JUMPING FROG CONTEST OF CALAVERAS COUNTY

JUMPING FROG CONTEST OF CALAVERAS COUNTY

JUMPING FROG CONTEST OF CALAVERAS COUNTY  Our neighbors across the street "jump frogs' as they put it.  That means they participate in the Jumping Frog Contest of Calaveras County.  The family is now in Angels Camp jumping their frogs.  They have been participating in the jumping frog contests for years. 

And every year our  neighborhood gets a chance to participate vicariously . The family buys their frogs two weeks in advance of the contest.  During the two weeks they test their frogs to be sure they are good candidates for the real contest. They test their frogs in the middle of the street.  And all the neighbors, kids and passersby stop and watch for awhile.  Its fun for the whole neighborhood.

The contest is going on now in Angels Camp.  It is held from May 20 to May 22, 2011.  "Frogtown" is nestled between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. It is south of Historic Angels Camp and north of Sonora on Hwy 49.  The frog jump began in 1928 in downtown Angels Camp.  Over 2000 participants will jump frogs in the contest this year and over 35,000 people will visit to watch the frogs. 

In 1865 Mark Twain (Samuel I. Clemmens) wrote the "Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" a tall tale of the happenings of the gold rush town, Angels Camp.

The neighbors have won many prizes since they have been participating in the contest.  It sounds like a fun event which we will have to see sometimes.  Good luck to my neighbors.  Hope they will again.