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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, February 14, 2013
Eye Street Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Index Houston Jones .......................................... 18 Ticket Roundup ........................................ 19 Arts Alive.................................................. 20 Furry Paws and Foggy Nights .................. 21 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 22 Help Cupid Shoot Out Cancer dance ...... 23 Annual Citrus Tasting ............................ 24 Calendar .............................................. 26-29
Need a shot of Whiskey? Sure you do, and Kernville is happy to oblige with festival BY STEFANI DIAS Californian assistant lifestyles editor sdias@bakersfield.com
J
ohn Wayne, Roy Rogers, Humphrey Bogart and countless others have walked the trails of the Kern River Valley, but the real star of the area is Kernville itself. Thousands will flock there this weekend for Whiskey Flat Days, which will pay tribute to the area’s cinematic and musical past and present. This year’s theme — “Music on Movie Street” — tips its 10-gallon hat to the dozens of westerns filmed on an actual stretch of road (dubbed “movie street”) and beyond, starting with “The Forbidden Trail” in 1923. “There were so many westerns filmed here in the old days,” said Cheryl Borthick, president of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the festival. “They’re pretty ancient. We were talking about old Kernville.” Plans to screen some of the old films over the holiday weekend fell through, but guests can set the scene by visiting the Whiskey Flat Encampment, which celebrates a decade in operation. Re-enactors depict 1800s life for townfolk, mountain men and American Indians, from “horse doctor’n” to hut building. Speaking of horses, many will put their skills to the test, along with cowboys and cowgirls, at the popular Whiskey Flat Days Rodeo. The event runs Saturday and Sunday, but the fun starts today at 5 p.m. with the cowboy auction. “Everybody goes out to dinner. It’s a good night out,” said auction organizer Tony Cain. “When people get to the rodeo, they have something involved in it.” Gathering at the Elks Lodge in Wofford Heights, community members will support valley roping and barrel racing teams by bidding on pairs to win this weekend. Bidders collect 50 percent, 30 percent or 20 percent of the pool if their team places first, second or third, respectively. The auction has been around more than 30 years, with Cain in charge for about half that time. Along with organizing, he’s up for auction as one of the ropers. And
CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN
Julie Porter, left, and her daughter, Jessica James Porter, lead their pack mules, loaded with supplies, through the Whiskey Flat Days encampment in Kernville at last year’s event. This is a re-enactment of the 1800s Old West Day.
he said picking teams can be serious business. “I pick my two partners. They rope quite a bit. They (other cowboys) know who they want. There are husbands and wives, but they don’t usually rope together. If he misses, she’ll yell at him.” Cain anticipates there will be 15 to 25 roping teams and about a dozen barrel racers up for auction. Along with team roping and barrel racing, the rodeo, put on by Cotton Rosser’s Flying U Rodeo Co. out of Marysville, offers a variety of contests that draw competitors from across the West. “For cowboy races, they come from Idaho, Montana. In the wild horse race, it’s a four-man team. They are trying to saddle the horse. Guys get pretty banged up.” Other events include bull and sheep riding, calf scramble and junior barrel racing. Although the weather is expected to be calm, Cain said even in adverse conditions everyone has a good time.
“Whiskey Flat is just a muddy mess. It’s a lot of fun. ... Cotton Rosser, they put on a great event. People who have been here have always come back. They put on a heck of a show.”
Music and more Although music has always been a part of Whiskey Flat Days, it takes a bigger role to play up this year’s “Music on Movie Street” theme. The highest position of honor is during Saturday’s parade. “For our grand marshals, we have Out of the Blue, featuring mandolin player and Kern Valley High graduate Mike Gallagher; and the Sweet Adelines. ... We’ve been here 40 years in the Kern Valley,” Borthick said of the female singing group’s local chapter, of which she is co-director. Organizers selected those groups “because both of those genres of music (bluegrass and barbershop harmony) are American art forms.” “Down in Riverside Park, there Please see FLATS / 23
WHISKEY FLAT DAYS When: Friday through Monday; hours vary
1 p.m.: Rodeo, open team roping, calf scramble and more; continues 1 p.m. Sunday Where: Kernville; locations 2 p.m.: First heat of the frog vary jumpin’ contest held at Piute Admission: Free Drive by center stage; finals at 11:30 a.m. Sunday Information: 760-376-2629 Full calendar of events: 7 p.m.: Street dance on Piute kernvillechamber.org Drive with music by Obsidian; Whiskey Flat melodrama Partial list of events (“The Rat-Catcher’s DaughSaturday ter” or “Kern Valley Daze”) at Kernville Elementary School 7 to 10 a.m.: Breakfast, $7 a plate, tickets at the door. Kern Sunday River Masonic Lodge, 562 11:30 a.m.: Final heat of the James Road. Turn uphill past frog jumpin’ contest, Piute James Store. Drive by center stage 11 a.m.: Whiskey Flat Days 12:30 p.m.: Old-fashioned parade, with grand marshals 1860s costume contest Out of the Blue bluegrass band and the Sweet Adelines 2 p.m.: Old-fashioned whiskerino contest; pet Kern River Valley chapter; parade (sign up at noon) Sierra Way and Kernville Road; awards at 2:30 p.m. at 3 p.m.: Honorary Whiskey Flat mayor announced Circle Park Center Stage.