9 minute read
Lake County - Arts & Entertainment
Lake County - Arts & Entertainment
BY TOM LINCOLN
For a small rural county near the end of the north coast wine trail, Lake County has a surprisingly rich variety of arts and entertainment venues to help occupy time on your first visit and to give you good reason to return.
If you approach Lake County from the south along the Hwy 29 wine trail, you’ll find the small township of Middletown at the base of Mount Saint Helena. It’s home to Calpine Corporation , one of the leading producers of geothermal energy in the country. Its visitor center at 15500 Central Park Road is full of interesting exhibits, describing geothermal technology and how electricity is generated from one of the world’s largest underground steam reserves.
Just up the road is the Middletown Art Center, home of EcoArts of Lake County. It features art exhibits, local native American cultural exhibits, weaving classes and ECOARTS sculpture walks. Info@MiddletownArtCenter.org
In mid-June, don’t miss the Middletown Days Parade, as well as the Hidden Valley Lake Concerts on the Green on weekends monthly from May to September. Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course is the only 18 hole course in the county. Next stop on Hwy29 is Lower Lake. The Memorial Day Lower Lake Daze Parade and Street Festival is always a fun family outing. Stroll Main Street for a taste of old Lake County, including the town jail, possibly the smallest in the country, as well as the historic Lower Lake School House Museum
If you continue up Hwy 29 to the Soda Bay Road intersection, turn right it will take you to the historic Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum . Built in the mid-1800’s, this was one of the way- points for freighters and stage coach passengers traveling to and from Clear Lake and the Napa Valley and Bay Area. It has been relocated from its original site on Hwy 29 and fully restored by the County of Lake and managed by the the Lake County Historical Society and is chock full of exhibits and historic memorabilia. It is also home to the monthly Fiddlers’ Jam. elystagestop.com
Back on Hwy 29, located in the shadow of Lake County’s only dormant volcano, Mount Konocti, is the pioneer town of Kelseyville, the little town that doesn’t sleep. The Kelseyville Business Association makes sure there is something happening every season. If it’s Father’s Day, it’s Lake County Beer, Wine and Swine Baconfest . Main Street is blocked and food vendors offer all things bacon. Pork belly candy to bacon ice cream, Baconfest is a bacon lover’s paradise. The town’s quaint boutiques put everything on sale and the wine and beer establishments are standing room only. Make sure you stop by the historic Brick Tavern for your favorite mixed drink.
September signals the end of the pear harvest in Lake County, which means it’s time for the Kelseyville Pear Festival. Since the first festival in 1993, it has entertained thousands of visitors from all over the world. Shop the many craft booths, watch the famous tractor parade and dine on every pear delicacy under the sun. Held on the fourth Saturday of September, the event is preceded the night before with a sit-down Farm-to-Fork dinner on Main Street, featuring locally grown produce and farm-raised meats prepared by local chefs and served family style.
In mid-September is the Mexican celebration of Dia de la Independencia , marking Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810. Again, Main Street is the focal point for traditional dance and music demonstrations as well as food vendors serving up delicious Mexican specialty foods.
In December is the magical “Christmas in the Country and Parade of Lights.” Dozens of decorated floats, lighted big rigs, fire trucks and farm tractors parade along
Main Street. Wine and beer pubs and restaurants are packed and make for great viewing and fellowship. visit kelseyville.com
Kelseyville is also home to Clear Lake State Park on Soda Bay Road. Camp sites can be reserved in one of four campgrounds and there are guided interpretive tours, as well as the self-guided Indian Nature Trail. Lots of fishing opportunities and an expansive sandy beach make for a fun family outing. Just up the road at Hwy 29 and Argonaut Lane Thomas Dr is Shannon Family of Wines The Mercantile. Aside from being a great wine tasting and music venue, it is also the home of “Saturday Market at The Mercantile.” It is a year-round farmer’s market featuring locally grown produce, baked goods and crafts starting at 10 a.m. rain or shine. lakecountyfarmersfinest.com.
On the northwest shore of Clear Lake is Lakeport, the county seat and a magnet for year-round arts and entertainment. From June running through August are free Concerts in the (Library) Park . This lakefront venue features bands from near and far every Friday evening beginning at 6 p.m. There are food trucks and many restaurants in the vicinity or you can pack your own food and drink. The same park hosts the Lake County Theater Company for their annual Shakespeare at the Lake Production and every Fourth of July is a spectacular fire works display.
Along Lakeport’s Main Street are numerous quaint shops, antique stores, the Lake County Courthouse Museum main branch, which holds a treasure trove of exhibits, photos and native American artifacts, and the Lake County Arts Council Main Street Gallery. The historic Soper Reese Theater hosts many screen and stage performances during the year. Lakeport is the perfect destination for families with kids. Not only is there easy access to the lake with three public boat launch ramps and boat and jet ski rentals, but the new downtown Xabatin Community Park was completed in 2023 and offers a summer splash pad, jungle gyms, skate board obstacles and a basketball court. The Lakeport Main Street Association organizes the annual Memorial Day Parade down Main Street. Floats, fire trucks, equestrian teams and the local high school marching band, plus much more provide a cheery home-town experience for locals and visitors alike. Lakeport is also home to the Labor Day Weekend Lake County Fair. www. lakeportmainstreet.com
Hwy 20 Corridor
Entering the county from the west brings you first to Blue Lakes, with its stunning deep blue waters and world-class rain bow trout fishery. You can also tour the lake in one of the electric patio boats at The Lodge at Blue Lakes. Next is the charming town of Upper Lake, where the entertainment and unique vibe to this lit tle hamlet is centered at the historic man Hotel on Main Street . Built in the late 1800’s, the hotel fell into disrepair but was purchased in 2003 and restored by Lynne and Bernie Butcher to its original elegance. During the year the hotel and adjacent Blue Wing Restaurant & Saloon stage weekly live music performances in the pub and, in the warmer months, outdoors in the shaded courtyard. In the off season, the hotel’s Riffe’s meeting house hosts Concerts With Conversation where you can get close and mingle with performing artists. Their main attraction, though, each year is the three-day Blue Wing Blues Festival every Labor Day weekend in the courtyard. Blues bands from all over converge in Upper Lake to light up the evening that also features a delicious buffet dinner, drinks and dancing up close to the performers.
The renovation of the Tallman spurred a renaissance on Main Street where you can now wander through specialty and antique shops to browse for that special gift.
Travelling east on Hwy 20 are the communities of Nice and Lucerne, named for their counterparts in France and Switzerland. They offer a number of consignment and thrift stores to browse, as well as several lakefront parks. Likewise in the next town, Clearlake Oaks, the eastern most Lake County destination.
Clearlake
Located at the southeast end of Clear Lake off Hwy 50, it is a great jumping off spot for water sports. You’ll find everything on Lakeshore Dr., including first class boat launching facilities at Redbud Park , from where competition bass fishing tournaments launch several times a year. Continuing down the drive are Highlands Park and Austin Park, with playground facilities and sandy beach access to the lake. Don’t miss their summer concert series.
Cobb Mountain
Bravely rebuilding after the devastating Valley Fire in 2015, the community of Cobb stages its annual Blackberry Festival in August, featuring blackberry cobblers, ice cream, mouth-watering BB, live music, beer and wine and a play area for the kids.
PUMPKIN PARADISE
Between Kelseyville and Lakeport is THAT Ranch, a pumpkin patch and corn maze that opens in the fall. Over 100 varieties of pumpkin squash are available for the picking. The kids will have a ball filling wheelbarrows with their favorite carving pumpkins. There are farm and tractor trains, two apple cannons to test your marksmanship and dozens of midway games to occupy the kids. That Ranch is a big supporter of our local Future Farmers of America. that-ranch.com
DANCING IN THE STREETS
During summer months, the town of Kelseyville closes Main Street every third Thursday for its “Kickin’ in the Country” street dance. Great local bands, as well as regional headliners, keep things hopping starting at 6 p.m. Bring your boots and cowgirl bling!
A Piece of History
If you continue up Hwy 29 to the Soda Bay Road intersection, turn right it will take you to the historic Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum. Built in the mid-1800’s, this was one of the way- points for freighters and stage coach passengers traveling to and from Clear Lake and the Napa Valley and Bay Area. It has been relocated from its original site on Hwy 29 and fully restored by the County of Lake and managed by the Lake County Historical Society and is chock full of exhibits and historic memorabilia. It is also home to the monthly Fiddlers’ Jam. elystagestop.com
