COULTERVILLE — It’s an Old Wild West celebration this Saturday, Oct. 1,  in Coulterville in Mariposa County complete with a cowboy poetry contest.

Mare Lou’s Cup of Brew will be serving “go style” biscuits and gravy from 7:30 until 11 a.m. That’s the time ‘o day when vendors will be opening their booths and displaying their western art and other merchandise for sale in the park.   

The Coulterville Claim Jumpers putting on a shoot-out in the park at noon and will then roll out their chuck wagon, serving up Cowboy-style hot dawgs, Polish sausages and tri-tip sandwiches.  

Then at 1 p.m, those Mayoral Candidates who haven’t high-tailed it out of the County,  afeared of getting bushwhacked, will be flannel mouthing and wabblin’ their tongues, tolling for bribes…that is, um, votes…in the kick off of the first ever Coulterville Honorary Mayoral hoss’ race.

There be plenty of goin’s on at the park until 4 p.m. and there’s no admission fee. There’ll be watermelon seed spitting contests, chicken bingo, and a cowpoke or two twangin’ western music on the banjo and guitar and belting out a few western ballads.

Barbara Lyman, docent at the Northern Mariposa County History Center and whose own roots in Coulterville go back to the 1800s, will lead a tour of the Coulterville Cemetery starting at 4 p.m.  A $2 donation is requested for the 45-minute tour.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, assisted by the Rebekahs, has a Catfish Fry and in the historic IOOF building on Main St. from 4 to 7 p.m.  

The evening’s Cowboy Poetry performers include Coulterville’s own Keith Keenom as well as Mariposan Wendy Brown-Barry. Dan Routh, Madison Seamans, John Silveira and Fred Stepp (on fiddle) fill out the talent-packed program.  Admission for this event is a $5 donation for adults; free for kids

Both the Old Johnny Haigh Saloon and the Magnolia Saloon are open till around midnight.  There will be a country western band at the Magnolia Saloon.

Folks are encouraged to wear western garb, especially from the 1800s era.  Whatever you wear, be sure and bring a folding chair or blanket to spread out on the grass for the Cowboy Poetry.  

For additional information about all daytime activities including sign ups for the horseshoe tournament and ice cream-making contest, call 209-878-3074.  For more information about the Cowboy Poetry, call (209) 966-3155.