Gold Nugget Days

Gold Nugget Days celebrate finding a 54-pound gold nugget in 1859. The celebration began in 1959 and has continued every year since. The celebration of the discovery of the Dogtown nugget runs for two weekends

Find on this page:

Kickoff Weekend
Badges
Tent City
Merchant Decorating Contest
Miss Gold Nugget Pageant
Melodrama
Donkey Derby
Parade
Sunday at the Museum

Kickoff Weekend:

The festivities begin with the Law Dawgs and Pistoleros shooting up the Museum grounds, holding up stagecoaches, and generally causing mischief.

The excitement is sure to cause you to work up an appetite. A Bean Feed is held at the Museum at noon on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Boots & Hoops Dance is be held at the Paradise Senior Center.

The ball is sponsored by the Gold Nugget Museum and the Paradise Senior Center.

Dogtown in the Park includes K-9 demonstrations, dog training sessions, licensing, a low-cost rabies clinic, and fun dog activities like paw painting and ball bobbing.

The Children’s Costume Contest is a popular event and is sure to please young and old alike. The contest is open to children preschool age and younger, second through fourth grades, and fifth through eighth grades.

	Enter the family’s best friend in one of the most popular Gold Nugget Days events, the Doggone Doggy Contest. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, which include Smartest, Best-Dressed, and Owner Look-Alike.

Badge Art

Gold Nugget Days badges sell for $2.00 each and can win you a pure gold nugget! Badges are on sale at the Gold Nugget Museum and from merchants all over the Ridge. Register your badge at the Museum to be eligible for the beautiful gold nugget. There is no charge to register.

Tent City

Take a walk back in time to life during the Gold Rush at Tent City. See miners living and working as they once did along the West Branch of the Feather River. See demonstrations of techniques such as panning, rockers with sluice boxes, hard rock, and dry mining. Visit Mrs. Bassett’s cabin, the trading post, and the undertaker. There will be food, games, and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

View the tent city video

	If you’re over 21, stop at the saloon for a game of cards, a look at the dance hall girls, and a glass of beer or wine. Deputies will check IDs.

The Gold Nugget Days High Sheriff and his deputies will jail anyone breaking the law, including those not wearing a Gold Nugget Days badge.

Because the gold strike clearly is a good one, some permanent buildings have been erected. Be sure to visit the blacksmith’s shop, the schoolhouse, and the Wells Fargo Assay Office with its replica of the Dogtown Nugget.

Merchant Decorating Contest

Paradise Ridge businesses paint windows, put up decorations and displays and encourage their employees to dress according to the theme, merchants support the festivities and compete to win awards-cash prizes, gift baskets, gift certificates, a homemade quilt, advertising, and more. The Gold Nugget Museum makes lunch for up to 20 employees of the entry judged "Best in Theme."

Miss Gold Nugget Pageant

Ridge high school juniors compete for the title of Gold Nugget Queen. Each girl must find a sponsor and escort, submit a portfolio and create a dress of the 1850-1899 period. The candidates are judged on the historical accuracy of their costumes, the quality of the portfolios, their poise and demeanor and their appearance. The dress is the most important factor.

Melodrama

The ever-popular melodrama takes the stage for three performances-Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Donkey Derby

The annual Donkey Derby staged by E Clampus Vitus 7-11 commemorates the race up the hill to Dogtown to show off their good fortune when miners found the 54-pound gold nugget at Whiskey Flat in April 1859. During today's race, donkey and drover teams compete to get up the hill to Magalia community center and through an obstacle course-while carrying 54-pound weights. First, second and third place cash prizes are awarded the winners.

Parade

The Gold Nugget Days parade sweepstakes award of $200 and a trophy go to the entry judged best in the parade, regardless of category. To be eligible for the award, the entry must reflect the Gold Nugget Days theme.

Sunday at the Museum

Sweet Shoppe

The Museum offers food, music and a time to relax after all the big events of Gold Nugget Saturday. There are hoagie lunches for sale, lots of music, gold panning, blacksmithing and friendly faces.