Whiskey Flat Days

Whiskey Flat Days returns to Kernville, California from February 13 through February 16, 2026, transforming this Sierra Nevada foothill town into a rollicking tribute to its Gold Rush past, complete with cowboy shootouts, cavalry reenactments, rodeo thrills, and a parade that has drawn crowds to the Kern River Valley since the 1950s. Kernville boasts a historic past as an 1850s gold rush camp when it was known simply as Whiskey Flat, and this four-day Presidents Day weekend celebration honors that rip-roaring heritage with an authenticity that few Western festivals can match.

The Wild West Encampment anchors the festivities, where visitors wander among period-correct tents and watch gunslingers square off in dusty streets while craftsmen demonstrate the traditional skills that built the frontier. The Wild West Daze Rodeo delivers the adrenaline, showcasing bull riding, barrel racing, and team roping against a backdrop of mountains still dusted with winter snow. The parade remains a perennial favorite, featuring everything from ponies and vintage wagons to antique automobiles and occasionally the Wells Fargo team of Clydesdales, their massive hooves clopping down streets that once echoed with the boots of prospectors. A carnival rounds out the family offerings with rides and games, while local vendors hawk homemade goods and festival fare throughout the grounds.

The Kern River Valley sits within a vast, recreation-rich area of the Sierra Nevada mountains that includes 578 miles of trails, 25 campgrounds, and 10 designated day-use sites. Those who extend their stay beyond the festival discover a landscape where the wild river carved canyons through granite, creating some of North America’s steepest whitewater, with a gradient of 30 feet per mile. Lake Isabella, just minutes from Kernville, offers calm waters and scenic shoreline ideal for boating, with abundant bass, catfish, and trout for those who prefer their adventure at a gentler pace. Remington Hot Springs, situated along the Kern River, draws locals and visitors to natural pools overlooking the water, where the mineral warmth offers a perfect counterpoint to February’s mountain chill.

The Kern Valley Museum, located right in town, is full of items and stories from the days of prospectors and makes an ideal complement to the festival’s living history. Silver City Ghost Town in nearby Bodfish showcases structures from the region’s mining towns, all at least 100 years old, offering another window into the era that Whiskey Flat Days celebrates. For those willing to venture further, the Trail of 100 Giants provides a short and accessible walk among some of the largest and oldest sequoias in the world, while the Whiskey Flat Trail offers a scenic challenge with sweeping views of the Kern River and surrounding mountains.

When hunger strikes, Kern River Brewing Company stands at the gateway to the Sequoia National Forest as Kernville’s only brewpub, where award-winning craft beers pair with burgers, fish and chips, and flatbread pizzas on outdoor patios overlooking the river. Ewings on the Kern offers iconic dining with full menu and bar service and what locals consider the best views of the rushing water. Pizza Barn serves as the go-to spot for something quick and affordable, while The Cracked Egg delivers classic diner breakfast to fuel mornings exploring the valley. El Rio rounds out the options with family-friendly Mexican fare that has sustained generations of river runners and rodeo-goers alike.

The combination of Western heritage, mountain scenery, and the Kern River’s timeless flow makes Whiskey Flat Days an ideal anchor for a longer Sierra escape. Vacation rentals throughout the Kern River Valley offer the space and warmth that February mountain nights demand, whether you’re seeking a riverside cabin steps from the festival grounds or a lakeside retreat with views across Isabella’s 11,200 acres. Book your stay on Lake.com and discover why this corner of California has been drawing adventurers since the first prospectors followed the river into these granite canyons.