Gold Rush Days brings Wild West to the Streets of Old Sacramento in Annual Event

Gold Rush Days in Old Sacramento will celebrate its 13th anniversary this Labor Day weekend, with more activities than ever.

The event, which covers the streets of the historic district with more than 200 tons of decomposed granite, has been a hit since it started during the sesquicentennial of the California Gold Rush in 1999. It attracts about 100,000 people every year.

Part of the attraction is that the streets are closed to cars, and even deliveries are done by horse or horse cart.

As in the past few years, when the historic district turns back in time this weekend, there will be street acting, Wild West gunfights and re-enactments.

Musicians also will play songs on instruments from the era, and there will be ongoing concerts in the Save Mart Stage, in the Firehouse parking lot, which also features a farmers market, barbecue and a beer garden.

The free four-day event includes street dramas, dancing, gold panning and pony, wagon and carriage rides.

The popular gunfights, which in the first years occurred a few times a day, eventually moved to every hour. This year, there will be simulated Wild West gunfights every half hour.

This year also will bring two historic fire-fighting re-enactors, including the three historic firefighting wagons, as well as Buffalo Soldiers, blacksmiths, Pony Express riders, Native American storytellers and an artisan alley crafts fair.

Click here for the full event and concert schedule: http://www.sacramentogoldrushdays.com/

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