07/01/2012 - Summer's Full Swing!
Summer's Full Swing!
Wow, the year is half over and summer time is in full swing! It's a great time to be in the hills enjoying the scenic beauty, mountain air, history and all the musical entertainment that goes with it! Let's get started...
July's centerpiece is the Motherlode County Fair with all the great events you expect from the "Hottest Little Fair in California". Two hundred trees add scenic value to this garden setting, making the fairgrounds an event destination to an estimated 274,000 visitors throughout the year. The Mother Lode Fair provides our community event programming and a facility that enhances the quality of life in Tuolumne County.
- Friday July 13th features live music by Amanda Ply, Chains Required, and the Good Luck Thrift Store
- Saturday night July 14th, features, Open Mic Night, Amanda Ply, Dye Musica, Uplands Drive Band, and Patrice Pike.
- Sunday July 15th wraps up with Rockin' Rythym Wranglers, Patt James & The Night Crawlers, Mighty Coyote and Lost Weekend. As always the weekend arena shows will be humming with the 4X4 Truck Pulls and Destruction Derbys!
Friends of downtown welcome everyone to Sonora's 2nd Saturday ART NIGHT on July 14th from 5pm to 8pm. Visitors enjoy live music, art, wine tasting and delicious food while strolling the 8-block long arts & culture district of historic downtown Sonora. From the historic Sonora Opera Hall to the Red Church galleries, shops and restaurants help us celebrate our creative life in the Sierra foothills.
We are coming up on our second anniversary, which will be on September 8th, 2012. Interest and attendance has been growing. The word is out: Sonora is a cool and happening place! Amgen gave us a huge booster shot on that message. Now we all have to keep that momentum moving forward. But it is exciting to see how many folks are rallying behind this MONTHLY CELEBRATION of our wonderful little historic town-- A little mini-party each month to keep our message out there! Sonora NIght Out will publish a special Art Night Newsletter as all the detailed information is confirmed, so watch your e-mail!
No one does it better than Black Oak Casino's, Willow Creek Lounge and their line up of talent for July means nothing but great entertainment for the summer! Live performances by Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix Tribute - July 6th, Steel Breeze - July 7th, Hot August Nights, Neil Diamond Tribute - July 13th. Classic Country great Mark Chesnutt performs - Thursday, July 19, Shane Dwight - July 21 and a Jimmy Buffet Tribute July 27th more shows available on line.
... Also Black Oak is going all out to be your #1 choice for entertainment and dining out with a great offering of restaurants and bars. The Mill Sports Bar & Grill is where you can grab a cold brew and burger, full menus and family dining are at the Black Oak Cafe and Kingpins Restaurants. Quick coffee jump starts are found at Jumping Coyote Espresso. Did you know they also have a complete family Fun Center with 24 lanes of Brunswick bowling, complete pro shop, family nights and cosmic bowling? Great fun and specials are there, all the time, at Black Oak Casino, Tuolumne City! Check SNO for full schedule.
Live Music in the air! This is the time when all the fine cities of Tuolumne come alive with concerts presenting a variety of music with a distinct flavor of the Sierra mountain lifestyle. Twain Harte leads the way with there legendary Concerts in the Pines! This regular Saturday event: Val Starr & the Blues Rocket - July 7th, Jana & Friends- July 14th, Micheal Goodell's Magnificent Dance Band - July 21.
Saturday & Sunday, July 21-22, DON'T MISS the Twain Harte Summer Arts & Wine Festival with over 100 crafts and artists and wine tastings. Live concert by one of this areas favorite Cajun Fiddle artists, Tom Rigney and Flambeau will get the crowds moving at this annual Twain Harte event. Also: if you haven't got your fill of Cajun zydeco The BluesBox Bayou Band begins there sweep through the hills with their opening Concert in the Pines, on August 4th, more details on that next month.
Sonora will open up it's Courthouse Lawn Concerts just off Washington Street! Leroy Garner Quartet plays July 13th, the Tour Guides on July 20 and Coyote Hill performs July 27th. Starts 6PM. Tuolumne City has there regular Wednesday Night Music in the Park series with Crash Landing, Swing Gitane and Dossi on the Rocks, check SNO for the full schedule.
Ghost Tours of Columbia, a great program offered by the Columbia Museum, will be taking reservations for July 14th Tour 209-532-3184. Join us on the tour to find out where they lurk and the stories behind those who lived in Columbia during the Gold Rush. Maybe some of our old drinking buddies.
Music Under the Stars!... The Sierra Mountain Band get into their Friday night run at Hurst Ranch BBQ... For a fine cowboy BBQ dinner and great authentic cowboy music, this is the place to be! But make reservations early, these dinners sell out quickly! 209-984-4040.
Our local Performing Arts Centers continue to offer Sonora top flight stage productions not matched in any other area. The highly anticipated production of RED opens it's run at Stage 3 this month. The Sierra Repertory Theatre reminds us of the good ol' lazy days of summer with its grand production of Carousel. We look forward to seeing both very soon, get your tickets early, these gems don't last long.
Ironstone Amphitheatre is blowing the doors off with a summer concert schedule second to none. Get your tickets early for the likes of Reba / Whiskey Dawn - July 21, Kelly Clarkson - July 28 and John Forgerty - August 4th. Don't Miss the annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks display with Shane Dwight, Saturday, July 7th!
Aloft Art Gallery, Sat July 14th, 5PM. Sherie Drake's oil paintings of men and women serving our country, are featured in the gallery window. Sherie was inspired to paint this series by photos given to her by her step-grandson, Kyle Gribi. Kyle served two tours in Iraq and received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for bravery and meritorious service. Painting these became a personal statement for Sherie, to honor those willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. The Best Happy Hours we've found are in Jamestown! Check out the Gypsy Shack and Hooligan's for great weekly Happy Hour specials. Great little hideaways where nobody will find you! Check SNO for their daily postings! Many more specials and events on SonoraNightOut.com.
Thanks everyone for this SNO minute.
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