What better way to say goodbye to the lazy days of summer than to take advantage of all that Calaveras has to offer? From an exhilarating hike to sun-drenched lake fun to relaxing with a glass of wine and some great music, Calaveras has what you have been looking for!
First and foremost – FREE FISHING – Labor Day Weekend Saturday September 3, 2022!! No license is needed for this day ONLY. All Fish and Wildlife laws are still in effect. Have a great day fishing on our Highway 4 corridor and beautiful tri-lake areas. Learn more on the CDFW website here.
- Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods (Calaveras High Sierra) Fishing Report
- Lake Camanche Recreation
- Explore Valley Springs tri-lake area and more with our Calaveras Lakes and Swimming Holes Guide
Labor Day Weekend in Angels Camp
ANGELS CAMP FRESH FRIDAY FARMER’S MARKET
Friday, September 2nd | 5:00pm to Dusk | Utica Park
Free admission. Set in the well-shaded and lush Utica Park, the Angels Camp Farmers Market features live music and a different highlighted winery attending each week. Including over 30 vendors, from produce and crafts, to food from local restaurants, live music, and food trucks.
Staying for the weekend? Find more fun things to do in Angels Camp here.
Labor Day Weekend in Arnold & Ebbetts Pass Corridor
ANNUAL SIERRA NEVADA LOGGING JAMBOREE
Saturday, September 2nd | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Sierra Nevada Logging Museum
Looking for entertainment with a sense of adventure? Catch the Logging Jamboree action live with logging competitions including axe throwing, choke setting and hot sawing, concessions, family friendly activities and more. Children under 12 are free; Adults, $8 each. Looking to cool off? Don’t forget to duck into the air conditioned Logging Museum for spectacular displays of the region’s rich timber industry. Afterwards, swing by the 45th annual Labor Day Arts and Crafts Festival (details below) and then take a dip in White Pines Lake (within walking distance of both events). You can even rent stand up paddle boards and other gear at the nearby Sierra Nevada Adventure Company, or hop on the trail to hike among giant sequoias on the Arnold Rim Trail or just up the road at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
Looking for more historic fun? Don’t miss West Point’s Lumberjack Day, the first Saturday in October, each year.
ANNUAL LABOR DAY ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Saturday & Sunday, September 3rd & 4th | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday and 4:00 pm Sunday | Next to Bristol’s Ranch House Café
Free admission. Arnold’s popular 45th annual Labor Day Arts and Crafts Festival is an end-of-summer celebration featuring over 50 vendors offering original crafts, antiques, and art of all kinds; not to mention gourmet foods as well as activities for kids and adults alike, all set to a backdrop of live music. The Arnold Lion’s Club will also be holding their all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast of ham, eggs, & pancakes both days from 7:30 am – 11:00 am.
SUMMER SWEETNESS – CALAVERAS BIG TREES ASSOCIATION
Saturday, Sunday, & Monday September 3rd, 4th & 5th I 9:00am – 4:00pm I Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Guided hikes through the North Grove are offered Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. This 1.5 to 2 hour hike is free with your paid admission to the park. Grab some water and meet near the Warming Hut. Please use the restrooms at the trailhead as there are none on the trail.
Campfire Programs are typically offered after June 15 through Labor Day weekend, Friday – Saturday each week. Programs begin just before sunset.
Pop-up Park Programs like puppet shows, scavenger hunts, and activity stations may occur throughout the summer season.
For program dates and times, please check park announcement boards or ask at the Visitor Center upon arrival. For more information about programs at the park, please call the visitor center at (209) 795-3840 or follow them on Facebook. The Calaveras Big Trees Association (CBTA) supports all educational programs in the park. Their event calendar includes all California State Park events and programs.
What a nice way to begin or end an adventure among the ancient giant sequoias.
ADDITIONAL ARNOLD, CA EVENTS
Labor Day Weekend I Arnold, CA
Find additional Labor Day weekend fun events such as the Arnold Bistro Espresso concert series and Cameo Plaza Summer Concert series by exploring our on-line calendar of Calaveras events by day.
BONUS: HERMITFEST
Saturday September 10th, 2022 I Hermit Valley
From the event organizers: “The Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway Association (EPSBA) is excited to invite you to join us for our 14th annual celebration on the pass, fondly known as Hermitfest. This year we will be celebrating in the ballfield at Bear Valley with an all-day music festival on Saturday, September 10th from noon-8 pm (but you know the music will likely continue on a bit later)”. Visitors should definitely make a weekend of it and spend some time checking out the entire Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway from Arnold to Bear Valley and beyond all the way to Markleevile, CA.”
Labor Day Weekend in Mokelumne Hill
LIVE MUSIC
Friday, September 2nd I 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm I Renegade Winery
Renegade Winery is hosting the Triple Threat Band featuring DJ Iverson from 5-8pm. A full menu, cold craft brews on tap, and amazing wines all under the covered patio with mister fans going full blast! Spaces are filling up quickly. Call or text Sue at 209-327-4969 to reserve your spot!
LIVE MUSIC
Saturday, September 3rd I Hotel Leger
Join the Hotel Leger for live music in the saloon! This Saturday, September 3rd 8:30pm – 11:30pm. Come enjoy the music and some of your favorite drinks. Hope to see you here! NO COVER CHARGE
Self-guided ghost hunting kits – Did you know you can borrow ghost hunting kits to go on a self-guided ghost hunting tour of the historic Hotel Léger any day of the week? Featured in numerous ghost hunting shows, borrow a kit from the Historic Hotel Léger in Mokelumne Hill, CA to explore the unknown this Labor Day weekend.
Staying the weekend? Find more fun things to do in Mokelumne Hill here.
Labor Day Weekend in Murphys
HILL TOP CONCERT SERIES
Saturday, September 3rd | Sunday, September 4th | Doors Open 5:30 pm I Music 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Brice Station Vineyards
Saturday, Rose’s Pawn Shop and Sunday, The Sam Chase and The Untraditional perform at Brice Station Vineyards’ Hill Top Concert Series. Admission to this family friendly event under the stars is $30. No physical ticket is needed, just give your name at the door. Kids under 12 are free. Dogs welcome on leash. Food by local vendors available on site or bring your own food or drink, but strictly no outside alcohol. Seating is an open lawn, bring low-back chairs or a picnic blanket.
LIVE THEATRE @ MURPHYS CREEK THEATRE & THE METROPOLITAN
Murphys Creek Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s King Lear I Doors open at 6:30 pm The beautiful, intimate theater boasts a great view from every seat. Located across from Murphys Park in the heart of downtown. Easy walking distance from restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms.
4th Wall Entertainment Troupe @ The Metropolitan in San Andreas presents George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion I Doors open @ 6:30 pm. Splurge a little and get the English Tea Party…only with wine package…4 tickets to the show, 2 bottles of wine, and 2 charcuterie boards only for $100!
Staying the weekend? Find more fun things to do in Murphys here.
Looking for more fun with wine? Don’t miss the 29th Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp and Gold Rush Street Faire, the first Saturday in October, each year. In fact, if you’re feeling some ‘Lucy and Ethel’ vibes, bring your team of two dressed up, ready to stomp some grapes!
Labor Day Weekend in Calaveras – Outdoor Recreation
Calaveras’ outdoor wonderland fills the adventure enthusiast’s heart with delight! In California, September doesn’t always signal Mother Nature to start cooling things down, so head to higher elevations and check out the Arnold Rim Trail for biking, hiking, and equestrian trails. Dogs with good recall talents are welcome to join you off leash for an end-of-summer adventure.
New Melones Lake Marina rents boats and watercraft for all levels of outdoor fun, and SNAC (Sierra Nevada Adventure Company) has paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes to rent and take over to White Pines Lake or up to Lake Alpine for a peaceful, cooler end to summer vacation.
Explore fun Labor Day outdoor recreation through one of our guides below:
Labor Day Weekend & So Much More~
SO MANY THINGS TO DO THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND OR ANY TIME IN CALAVERAS
Calaveras is rich with live music, food, wine, beer, art, shopping and educational events throughout the county this Labor Day weekend. Get in on the action by visiting our on-line calendar of events to find your venue of choice today.
SHOPPING: Shopping in Calaveras County is unique. No box stores here! Check out our historic downtowns showcasing family-owned and operated olive oil farms, locally-grown and sourced boutiques featuring lavender, soap, honey, and more, art galleries, clothing and shoe stores, an adorable village toy shoppe, outdoor adventure gear and supplies, and so, so, so much more!
WINE/BEER TASTING: Calaveras County is the perfect growing region for hearty Spanish and Italian varietals like Barbera, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Grenache, Graciano, Toringa, Albarino, Marsanne, Verdelho and Symphony as well as Old Vine Zinfandels, robust Cabernet and Petite Sirah. Explore the Calaveras Vineyard and Wine Tasting Experience here, or peruse a full list of Calaveras wineries here. Craft beer enthusiasts, there’s something for you, too! Explore Beer Lovers Guide to Calaveras here.
RESTAURANTS: Shhhh….Calaveras is cooking up some good food! From fun, family-friendly atmospheres to a more “foodie” experience, Calaveras serves something for every appetite and palette. We won’t let you go home hungry!
GOLF: Calaveras knows golf! There’s 18-hole, 9-hole, miniature, and disc golf…all your favorites!
CAVES: With 3 caves in the county, Calaveras offers fun guided tours as well as wild cave expeditions and thrilling axe-throwing. Call ahead, reservations are required for some activities.
MUSEUMS: Learn about the history of the California Gold Rush, logging industry, the Miwok people who pre-date western settlers, see a 19th century courthouse, classic schoolhouse or the largest crystalline gold nugget pulled out of the Mother Lode at one of our many museums.
Give us a call or drop us an email at the Calaveras Visitors Bureau. We would love to hear from you and help plan your visit to our beautiful county!