Here in the no-longer-so-wild West, we like to celebrate our lifestyle and civic longevity with parades, parties, and lots of hearty food. The friendly folks of Los Alamos, that scenic burg located just off Highway 101 about 18 miles south of Santa Maria, are no different, having annually rolled out the red carpet and cast iron barbecues for going on 62 years now.
Beginning Sept. 26, Los Alamos locals invite residents and out-of-towners alike to join the fun of Old Days, a town-wide gala
that runs for three days straight. Saluting the region’s buckaroo heritage, several thousand people will gather on the main drag, called Bell Street, for what can only be described as a combination carnival, historical exposition, and tasty street fair.
Starting the long weekend in style, revelers can dig into a hearty repast of spicy chili, corn bread, and crisp green salad at the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club. This Old Days Chili Kick-Off Party, followed by a toe-tapping evening of live music and dancing, includes all of the nutrition necessary to get a head start on the weekend’s festivities.
After an evening of dancing, there’s nothing like a big breakfast to power up for the day to come. If that sounds like a plan, head right back to the Men’s Club, where Los Alamos Junior Grange members will dish up their traditional Saturday morning spread of steaming hot sausages and pancakes dripping with butter and syrup.
By 9 a.m., just a block away, the Peddler’s Mart will be in full swing, offering jewelry, antiques, artwork, and handicrafts for sale and sometimes for trade. Don’t worry about lunch, for the aromatic smoke from a dozen vendors will make it easy to locate burgers, hot dogs, Mexican food, and all manner of edible treats.
For those craving the region’s signature beef, the Men’s Club members come through again, for as soon as they clean up after the pancake feed, they’re laboring over a hot fire again. This time, they’re turning out succulent tri-tip, fresh off the grill and layered on fluffy French rolls.
These portable treats make it easy to nibble while wandering through the Classic Car Show on Bell Street, where dozens of spectacular rides line the road for one and all to admire. Or take your sandwiches over to the centrally located Ferrini Park to enjoy lunch and live entertainment from the comfort of a shady spot.
Don’t worry about the sounds of gunfire coming from the Civil War Encampment, for it’s not a posse gone wild, but a demonstration designed to simulate the feel of the Wild West. The Cavalry re-enactors—this year featuring the “California Hundred”—like to stake out the corner of Bell and St. Joseph streets, where they fill the air with puffs of smoke and startling percussions from their muzzle-loading rifle muskets.
On Saturday night, plan to stick around for the Cold Water Canyon Band playing country, rock, and blues at the Men’s Club. Cover charge for those 21 years and older is only $8 apiece, or $15 for two, with a no-host bar inside.
Sept. 28 finds hundreds of people lining up to watch the “Greatest Little Small Town Parade” as it makes its way down Bell Street. Tractors, fire trucks, be-ribboned bicycles, and flatbeds doubling as dance floors co-mingle with horses, baton twirlers, and Shriners in tiny cars to populate the procession with delightful surprises.
This year’s Grand Marshall is Suzanne Valenzuela, who came to Los Alamos way back in 1949. She’ll be heading the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. at Bell and Augusta streets, and ends at St. Joseph Street, three blocks away, a little over an hour later, which indicates just how many entries are expected.
Laura Kath, a Los Alamos resident and popular area publicist, will again take the microphone to emcee the lively parade. She’ll have her hands full announcing the roster of participants and band members who make the event such a happy spectacle.
Of course, hunger will likely strike after a long morning on the street, so it seems fitting to refuel on Sunday afternoon at the Men’s Club with a Santa Maria-style tri-tip barbecue with all the fixin’s. The beef, beans, bread, salad, and salsa, served from noon to 3 p.m., go for $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and kids younger than 12, and include the western musical stylings of the Howling Coyotes.
Down the street in Ferrini Park, the Righetti High School Marimba Band and Ballet Folkloric offer a memorable conclusion to the weekend’s activities. Don’t miss their colorful performances, and do plan to return next year for Los Alamos’ annual extravaganza of family fun, small town pride, and, yes, hearty food.
INFOBOX: Eat it up
The Chili Kick-Off Party takes place Sept. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club. Tickets are $7 per person at the door. The pancake breakfast on Sept. 27 is served from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Men’s Club and costs $6 for adults, $5 for children.
Tri-tip sandwiches are served on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Men’s Club. Cost is $7 each.
K. Reka Badger is big on historical exposition. E-mail comments or ideas to rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Sep 18-25, 2008.