August 24, 2026

Four Decades of Community: Coyote Fest Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… By Erica Wolfsen – Yosemite Radio Correspondent – COULTERVILLE, Calif. – For 40 years, the historic streets of this Gold Rush town have echoed…

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

By Erica Wolfsen –

Yosemite Radio Correspondent –

Erica Wolfsen

COULTERVILLE, Calif. – For 40 years, the historic streets of this Gold Rush town have echoed with the sounds of community celebration, and the tradition continues this year on Sept. 26 when CoyoteFest comes to the Sierra foothills once again from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The milestone event transforms Main Street and the Coulterville Park into a bustling hub of entertainment, drawing locals and visitors alike for a day deeply rooted in local heritage and small-town charm.

The vibrant Main Street Parade kickstarts the festivities at 10 a.m., immediately followed by a classic car show.

The Famous Coyote Howl Contest, a festival staple, is returning with a competitive edge. Participants of all ages can sign up at the Park booth between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., vying for cash prizes in both individual and group categories when the stage lights up at 1 p.m.

The Park Basketball Courts will host the dedicated Kids Korner, packed with bouncy houses, interactive mazes and giant slides for all ages.

Visitors can browse extensive artisan booths and food vendors throughout the Park and Peddlers Alley, alongside a dedicated Margarita, Beer and Wine booth hosted on-site.

The action continues into the afternoon with a competitive Cornhole tournament starting at 3 p.m., interspersed with multiple History Center raffle draws and final car show trophy presentations.

To cap off the 40th-anniversary celebration, the festival stage will feature live music from Aaron Burnham and the Brushfires from 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Known across the Bay Area for their high-energy performances, the band brings a fresh perspective to roots music, blending classic honky-tonk and western swing with original tracks from their latest studio album, “Smoke & Mirrors.”

Yosemite Radio is still searching for the right band for a night concert post CoyoteFest behind the historic Gazzolo Saloon and Dance Hall building on Main Street from 6-8 p.m., so get in touch if you would like to be the first band to broadcast live from the new studio out back.

Want to get involved? Vendor and car show applications, along with parade registration, remain open. More information and registration details can be found at coyotefest.org.

Enjoy a howling good time at one of the region’s most enduring community traditions, all benefiting The Northern Mariposa County History Center.