concerts feature top individual artists, chamber groups and ensembles. The concerts are held in the high school gym from January through April.

APRIL

Borrego Springs Pegleg Liars Contest-- It's probably most appropriate that this celebration of a famously mendacious miner is held as close to April Fool's Day as is practicable. Pete was a real miner who, for many years, kept his glass filled at the local bar spinning tales about his mine, which may or may not have existed. Each year all of the would-be tall tale artists in the County gather to try to outdo his memory -- and each other.

Grapefruit Festival-- Held the third weekend of the month, this festival bids farewell to the spring flowers with music, dancing, a classic car show and games.

MAY

Ramona Chute Out Rodeo: a tradition that began in the 1970s when legendary rodeo king Casey Tibbs helped start a small rodeo and invited some of his best friends to participate. Held the second weekend of the month the Ramona Rodeo has grown to be one of the most popular smaller rodeos, popular with the contestants because they love the down home hospitality; popular with the fans because some of the top performers show up each year. The rodeo starts with a parade and continues for the whole weekend with food and cook-offs at the Fred Grand Arena.

Santa Ysabel Art Festival- Usually held on the third weekend of May, this festival, sponsored by the Santa Ysabel Gallery, brings together an impressive collection of both professional and amateur artists from the Backcountry. You'll find some remarkably good pieces during this two day festival.

Ramona Airport Air Fair -- Held the last weekend of the month at Ramona Airport, home of the California Dept. of Forestry Air Attack Squadron. From this spot the U.S. Dept. of Forestry and CDF coordinate their air firefighting activities during fire season. You can see a lot of their equipment and learn about what they do at this interesting event.

JULY

Julian has one of the last (and best) old-fashioned Fourth of July parades and celebrations that you can find west of a Norman Rockwell painting.

AUGUST

Ramona Back to Country Fair and Junior Livestock Auction, held the second weekend of the month. Since 1970 this has been the Big event in Ramona. It combines the excitement of an old-fashioned parade on Saturday with a competitive 4-H livestock auction that's comparable to the Del Mar Fair's. There's a midway and rides and a chance to meet your neighbors and gossip about politics and the economy.

Julian holds its annual Weed Show and Fall Fine Arts show at the Town Hall on the first weekend of the month.

SEPTEMBER

Julian Grape Stomp Fiesta-- held the second weekend of the month at Menghini Winery. Several hundred pounds of juicy wine grapes are stomped in an authentic wooden barrel.

Bluegrass Festival & Banjo Fiddle Contest- held the third weekend of the month. Sponsored by the Julian Lions Club. For nearly 30 years Frank Lane Park in Julian has been the scene for two days of foot-stomping traditional mountain music. And it's not just banjos or fiddles, either. There's mandolins, dulcimers, guitars, you name, plus a variety of dancing. You can picnic or buy savory barbecue dinners. After the music dance through the night at the Harvest Moon Dance.

OCTOBER

Borrego Days-- Last weekend of October. Once the torrid days of summer are past its time to celebrate Borrego Springs Colorful History and, just coincidentally, welcome to tourists back. The fun includes the Miss Borrego pageant, Honorary Mayor's contest, a parade and arts & crafts on display.