Fiesta Days

Looking Back and Looking Forward

By: Nate Gartrell

In 1957, the citizens of Vacaville decided to come together in a weeklong celebration of the area’s ties to the American West, and what better place to do that than a city that literally translates to “Cow Town”? Sixty-two years later, the tradition continues with a multi-day party that shows off Vacaville’s fiesta spirit.

Known as Fiesta Days, this four-day celebration of the city’s past, present, and future is part of a lineage of large celebrations and parties in Vacaville that goes back more than 100 years. This year’s festival will be from May 23rd to the 26th, at its longtime home of Andrews Park in Vacaville.

The Fiesta Days celebration is run by a nonprofit, aptly called Vacaville Fiesta Days, a donor- and volunteer-run organization that puts together not just Fiesta Days, but also several other annual celebrations throughout the city.

“It’s not put on by very many,” said Karen Juliffs, the general chair of Vacaville Fiesta Days. “I think our whole staff is about 18 people, and we put on a 50,000-person event each year. It’s just our small board of directors and volunteers.”

Juliffs involved herself with the festival for 25 years, nearly half its history, and helped run the nonprofit for the past decade. She said many of the fiesta’s events and competitions—like the locally-famous Diaper Derby—date back to the original celebration in 1957. It is not uncommon to see families with multiple generations coming to Fiesta Days each year for as long as their families have been in town. “It’s a longstanding event,” Karen said. “There are a lot of special things about Fiesta Days.”

The history of Fiesta Days started long before the first festival actually took place: in April 1916, Vacaville put on an event called Pageant Day to celebrate the city’s history, as an early indication that Vacaville wanted its own fair, such as ones that are held in nearby Dixon each year. Fiesta Days’ website describes the very first pageant day:

Main Street was draped with flags, and 1,500 lined the street to watch the parade of 300 pageant participants pass from High School Hill down to Main…Chief Solano led the parade followed by American Indians native to the Vacaville area. Next followed the Spanish with descendants of the city’s founding families, the Vaca’s and the Pena’s. A chorus sang ‘La Paloma.’ Next came the Franciscan fathers, the gold rush miners, cowboys, farmers, the Japanese and Chinese, Gypsies and singing schoolchildren. Bringing up the rear were decorated automobiles—still a new sight in 1916.

Despite the success, Pageant Day turned out to be a one-time thing, but folks yearned for a festival of their own. In 1957, they created Fiesta Days as an echo to Pageant Day. The very first Fiesta Day leaned heavily on western traditions; there was a rodeo, two days of square dancing, a queen pageant, a large parade, and a beard growing contest. The beard growing contest was a bit more serious than you might expect—those who failed to grow a beard for the festival were thrown in a “jail,” specially made for the festival (all in good fun, of course). Nowadays, whereas 1,500 people attended Pageant Day, the Fiesta Days celebration attracts tens of thousands of folks each year, from Vacaville and the surrounding cities. As its website says, “Events changed and committee members disagreed, battled, quit and rejoined, but somehow, Fiesta Days has endured for 50 years.”

For this year, instead of two days of square dancing, the event will have a beer garden with plenty of musical grounds with local tribute bands: Jackson Stone, Hey Jude, Rhythm Method 4, the Time Bandits, and Skinny Lynyrd.

The festival will also have a carnival with more than 25 rides, as well as a Family Fun Zone for young children. “The kids’ zone is totally revamped,” Karen said. “This year, we’re coordinating with the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program.”

They will also host a longstanding annual competition, designed to make you hot and sweaty. I’m talking, of course, about the jalapeño and onion-eating contest. It takes a stomach of steel to compete—and you have to be at least 18 years old—but sign up if you think you’ve got what it takes, and compete against locals who’ve been at it year after year!

“People that come here from out of town end up spending time here and, living here, realize there’s something different,” Scott McKenzie, one of three grand marshals for this year’s Fiesta Days parade, said in a news release. “It’s really community-centered and oriented; it’s a pretty big town, but it still has a small-town feel.”

Then, there’s probably the most adorable event of Fiesta Days, the Diaper Derby, which is a race, of sorts. It features dozens of babies who crawl their way across soft mats as the outstretched hands of their parents lure them to the finish line. Prizes include trophies, bibs, baby T-shirts, and ribbons. Many Vacaville natives have participated over the years, even if they can’t remember doing it. According to the local newspaper, the tradition has been around for 62 years and counting. “I have seen families with five generations of members who have all been in the Diaper Derby,” Karen said.

On Saturday (again in the tradition of the original Vacaville Pageant Day), a parade will celebrate the city’s history and heritage, which will go down Merchant Street. This year’s grand marshal announced at a February cocktail party and crab feed, all are from one family: Scott, David and Ian McKenzie, the owners of Pacific Ace Hardware. “It’s an honor,” Scott said of the designation, in a news release put out by Fiesta Days. “It’s a great community.”

The Pacific Ace Hardware store has a common thread with the fiesta itself, in that both have been around since 1957. The McKenzie family has attended the festival for the long haul, and it is far from the first time its members have participated in the parade. “I’ve taken my children to Fiesta Days’ parades and events since day one,” David said in a news release. “Even when we’ve lived in Dixon, we’ve never missed a parade.”

Fiesta Days has a long list of other fun events: a golf tournament, a car show, and, before the festival starts, there will also be a kickoff barbecue at the park on May 20th. There will be a singing competition in the vein of American Idol that will be on Sunday at 2 p.m., featuring cash prizes for the winners of three age divisions: 5-12, 13-18, and 19+. $20 is the entry fee for all participants.

In order to put on celebrations year-round, Vacaville Fiesta Days relies on its own fundraising efforts, as well as the crucial work from volunteers around the city. While the work behind the festival is challenging, volunteers are a big part of what makes it all possible each year. “[Volunteer] opportunities include gate security, beer pouring, and clean-up at the Beer Garden from Thursday through Monday of Fiesta Days week…Volunteer shifts are 4-hour shifts and sign-ups are open on a first-come/first-serve basis,” the nonprofit’s website says. If you’re interested in volunteering, visit fiestadays.org/contact/how-to-volunteer.

Fiesta Days begin on Thursday, May 23rd and run through Sunday, May 26th. For additional information on events, to sign up as a vendor, or participate in a contest, visit fiestadays.org. Email them at fiestadays@yahoo.com or call the festival’s organizers at (707) 448-4613.

Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track. 

Going once, twice, 39th!

Napa Valley Vintners presents Auction Napa Valley May 30th – June 2nd

By Matt Larson

The 39th Annual Auction Napa Valley is fast approaching! Four days of vintner-hosted parties await at the world’s only single-case auction of 100 or more lots that include tasting wine, directly with the winemakers, straight from the barrel.

An annual sell out, tickets are now on sale, so get them as soon as possible! Especially now that special guests Katy Perry and Ayesha Curry have been announced, this event is the real deal. If it’s already sold out by the time you read this, start planning for next year, as it gets bigger and better each and every time.

You’ll also find an e-auction, open to wine lovers and bidders anywhere in the world in case you like to party from afar. And to keep in tradition, the grand Live Auction Celebration will again be held on the grounds of the same place where it started, and it has always been at Meadowood Napa Valley’s luxurious resort.

Produced by Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), proceeds from Auction Napa Valley support a wide variety of nonprofits and strategic initiatives that focus on bettering community health and children’s education. To date, they have invested $185 million in Napa County’s nonprofit organizations since their inception in 1981.

From American Canyon to Calistoga, impacts have been made in communities throughout the entire county. Some of those organizations that have benefitted from this event include NapaLearns, helping school district staff adopt innovations necessary for the future of their students; Aim High, making sure kids stay focused and motivated during summer break and easing their transition into adolescence; ParentsCAN, providing free services for families raising a child with special needs—NVV via Auction Napa Valley has been a real playmaker for nonprofits in Napa County for one year shy of four decades, so this event is a great way to show your support.

Now that you know Auction Napa Valley is a benefit for not just one, but dozens of phenomenal local causes dedicated to the greater good … what’s to expect?

“The spectacular, natural beauty of Napa Valley, the warm hospitality of our vintners, untold opportunities to taste Napa Valley wines and food from many of Northern California’s most renowned chefs…” Communications Manager Cate Conniff explained. “Our main objective is to provide an extraordinary experience for our guests and to do as much good for our community as possible.”

Everyone that attends has a different take on what their “favorite” aspect of Auction Napa Valley would be, as there is so much to see and do over the course of the four-day fête. “The vibe is pretty electric, and it’s great to meet people who come to our small valley from all over the world,” Conniff added.

Popular facets include bidding on special wines during Friday’s Barrel Auction, spending one-on-one time with vintners and winemakers as they talk about their wines that you’d be enjoying right along with them, noshing down with the chefs that made said noshes, attending exquisitely conceived dinner parties for very small groups, kickin’ back with Katy Perry and Ayesha Curry (from a distance, most likely)—the list goes on and on when you consider the perks of attending the auction to end all auctions that is Auction Napa Valley.

So while you won’t necessarily be able to cheers a glass of vino with Katy Perry and discuss the ups and downs of the music business over a peaceful meal at Meadowood, she will be launching the spirited bidding at Saturday’s Live Auction Celebration accompanied by a presentation of some of her biggest hits.

The main event is indeed the Live Auction Celebration, held under the big tent at Meadowood Napa Valley where you can bid on the region’s finest wines, as well as some rare adventures and treasures that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

Following the main event, guests will meander over to the towering conifer-shaded lawn at Meadowood to find celebrity cook and author Ayesha Curry, along with chefs hailing from the award-winning restaurant group of the Michael Mina family. Here, they will be cooking up some savory dishes over open flames that are sure to surprise and delight.

Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) is sponsoring the event, which is a nonprofit trade association that has been “cultivating excellence since 1944.” It consists of 550 members who produce some of the highest-quality, most-consistent wines in the Napa Valley.

This year marks NVV’s 75th anniversary. To commemorate such a milestone, 30 past board of director chairs will be coming together to serve as the honorary co-chairs of Auction Napa Valley. Louis M. Martini is one of the seven founding members of NVV, so for the big 7-5 the Friday Barrel Auction—the first major event of Auction Napa Valley—will be held at the newly restored Louis M. Martini Winery, leading many to refer to this night as somewhat of a homecoming. Positivity will be flowing through all parts of this event, especially since it’s all for such great causes, which is a much longer story than we mentioned above…

When the new school year began last fall, NVV awarded $2.5 million to children’s education in Napa County. They also donated an additional $4 million in capital expenditures to help build two new Boys & Girls Clubs facilities on each end of the county (one being in American Canyon and the other in Calistoga, both having opened in 2018).

OLE Health, the largest recipient of NVV funding, is one of Napa County’s only nonprofit health clinics. OLE practices a new model of healthcare where each patient works with a dedicated team of medical professionals to get the range of services they need, when and where they need them. One in five Napa County residents utilize it.

Supporting such a range of local nonprofits all at once is made possible only by the Napa Valley Vintners’ Auction Napa Valley. The event is to be held from May 30th through June 2nd. Ticket package options and plenty of additional information are available at auctionnapavalley.org. Prices can range from as low as $150 per person to attend the Saturday after party, to as high as $20,000 per couple for the full VIP experience.

There is indeed something for everyone at Auction Napa Valley; however, again, they sell out every year, so head online now to make sure you don’t miss out. You can also call (707) 963-3388 or email reception3@napavintners.com. Happy bidding! And tasting, and/or spitting if you’re driving.

Larson is an actor/comedian/director from Vallejo who lives a double life between the Bay and LA. When he’s not writing for Local Happenings Magazine he could be editing a short film or working on his next rap album—who knows!

Keep up with all things Larson at www.MarsLegstrong.com.”

Port Chicago

320 Souls and 75 Years of Remembrance

By: Nate Gartrell

The vast open space that sits between the Contra Costa County cities of Concord and Pittsburg will probably forever be known as the Concord Naval Weapons Station because of the tragic Port Chicago disaster that occurred there in 1944. The site, however, now known as the Military Ocean Terminal Concord, will be undergoing some drastic changes over the next several years.

For the first time since the land was designated for naval and military operations in 1942, large sections of it will be broken off for various purposes; the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) will turn the bulk of it into a new open space park, some will be used for development, and some will remain in the hands of the U.S. Army, which still uses the site for the same purpose as that fateful day 75 years ago when more than 300 people were killed in a massive explosion.

In July, the stewards of much of the land—the National Parks Service—will be holding two special events to honor Port Chicago’s history, giving the public a rare look inside the base. One, a July 17 commemoration, is a rare, exclusive event—anyone who wants to go must plan far ahead, and give the park at least two weeks’ notice.

“Because of access restrictions to the base, everyone who goes has to tell us two weeks in advance and we have to clear them through a background check,” said Tom Leatherman, the park’s superintendent. “It is still a military base, after all … it is always harder to get people out there because people don’t plan ahead.”

During that event, which is expected to last about an hour, speakers will recount the sacrifice made by not only the 320 sailors, seamen, and civilians who lost their lives in the explosion but the hundreds of African-American servicemen who refused to continue loading ammunition until conditions improved. Fifty of them were tried and convicted in the largest mutiny case in the Navy’s history. Nowadays, the incident is looked on as a layered tragedy, a moment when we failed to recognize institutionalized racial discrimination that should have been obvious.

“We usually do a short, solemn ceremony where we honor the people who lost their lives, talk about the significance in history, play taps and throw a reef into the water to commemorate them,” Leatherman said. “It’s important to keep the history of Port Chicago alive.”

The second event, will be free and open to the public, with less of a hassle to get inside. It is being planned with the EBRPD, Leatherman said and will include a tour and an in-depth look at the area’s past, present, and future.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941 and the United States’ entry into World War II, military bases and bunkers popped up all over California, and the Bay Area was no exception. The Concord Naval Weapons Station opened in 1942 after it became clear that the Mare Island base in Vallejo wouldn’t be able to accommodate the Navy’s needs on its own. The base’s primary function was loading ammunition onto boats that were on their way into the Pacific Ocean theater. Most of the units tasked with this were segregated African-American units, who worked in unsafe conditions. Many of the men weren’t properly trained beforehand and were expected to keep up with a demanding pace of work.

“We want to remember the people who lost their lives, but the story of Port Chicago starts with the explosion and becomes more complex,” Leatherman said. “It helps raise awareness of segregation and unfair treatment of people of color in the military.”

All this came to a head on the evening July 17, 1944—75 years ago this year—when two merchant ships—the SS Quinault Victory and SS E.A. Bryan—were being loaded with more than 4,600 tons of ammo and explosives, like bombs and depth charges. A little before 10:20 p.m. there was a series of massive explosions; two rail cars containing another 4,000 tons of ammunition were also caught in the hellfire.

The results were devastating. Everyone nearby—320 people in all—were killed. Dozens of buildings—essentially the entire base—were destroyed. Buildings were damaged all around the Bay Area, as far away as San Francisco, and the blast itself was felt in Nevada.

Most of the men who survived—and helped clean up in the aftermath—were immediately transferred to Mare Island. Within less than a month, they were ordered to continue loading munitions, with no new safety features nor additional training in place. In a rare, shocking move, 258 of them refused orders. Fifty of them were court-martialed, convicted at trial, and sentenced to between eight and 15 years hard labor, but granted clemency after two years. But their sacrifice had a rippling effect throughout the United States, one that continues to be felt today; there was mass outrage, and many were inspired by their sacrifice. Future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall attended the trial, for instance, and declared, “This is not 50 men on trial for mutiny. This is the Navy on trial for its whole vicious policy toward negroes.”

“The seeds of the Civil Rights movement were right at Port Chicago, these events that were in the news helped raise awareness that these sailors were asked to do very dangerous work without any training. That’s not the way we should be treating our citizens,” Leatherman said. “The outrage led to the immediate desegregation of the Navy and expanded out to entire armed forces.”

Leatherman added, “That still has resonance today because I think race relations in this country haven’t gotten much better than they were in World War II.”

Over the next several years, the land surrounding Port Chicago and the unincorporated town of Clyde will undergo a transition. About 2,500 acres will be turned over to the EBRPD, a process that Leatherman said is being “fast-tracked” and is expected to be completed in April. Other land will be used for development, and a tiny sliver will remain a military base, ironically performing the same function as that fateful day nearly 75 years ago.

“The conditions are a lot safer today,” Leatherman said.

There are also plans in the works to build a museum or interpretive center at Port Chicago, though that could take a decade or more to come to fruition. In the meantime, this branch of the NPS, despite its tiny staff, is working to keep Port Chicago’s history alive.

The NPS goes out to local schools and other community events to teach Port Chicago’s history and has contributed to an exhibit about it at the nearby North Concord BART station. Other national parks—like the John Muir Park in Martinez and Rosie the Riveter Center in Richmond—show films about Port Chicago as well.

“We still make an effort to do what we can to make sure that story is told, to connect people to the history through outreach,” Leatherman said.

If you want to visit the park outside of the July events, it is best to call or email and make a reservation. For additional history about the park, to view films or listen to podcasts about its history, and to join the Friends of Port Chicago, visit nps.gov/poch. You can also call (925) 228-8860 or send a letter to the local NPS mailing address at 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, CA 94553.

Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.