frog

Every Spring professional frog teams from around the world flock to the heart of California Gold Country, to compete in the Calaveras County Frog Jump. Held on the third weekend in May in the tiny hamlet of Angels Camp, this competition first debuted in the pages of Mark Twain’s short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”.

As the story goes, a local man who was somewhat of a compulsive gambler bet a stranger that his frog would win a jumping contest. The stranger subsequently sabotaged the gambler’s frog, by filling its mouth with heavy lead bullets which rendered it too heavy to jump. And although the colorful characters in Twain’s tome were a product of the author’s vivid imagination; legend has it that the inspiration for this work came from a tale overheard in an Angels Camp tavern.

The first “modern” frog jump was held back in 1928; and today this popular event has evolved into a four-day celebration, which is now part of the Calaveras County Fair. And although access at the first frog jump was probably pretty difficult for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, today things have evolved so now everyone can enjoy this popular event. So make plans now to attend the famous, fun and festive Calaveras County Frog Jump.

Calaveras County Fair Basics

Held at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, this small town fair is filled with fun activities and events. From the Youth Parade on Thursday morning to the Destruction Derby on Sunday afternoon, there’s no shortage of family friendly activities to be had.

There’s accessible parking near the fairgrounds entrance with level access over to the fairgrounds. Inside some of the pathways are steeper than others, but most are doable for manual wheelchair-users and slow walkers. And of course, there are also accessible restrooms on the grounds.

If you’d like to save a few bucks on parking and skip the traffic then park your car at Save Mart in Angels Camp and take the free Calaveras Connect shuttle directly to the fairgrounds. Access is excellent on all Calaveras Connect vehicles, as they offer lift access and wheelchair spaces. And the drivers, who are extremely friendly, are happy to lend a hand if you need assistance. For more information about the shuttle schedule and hours, visit www.calaverasconnect.org/.

Another way to save time at the gate is to purchase your tickets online at www.frogtown.org. Sometimes the line backs all the way out to the parking lot at this popular event; and if you have your tickets in hand you can just stroll past that long line to the entrance gate.

Once inside there’s no shortage of entertainment, from shows and skits for the kiddos to live music foe everyone. And there’s level access to the livestock area which is filled with chickens, goats, pigs and cows; as well as the inside exhibits which feature everything from artwork and baked goods to quilts, preserves and a smattering of local businesses. And of course there’s no shortage of fair food to whet your appetite.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Jump!

Of course the highlight of the fair is the Calaveras County Frog Jump. There are two frog jumping stages at the fairgrounds — the Main Stage and the Lily Pad. The serious competition takes place on the Main Stage, but anyone can jump their frog for fun on the Lily Pad. A lot of first timers practice on the Lily Pad, before they move on to the Main Stage.

The competition begins when a frog jumper places his frog on the starting pad. After that he’s not allowed to touch him; however he can jump, yell, sing, hop, or do whatever he can to get the frog to jump. After three jumps the distance is measured from the starting pad to the final landing spot. It’s entertaining to watch the frog jumpers as each one has their own unique method of getting their frog to jump. The current record is 21 feet 5¾ inches, which was set by Rosie the Ribiter in 1986.

The competition begins on Thursday, and the top 50 frogs compete in the finals on Sunday afternoon. And the winner gets bragging rights, and a $5000 prize if they beat the current record jump. And when they’re not competing the frogs stay in the luxurious Frog Spa, which is located near the competition area.

The Calaveras County Frog Jump is a fun and accessible event. Make plans to spend the whole weekend, and enjoy some of the other accessible offerings in the area.