Middletown >> The Gibson Museum will be open extra hours on Saturday in conjunction with Middletown Days at Middletown Central Park, which starts today and runs through Sunday.
The evolution of Middletown Days since the name was adopted in 1961 is highlighted in Gibson Museum’s current display, offered from now until mid-July.
The museum will be open Saturday at 9 a.m. into the evening to welcome visitors who have come for the three-day rodeo and gymkhana event.
Middletown Days was initiated by local members and friends of the Pope Valley Riders, 20 miles away, to provide a more convenient location for competitions. The group also felt keenly the need for gymkhana training of young riders.
Land was donated in 1961 by families to create Middletown Central Park — an ideal place for an arena. For the first events, spectators happily accepted bleachers fashioned of donated 2-by-12 planks on recycled walnut shipping crates.
Year by year, the roster of competitions expanded to become a full-fledged rodeo.
Festivities begin Friday evening, and continue before and after the 10 a.m. Saturday parade on Highway 29 and Sunday. A barbecue takes place at noon on Saturday and a dance with live music in the evening. There will be a breakfast as well on Sunday.
A Pomo tule boat and the photo portion of the previous display from Harbin Springs — Lake County’s first resort — are simultaneously on display.
The tule boat is one of those constructed from tule reeds by Lake County Pomos for their annual Heritage Day Festival. The festival was initiated 14 years ago specifically to preserve the art of making these craft and enjoying their use.
The boats are now used almost entirely for recreation, but traditionally were used for fishing and transportation.
For further information, email gibsonmuseum@gmail.com, call 809-8009, or the Middletown Central Park Association at mcpa1961@gmail.com or 987-8285.
The park is located at 15299 Central Park Road in Middletown.
Gibson Museum & Cultural Center is located at 21267 Calistoga Road in Middletown.
