Last Saturday evening I
visited the revival of the Lake Elsinore
Frontier Days carnival put on by the Lake
Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce at the new
Alberhill Ranch Park (off Lake Street) and I had
a blast.
This may be a stretch from
the usual column but there were moving parts.
Celebrating Lake Elsinore’s
120th year of cityhood, there were carnival
games, rides, corn dogs, smoothies, friendly
vendors, music, a western
gun show put on by Pistols and Petticoats
and tours of the Sheriff’s Department’s
motorbikes and Station 85’s fire truck. (We
used to be part of the Pistols and Petticoats
group before we became Guns and Garters.)
How did this all appear to
just happen?
Kim Joseph Cousins, president
of the chamber, explained, “I grew up in Buena
Park. I remember as a kid enjoying the annual
Silverado Days, which, by the way, is still a
very strong and well-known annual event in that
city.
“We want to continue
celebrating our city’s history and provide a
traditional family fun carnival on the grass for
the kiddies to remember. I truly believe we have
achieved laying the groundwork for future
carnivals in the park, ’cause Saturday night we
had 7,000 people here.”
City Councilman Bob Magee is
optimistic about the future of Lake Elsinore’s
Frontier Days: “I had fun. I would like to see
this grow in popularity and continue to gain
community participation.
“It would be great if our
local volunteer organizations could participate
next year to keep our growing community informed
about services and opportunities from service
groups such as the Trauma Intervention Advisory
Committee, Historical Society, Animal Friends of
the Valley, the Women’s Club, HOPE, et cetera.
“This would be a perfect
venue for the public to know what other events
and services they are contributing to in our
city throughout the year.”
Frontier Days event promoter
Tony Trafton of Temecula owns Trafton Company.
You may be very familiar with his company.
Trafton operates the food
stands at other well-known events such as the LA
County Fair, Orange County Fair, San Diego
County Fair and the Farmer’s Fair at the Perris
State Fairgrounds.
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Trafton’s father was the fair
manager for many years at the Pomona Fairplex.
“I got started in the family business when I was
8 years old back in 1966,” said Trafton. “My
grandfather owned the Long Beach Pike.
“We also have produced the
Murrieta Block Party for three years in a row
now with a yearly attendance of 25,000 each
time.
“I’ve been in this business
all my life and I consider [the block party’s
attendance] to be a positive reflection on what
the community is wanting.”
Ruth Adkins of the Lake
Elsinore Historical Society told me in a
telephone interview that Frontier Days was
connected with the old rodeo that used to be
held off of Franklin Street and Avenue 6.
“I have this vest that once
belonged to a lady of significant history in our
city, Delores Mayhall [now deceased],” Adkins
said. “It has patches all over it representing
our chamber, Frontier Days, boots and cowboy
hats, an Indian on a horse, sailboats, the
gazebo in the park and a baseball diamond.”
I asked Adkins to look for a
date. “Oh, it’s written in pen on the back of
the vest: May 28, 1994. I guess that may have
been the last Frontier Day ’til now.
“[Mayhall] was dearly
connected with the old Frontier Days and the old
rodeo. We should continue to ask around about
the old rodeo and if anyone has posters.”
“Revising this event is part
of our history,” Adkins continued. “As our
community grows and matures we should nurture
the continued contributions for the future of
our families.
“How many kids know what it
is like to climb on straw bales and wander
around without their parents getting nervous?
You don’t see that very much these days.”
Lake Elsinore Mayor Darrel
Hickman’s eyes twinkled when he recounted his
visit to Frontier Days: “I had a turkey leg, a
Polish sausage and, for the first time, I had a
deep-fried Twinkie. I had a very enjoyable time.
“My wife Amy had to go down
the big slide. She is still a big kid at heart.
I enjoyed a cold beer with the folks from the
chamber in their beer garden, and the music was
just excellent.”
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