Has it been a while since you’ve been to Middletown Days? Are you new to the county? Are you under the impression that Middletown Days is just a parade or a just a rodeo? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, read on.
Middletown days is actually a fundraiser put on by the Middletown Central Park Association (MCPA) to raise money to maintain and improve the park. The event lasts for three days. Yes, there is a parade and yes there are equestrian events, but Middletown Days is so much more! In recent years they’ve added Kids Play Day, Cowboy Church, a chili cook-off, a horseshoe tournament, a Dolly Parton Look-A-Like contest and brand new this year is Safety Sunday.
The event kicks off Friday, June 17th at 6 p.m. with Team Roping. For anyone who’s never been, the arena is located off Hwy 29. Turn right at the Calpine Visitors Center and continue to 15299 Central Park Road just past the Lions Club Building.
Saturday, June 18th grab a seat along Hwy 29 somewhere between Perry’s Deli and Young St. (TriCounties Bank) and watch the parade. The announcer’s booth is stationed in front of the Mount St. Helena Brewing Company and the parade starts at 10 a.m.
Immediately following the parade, the activities continue simultaneously down at Central Park and the arena (both located at 15299 Central Park Road). All day there will be vendors with merchandise, games for kids and food. There will also be Tri-tip, barbecue and live music.
One event I highly recommend that is back for it’s second year is Kids Play Day. Last year the kids were sorted by age and competed for ribbons and trophies in sack races, a three-legged race, and a watermelon eating contest. They also had a great time with all the water play, including periodic sprays during the races by the arena sprinkler. Typically, the weekend is hot, so the kids really dug the water play. My advice to any parent thinking about bringing their child would be to bring a pair of shoes for them that you don’t mind them getting dirty as the event takes place in the arena. Registration for this event is at 11:30 a.m. and the event begins at noon.
At 1 p.m. the Jr. Rodeo will follow Kids Play Day in the arena and trophies will be presented to the parade winners over at Central Park.
Saturday night get a sitter and come back and dance with us under the stars to the music of the Dave Russell band from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission is $10 a person. There is no entry fee for the Dolly Parton Look-A-Like contest that takes place during the band break. You can check out the band at http://www.daverussell.com/#home
If you’re not too tired from all the dancing come back on Sunday, June 19th. Father’s Day starts off with Cowboy Church at 8 a.m. The Lionesses next door at the Lions Club will be serving Father’s Day breakfast from 8-11. $5 for kids and $8 for adults. After breakfast we’re having Safety Sunday in the Park with the CHP and CalFire. Come meet the crews, get tips on how to be safe and have your child fingerprinted.
Also, on Sunday, we will have a Chili Cook-off, the Bloody Mary Horseshoe Tournament, more live music and you can visit any of the vendors you forgot to visit the day before. Sign-ups for the horseshoe tournament are at noon and the tournament starts at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $25 a person or $50 a team and the winning team splits the pot with MCPA.
Head over to the arena at 1 p.m. for the Gymkhana followed by the Rescue Race. One of my favorite events is just after the Rescue Race right around dusk…the Hide Ride! Basically, you have one person in a helmet, on a cow hide, clinging to a rope, being dragged behind their teammate who is on a horse trying to beat the clock. It’s highly entertaining.
Immediately following that event, the winner of the beef raffle will be announced. This year’s beef was generously donated by the Collins Cattle Company. Don’t be shy, remember this is a fund raiser. Raffle tickets can be purchased from any member of the Middletown Days Royal Court throughout the weekend. Help them fulfill their quota and maybe fill that spare freezer you have in the garage, too!
The complete list of events and times can be found in the free program that comes out on Friday, June 17th and on the MCPA website. The programs can be found at the Middletown Hardester’s, Grinder’s Steep, and all along Hwy 29.
