 Calaveras Grape Stomp and Street Faire
Who, in their right mind, would dress up like Bacchus or Lucy Ricardo and jump up and down like a banshee in a wine barrel with 25 pounds of grapes? Answer: No one in his or her right mind.
Gold Rush Day gives everyone the rare pleasure of getting un-serious in a serious world. Every first Saturday in October the historic town of Murphys transforms into a frenzy of activity with two renowned events - the Calaveras Grape Stomp and the Gold Rush Street Faire. Both events run simultaneously between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and benefit Feeney Community Park on Highway 4 in Murphys.
 Organized by the Calaveras Wine Association, the Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp takes place in picturesque Murphys Park. The day's events include energetic stomp competitions every half hour, live music in the gazebo, silent auction, BBQ, team costume contest, back and neck massage, children's games and face painting, belly dancing performances, and wine tasting.
Teams of two, one stomper and one swabber who collects the juice, stomp 25 pounds of grapes for three minutes. Out of the eight teams each half hour, the team that collects the most juice wins the heat and is eligible for the 4 p.m. finals. Cash awards and prizes are given to the first, second, and third place teams.
Competitions are highly encouraged between businesses, organizations, friends, and schools, and pre-registration is strongly recommended as stomp competitions sell out well before the event.
Just half a block away, shopping is to "live for" at the Annual Gold Rush Street Faire, as Main Street fills with over 100 booths of quality arts and crafts, antiques, handcrafted goods, jewelry, clothing, collectibles, and food booths, in addition to Murphys' multitude of one-of-a-kind specialty shops. The event is hosted by the Feeney Park Foundation, and has been a valued tradition in Murphys for many years.
One of Calaveras County's most popular pair of events, the Grape Stomp and Street Faire guarantee a good time for all ages, and general admission is free. |
Murphys Irish Day - A Celebration of the Irish
The Murphys homecoming tradition began in 1947 as the "Wingdam Event - Old Timer's Luncheon," bringing together a number of residents who had moved out of the area. The only two requirements for attendees that still remain today are: 1) they must have lived ten years or more in Murphys, and 2) they are 70 years of age or older.
Every year on the first Friday in December, Murphys celebrates the holiday season with a community Open House. Admission is free. The Open House is a great time to peruse Murphys' wonderful shops and restaurants, visit with old friends, light the community tree, and experience an old-time community holiday spirit. Musicians and carolers fill the streets with holiday cheer. A favorite of locals, the annual event is an old-fashioned community celebration featuring holiday treats, and local wines hosted by Main Street merchants and the Murphys Business Association.
The evening begins at 5 p.m. with Main Street being closed from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. If the weather permits, Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive at 5:30 p.m. by carriage down Main Street accompanied by many children. They make a stop at “The Tree House” to light the community tree, and continue on to the Native Sons Hall to visit with little girls and boys until 8:30 p.m. Parents may purchase a photo of their children with Santa for $5.00.
