Skip to content
Help support CapRadio’s local public service mission 
and enrich the lives in your community.
Support local nonprofit public media.
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Alternative Events Planned As Gold Rush Days Canceled

  •  Ed Joyce 
Monday, July 28, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Ed Joyce / Capital Public Radio

Thamer Ahmad, who operates two retail shops in Old Sacramento, said the Gold Rush Days is a boost for business.

Ed Joyce / Capital Public Radio

Alternative events are being planned for the Labor Day holiday weekend in Old Sacramento after the cancellation of Gold Rush Days.

Blame it on the drought. That's the reason the event, in its 15th year, is off.

The festival transforms the streets of Old Sacramento back into an 1850's gold rush town, including putting 200 tons of dirt on streets.

But that dirt requires 3,000 gallons of water a day to keep the dust down during the event. And, when the festival is over, 100,000 gallons more to clean it up.

Mike Testa with the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau said it was a tough decision to cancel, but Gold Rush Days really depends on the dirt.

"It impacts running horses, reenacting the Pony Express, it impacts gunfighters falling down on the street, it's a little easier when they're falling on dirt, becomes a different scenario falling on concrete,” said Testa. “The more that we talked about removing the dirt, the less it became Gold Rush days."

Gold Rush2

Ann Tatum with Classic Coach Carriage Service said she is "very disappointed" this year's Gold Rush Days is canceled. "It's just a normal holiday weekend now," Tatum said. Ed Joyce / Capital Public Radio

 

A Gold Rush Days banner was in the air over Second Street Monday as Ann Tatum took visitors on carriage rides, which she has done for the past 20 years.

"It really is one of our busier times of the year but now it will just go back to being a normal holiday weekend,” said Tatum as she was preparing to take a family on a horse carriage tour of Old Sacramento. “Usually when I tell people about the event, they get most excited about the dirt. I like to see it get back to something more historical, something people don't get to see. They come down here normally and they think that this looks historical. But then when they come down and see the dirt, and the horses, the wagons, then they get really excited.”

Thamer Ahmad owns two retail shops on Front Street in Old Sacramento. He said the historical event brings in people from the San Francisco Bay area to Old Sacramento.

“It’s been a profitable weekend (Gold Rush Days) for everybody down here, if you sell food, or if you sell anything related to the event itself,” said Ahmad. “People get into that atmosphere, they have fun and they spend some money here.”

Testa, with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the bands scheduled to play in Old Sacramento will still be there Labor Day weekend. He said other events, including a pub crawl, are being planned.

Testa said the event drew 100,000 people last year and area businesses and hotels will be hurt by the cancellation of Gold Rush Days.

 


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Courtesy of Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau

    California Drought: Sacramento’s Gold Rush Days Back With Water Saving Plan

    Monday, May 18, 2015
    After it was called off in 2014 due to the drought, Old Town Sacramento's Gold Rush Days is back in 2015.
  • Ed Joyce / Capital Public Radio

    Sacramento's Gold Rush Days Festival Canceled Due To Drought

    Monday, July 28, 2014
    Organizers of Sacramento's Gold Rush Days announced that the event will not be taking place this year.

 Old Town SacramentoGold Rush Days

Ed Joyce

Former All Things Considered Anchor & Reporter

Ed Joyce is a former reporter and All Things Considered news anchor at Capital Public Radio. Ed is a veteran journalist with experience in a variety of news positions across all media platforms, including radio, television, web and print.   Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Kristin Lam / CapRadio

Sacramento guaranteed income program opens applications for second round of participants

March 20, 2023

Robert F. Bukaty/AP

The Maine lobster industry sues California aquarium over a do-not-eat listing

March 18, 2023

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

California’s Covid misinformation law is entangled in lawsuits, conflicting rulings

March 19, 2023

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: New COVID-19 origins point to raccoon dogs in China market

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic likely contributed to spread of a dangerous fungus, researchers say

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

CalFresh emergency benefits end this month — here’s what to know

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: New COVID-19 origins point to raccoon dogs in China market

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic likely contributed to spread of a dangerous fungus, researchers say

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

CalFresh emergency benefits end this month — here’s what to know

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.