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Jessica
Dominick and author Del Albright arrive
at Snyder's
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Entertainment
includes music and native American ceremonial
dancing
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Petrified
seashells from Malaysia
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What do you get when you mix wonderful spring
weather with Native American ceremonial dancing, rocks, crafts,
gems, music, and food; and then throw in some down home fun?
You get the Annual Snyder's Valley Springs Powwow. 2006 marked
the 32nd year for the Pow Wow, as the locals call it. It's
a road trip worth taking.
Valley Springs is a growing rural town located
in Calaveras County of northern California, about 60 miles
southeast of Sacramento. Main highways 26 and 12 get you there
from State Highway 99 or Interstate 5, and signs easily point
the way to the Powwow once you're near Valley Springs. The
event is held on the first full weekend of May on a working
cattle ranch. Some participants estimated 15,000 to 20,000
happy faces at this year's Powwow, along with well over 200
vendors.
Admission is free and so is the ample parking.
If you choose to stay to enjoy the whole weekend, camping
is $10.00 per night and there's plenty of room for RV's and
tents in the open fields of the cattle ranch, and the calm
atmosphere is truly relaxing.
According to Betty Snyder: "One Sunday morning
in April 1975, John and I were awakened by a gentleman knocking
on the door of our ranch home. The man explained that he was
part of a rock hound club that had planned to visit Valley
Springs Moss Agate, but that the trip had been cancelled.
Would it be possible, he asked, for the members of the club
to go "rock hounding" on the Snyder Ranch?"
Over the last 30 years the ranch has continued
to invite "rock hounds" every May. Expanding to
gems, jewelry, silver-smithing, fossils, and many more of
our earth's treasures has helped the Powwow grow enormously.
This year the authors spent two days trying to
see and enjoy everything at the Powwow. We camped out in the
cattle fields nearby and had a marvelous time watching the
crowds partake in the festivities. We used our RV, but we
also saw tents under some of the ranch oak trees.
Jessica, our five-year-old, was fascinated by
the variety of colors, shapes and feel of the rocks. She even
captured a few digital images of the pretty ones. Malachite
from Africa and petrified sea shells from Malaysia were two
of her favorites. The Powwow is truly kid friendly, and letting
them learn about rocks and minerals is about as harmless a
hobby as we can think of. Jessica even had her own magnifying
glass so she could inspect every rock within her reach!
Plan a road trip to see the Pow Wow. It's a ton
of fun. The entire Snyder family invites you to the next Annual
Snyder's Valley Springs Powwow!"
For Booth information and Reservations call (209)
772-1265, visit the Pow Wow online at www.valleyspringspowwow.com
or send email to: Snyders@caltel.com.
Del
Albright
7/16/06
