The Big Picture –
By Glynn Wilson –
COULTERVILLE, Calif. – It was a beautiful early fall day for Coyote Fest 2026, the 40th anniversary of the event organized by the Northern Mariposa County History Center, with blue skies, a few clouds, a nice breeze and a high temperature in the low 80s.
A nice crowd showed up to have fun and socialize at the end of what’s been a hot, trying summer with tourism down due to high gas prices, inflation and a troubled economy. It was as if the people in the surrounding communities of Groveland, Sonora, La Grange, Don Pedro, Greeley Hill and Mariposa were ready to come out for a party after being pent up by their swamp coolers and not spending money for the past three months.
Aaron Burnham and the Brushfires, known across the Bay Area for their brand of California Country music, rocked the crowd with their blend of Americana Roots music mixing honky-tonk and western swing into original tracks from their latest studio album, “Smoke & Mirrors.”
Then for awhile there it sounded like a band of coyotes was on the loose in Coulterville Community Park. The Coyote Howl was popular as always this year.
The classic car show was impressive as usual, showing off both the ingenuity of American automobiles and the skills of those who restore and preserve them. We love our cars.
Residents and visitors lined the streets early in the morning for the parade, which kicked off a tad late this year but delivered a memorable show.
At the Yosemite Arts and Crafts Center, a steady stream of visitors seemed impressed with Coulterville’s newest nonprofit business venture, and vowed to come back to support the place where local artists and crafts makers can show off their creative work.
First Photos from Coyote Fest 2016
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Four Decades of Community: Coyote Fest Celebrates 40th Anniversary
There was an after party at the Coulter Cafe with Mark and Tony, and then Karaoke at the Crazy Coyote Saloon.
