Under the warm summer sun, on July 12th and 13th, a much-welcomed breeze carried the sounds of laughter and music through the air as Wrightwood celebrated its 61st Annual Mountaineer Days! The timeless tradition brings generations of residents and visitors from all over to this picturesque mountain town in celebration of Wrightwood’s rich history, traditions, and small-town spirit. From local vendors and eateries to animal interactions and live music, the fun was in endless supply.
Both days, families could enjoy a number of fun activities, which included kids’ axe throwing, a mechanical bull, a rock wall, and even panning for gold. If you felt adventurous or lucky, you had the opportunity to try your hand at several contests such as pie eating, watermelon eating, hula-hooping, and a water balloon toss! Each day also held raffle prize drawings and performances by the Daring Dames of Tease Saloon Girls and Gunslingers to take you back in time!
Live music from Winslow Band and Blue Eyed Coyotes set the background soundtrack each afternoon. Lessons with Lee even offered a free line dancing lesson on Saturday evening. The food options were plentiful, from pizza and burgers to rice bowls and burritos. If you were just looking for a snack or something to keep you cool in the warm summer heat, there were also freshly made pretzels in a variety of flavors, as well as snowcone and smoothie vendors. “My favorite part of Mountaineer Days is the food and live music,” shared Isela Rodriguez
Animals of all types also had their time to shine at the event! Slithers and Crawls Rescue brought out snakes, big and small, that you could pet for free or hold for any donated amount. Forever Wild brought out a skunk for attendees to see up close, and a baby crocodile that you had the opportunity to touch. Felicia Lyons remarked, “I like all of the animals; they are cool to look at, but I’m too scared to hold them!”
From newspaper hats and jr. reporter assignments to Mountain High raffles and everything in between, Mountaineer Days was a weekend to remember! Lilly Carmichael stated, “I like seeing all the different vendors and local businesses coming together for this event”. With every handshake, smile, and shared story, Mountaineer Days reminded Wrightwood that its greatest tradition isn’t just the event itself—it’s the spirit of the people who call this mountain town home.
