Valley State Prison Inmate Family Council

EVENTS IN CHOWCHILLA AND
THE CENTRAL VALLEY

May 18, 2019

Spring Festival

Spring Festival Parade

The Spring Festival is a grand tradition celebration that includes a parade, a large deep pit barbecue and a queen coronation that has been a part of Chowchilla since 1946. This popular annual event always occurs in conjunction with the Chowchilla Madera County Fair which is always the third weekend in May.

The Spring Festival Parade takes place at 10:00 a.m. on the Saturday morning of the Fair. The 2019 Spring Festival Parade will be presented on Saturday, May 18th. It travels down Robertson Boulevard from 15th Street down to First Street. You'll see many participants from schools, clubs, churches, and businesses make their way down the boulevard with grand sights and sounds for the large crowds that line the main thoroughfare in Chowchilla.

The parade is always on the annual Armed Forces Day and boasts a very large military display for the parade-goers. Military vehicles of all sizes can be found rumbling their way down the parade route. As a matter of fact, the Spring Festival Parade is the largest military parade throughout the state.

Local marching bands perform their most exciting music selections while floats create a scenic extravaganza as they pass by. The Police Department and City Council come out to participate in this event along with several other businesses who volunteer their time, their classic cars, and their talent. You'll also see local queens and their courts riding down Robertson Blvd. in beautiful cars.

May 18, 2019

Deep Pit BBQ -
A Chowchilla Fair Tradition!

The most popular event of the festival is the traditional barbeque that takes place after the parade on the Saturday of the Fair. The festival committee starts preparing the meat in advance to slow cook in large deep pits for many hours which makes it extraordinarily delicious. The Spring Festival Committee and many volunteers strive to make the annual event a family affair with great food and a large, shady picnic area for great conversation.

This is no small barbeque. Over 6,000 hungry people are served in 2 to 3 hours! The recipe for a successful Spring Festival barbeque includes: 9,000 pounds of meat -- 1,200 pounds of beans -- 1,000 pounds of salad -- AND YOU!!

ONGOING EVENTS

MOVIES MADERA THEATER

http://playingtoday.com/cinema/madera/

1140 North Gateway Dr

Madera, CA 93637
(559) 674-1511

MADERA SPEEDWAY

Click on the website for schedule of events:

http://www.racemadera.com/

MADERA FLEA MARKET

http://maderafleamarket.com/

The Madera Flea Market is open every Wednesday and Sunday, except during the annual Madera Fair in September. Arrive early to get the best deals and shop from 6am – 3pm.

The Flea Market is proud of its diverse and exciting vendors located on approximately 35 acres. Our products include fresh fruits and vegetables, electronics, clothes, shoes, jewelry, toys, beauty products, knick-knacks, furniture, and much more can all be found at this fun and diverse flea market!

FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
(BASEBALL)

For information and schedule:

http://www.gobulldogs.com

FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
(FOOTBALL)

For information and schedule:

http://www.gobulldogs.com

FRESNO GRIZZLIES

http://www.milb.com/schedule/

The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL), is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park.

TABLE MOUNTAIN CASINO
8184 Table Mountain Road

Friant, CA

Only 15 minutes from Fresno

Bustling spot for gambling & slot machines plus a wide variety of on-site dining options.

BINGO! With games 4-5 times every week, players can choose from traditional daubers or state-of-the-art computer packages.

https://www.tmcasino.com/

CHUCKCHANSI CASINO

711 Lucky Lane

Coarsegold, CA 93614

(866) 794-6946

This casino hotel with a 56,000 square foot gaming floor is situated in the Sierra foothills and a 39-minute drive from Yosemite National Park.

Standard rooms feature plasma TVs, Nintendo 64, minifridges, personal safes and high-speed Internet. Some suites offer separate living areas and whirlpool tubs. In-room dining is available from the 7 on-site restaurants, including a noodle bar, a traditional cafe and a steakhouse.

Amenities include a fitness center, a spa and an indoor/outdoor pool with poolside bar and cabanas. The casino features 1800 slot machines, 36 game tables and a poker room with views of the Sierras.

http://chukchansigold.com/

FRESNO CHAFFEE ZOO

Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a zoo in the center of Roeding Park in Fresno, California. It has a variety of animals, giraffe feeding, Stingray Bay, Dino Dig, Valley Farm, the newly constructed Sea Lion Cove, and Ross Laird's Winged Wonders Bird Show.

https://www.fresnochaffeezoo.org/

STORYLAND

890 W Belmont Ave.

Fresno

(559) 486-2124

Amusement center in Roeding Park with a Mother Goose-themed walk-through, rides & a splash park.

FORESTIERE UNDERGROUND GARDENS

Located at 5021 West Shaw Avenue in Fresno, California are an unusual manmade creation built by Baldasare Forestiere, an immigrant from Sicily, over a period of 40 years from 1906 to until his death in 1946.

http://www.undergroundgardens.com/

YOSEMITE

While visiting VSP try to take a side trip to Yosemite. The bus trip is reasonable. For schedule and pricing:

http://yarts.com/

FOSSIL DISCOVERY CENTER

We feature fossils from the Middle-Pleistocene (780,000 years ago.) Mammoth, Smilodon, Sloth, Dire Wolf, Camel and Horse are just a few of the 15,000 fossils found at Fairmead. Family-friendly museum & dig site showcasing fossils from the middle Pleistocene period.

http://www.maderamammoths.org/