The cold damp weather was still not enough to deter Wild West enthusiasts and all visitors alike from celebrating another year of Kernville’s Whiskey Flat Days Festival held Feb. 18-21.
Each year the Kernville Chamber of Commerce hosts the event to commemorate the 154th anniversary of the historical town of Whiskey Flat, a long since gone mountain mining town which later changed its name to Kernville.
During the four day celebration, Kernville, along with the help of many volunteers, re-create the days of the old Wild West with costumes, stage coaches and Native American crafts and teepees resembling those of days long passed.
Visitors were able to take a step back in time as they watched re-enactments of smoking gunfights and hold-ups outside the Whiskey Flat Saloon and Old West Mercantile Shoppe. There was horse shoeing, cowboy cooking, saddle making, shotgun weddings and storytelling of old cowboys, miners and outlaws.
Vending booths dominated much of the area selling jewelry, clothing, leather goods and authentic handmade Native American arts and crafts.
Folks were invited to join some of the few contests being held throughout the days of the event, which included various costume, pie, jelly and jam contests.
Fine foods were made available by Sausage King and by a number of coffee shops located in the area, Plenty of live musical entertainment provided by bands: Off Track, The Knox Prairie Ramblers and Jest Reason, who were just a few to perform during the days of the festival.
There were many activities for kids to participate in such as making crafts, face painting, bounce houses, obstacle courses and mechanical bull riding.
The more major attractions of the festival were the Whiskey Flat Wild West Daze Rodeo, the popular frog jumping contest, the Kern Valley Museum exhibits and antique shop and the activities of the Cowboy and Mountain Man Encampments.
On Feb. 19, the Whiskey Flat days Parade kicked off with this year’s theme being, “Goin’ to the Dogs: Cowboy’s Best Friend.” The 2011 Grand Marshals of the parade were Kern County Animal Control Officer Fred May and Kimberly Mullins manager of Animal Control. Mullins also advocated having your pets spayed and neutered.
The 2011 Honorary Whiskey Flat Mayor was announced on Feb. 20 and two candidates were elected to share the honorary title, “Mean River” Gene Hacker and “Whitewater” Lucian Whitman.