To kick off the jam packed music weekend, the Wernick Method Jam Class will be taught on Wednesday and Thursday covering beginning and intermediate levels for all Bluegrass instruments. You can pre-register for a discount, or on site prior to class.

Deering’s Jamming School for banjo players is included in Jubilee admission and is offered Friday thru Sunday. Other workshops in guitar, mandolin, harmonica and line dancing are offered throughout the weekend. Check schedule for times.

Twelve banjo contestants can enter the Deering Banjo Championship at 12 noon, Saturday. $1,500 cash is offered 1st. thru 3rd. place.

Evening pickin’ party locations are now available on the Jubilee’s Facebook, as evening jam sessions make for a great Father’s Day weekend get-a-way inSouthern California this summer. This is a Great American Family Event.

JOIN US for our 36th season, June 15, 16 & 17, 2012.

CLICK HERE to view the SUN Rate Sheet

HUCK FINN JUBILEE

June 15, 16, 17 2012
MojaveNarrowsRegionalPark,18000 Yates Road, Victorville,CA

It’s a Great American Party, and for those who want to enjoy Father’s Day weekend this summer, it’s a must attend . Classic cars, hot air balloons, villages of mountain men, vittles and crafts form the backdrop to this vacation style weekend campout. “All the Gold in California” is still here when LARRY GATLIN AND THE GATLIN BROTHERS perform on Father’s Day. A Friday night barn dance, Saturday night Bluegrass “Moonshine Jam” and line dancing all three days add to the weekend designed to rediscover the Good ol’ USA.  Come for the day, or camp with us on the 800 acre Mojave Narrows Regional Park for evening pickin’ parties, morning hot air balloon lift offs, and 1880’s river themed games. For maps and all the information go to www.huckfinn.com, or call us at 951-780-8810.

The 36 year old self proclaimed “Great American Party” annually celebrates the life and times of Tom and Huck, Mark Twain’s popular storybook characters. Both local residents and out of town visitors, including Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, ambassadors from Hannibal, Missouri spend Father’s Day weekend in Southern California’s High Desert.

Partnering with the Inland Empire Tourism Council and DiscoverIE the summer vacation style event runs June 15-17, and continues to breathe economic life into the Victor Valley, offering Country and Bluegrass music, crafts and outdoor activities for the family, while supporting hundreds of jobs and contributing millions in economic goodwill to the High Desert

It is held at the 800-acreMojaveNarrowsRegionalPark, near Route 66. From Victorville, follow I-15 to theBear Valley Rd.exit. Drive east toRidgecrest Ave.and turn north three miles to18000 Yates Rd.and the park. Unlike itsHighDesertsurroundings, The Narrows is an oasis bordering theMojaveRiverand resembles parkland near theMississippi River. Parking is free and camping is offered.

During the three-day festival you can find games that include building river rafts, climbing a greased pole, searching for nickels in a haystack and tossing both horseshoes and cow chips. All are free to enter, and ribbons are given to winners.

There’s a Friday night barn dance at theMountainManVillage, a Huck Finn look-a-like contest on Saturday, and the Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Championship Sunday afternoon. ACraftsVillageoffers items that are hand-made and uniquely American, and there are barbeque ribs, ice cream and corn on the cob in theVittlesVillage.

The Route 66 Car Show offers pre-1982 show car entries one free admission with one paid admission when arriving Saturday and Sunday. The California State Arm Wrestling Championships and the Deering Banjo Championships both are held at noon on Saturday and offer t-shirts, trophies, titles, and cash as prizes.

Main stage hosts a Mark Twain Live performance on Friday, bluegrass music’s Steep Canyon Rangers on Saturday and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers on Father’s Day. They headline more than 30 hours of music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Music continues into the evening, and all-night picking parties are held in special campgrounds on the park. The Deering Banjo Company offers a free music jam school Friday and Saturday, and workshops in fiddle, banjo, guitar, vocal harmony and songwriting continue all three days. Named 2001 Bluegrass Event of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association, the Jubilee also provides many informal “chat sessions” that bring both artist and fan together.

Hot air balloons rise early each day and provide aerial views ofPelicanLake, and campgrounds inMojaveNarrows. Some campsites have electrical hookups for RVs. The regional park offers fishing, horseback riding and a water splash area.

Weekend camp arrivals are welcome and are available upon entering the park. In Victorville and Hesperia, the Hilton Garden Inn, Hawthorn Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and the Courtyard by Marriott offer special rates to Huck Finn visitors upon request. Youth ages 6yrs thru 12yrs are admitted free to the Jubilee when hotel key is presented. Families can also camp at the Mojave Narrows Regional Park campgrounds.

Tickets are on sale now and are discounted until June 4. Camping with electrical hookup is readily available, and it’s not too early to get a reservation for this popular weekend festival. A three-day admission with two nights camping package is $85 for adults and $20 for youth ages 6 thru 12.

Jubilee hours are Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily admission is $20 for adults and $5 for youth ages 6yrs thru 12yrs. Children younger than 6 years are free. Parking is also free.

Information, camping and tickets are available by calling (951) 780-8810 or visiting www.huckfinn.com.

Victorville is located in Southern California along historic Route 66. Enjoying its 36th season, the Huck Finn Jubilee offers a great Father’s Day weekend get-a-way for families, RV enthusiasts and vacation travelers.

“All the Gold in California” is still here when Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers bring it to main stage, Father’s Day. You can hear “Let’s party” from Lisa Haley that afternoon. Then on Saturday a kind of mandolin madness by Scott Gates and Evan Marshall prepares main stage for a “Moonshine Jam” Saturday night. Sirius XM Radio’s Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, the Dry Branch Fire Squad, RFD television’s Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition and the Steep Canyon Rangers warm up the cool moon lit summer evening.

A Friday night barn dance, Sunday square dance, and line dancing all three days by KC Douglas add to the weekend “family friendly” party atmosphere.

And of course Mark Twain Live, our very own Huck Finn, Rylan Nordbeck and Hannibal’s Tom & Becky welcome you into a magical world without the TV.

You can arrive early (6 a.m. for hot air balloons) and stay late (11pm) for $20 each day, a great value, or better yet, camp with us on the 800 acre Mojave Narrows Regional Park for the pickin’ parties, games and music workshops.

Keeping kids engaged while traveling can be a challenge, particularly if the adults in the family can’t stand amusement parks. One inventive alternative to this conundrum is a literary destination that caters to little readers. After all, who hasn’t lost themselves in a book — in a character’s thoughts amidst a world of the author’s creation — and wished they could be there? For kids, visiting the nexus of their favorite book is like entering that imaginary world.

In some cases — Harry Potter, for one — literary travel does require a trip to a theme park. But many classics were based on real places, including the destinations written about in these timeless children’s books:

Every Father’s Day weekend, thousands descend on Victorville, Calif., for Huck Finn Jubilee. “We wanted to create an environment that would take you back to the 1880s, to a little town along the Mississippi River when the circus came to town,” says founder Don Tucker, who collaborates with the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Mo. Activities include egg-tossing, bluegrass concerts, storytelling by a Mark Twain impersonator, river-raft building and frog-jumping contests. “It’s like a vacation without the TV — an escape event,” says Tucker. “I call it creative involvement: where you can play with your imagination, and let your imagination take you away.”

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE FROM MSNBC

Instruction by Andy Rau

The goal of the JAMMIMG SCHOOL is to give you the tools to start pickin’ with other musicians.

Beginners will learn to roll and play their chords in time and understand chord progressions.
Helpful: some knowledge of rolls and chords although not necessary as the information learned will help you with your playing in the future.

Intermediate players will learn how to insert licks into chord progressions to create solos and play backup.
Helpful: some knowledge of chords and  licks

By understanding timing, rolls, chords and licks the above can be achieved and then, with a little work, you can have a great time pickin’ along or even taking solos!  The songs will not have to be familiar to you as we will learn to follow the “roadmap” of how they are constructed, which you can apply to everything you play.  Then you will insert your rolls or licks into the music and soon you will be playing right along with your friends. Depending on any former experience you may move toward this goal at a faster rate, but even if you never played before it will help you better understand how it’s done!

We won’t be learning specific songs as in many workshops. The goal is to be able to jump in and play whatever song is thrown at you in a jam session rather than simply adding to your “song portfolio.” By understanding the basic components and characteristics that comprise every song, you will be able to tackle whatever is thrown your way!

Andy will be giving instruction from the front of the class and will also walking around among students to make sure everyone understands the material.  Sit up close if you can to make to ensure that you get a good seat and to make the experience as easy and productive as possible.  Plus you’ll be able to see examples much more clearly.

The workshop will be spread over three days of the festival, which will give you time after sessions to review and practice what has been discussed. Each day will build off of the previous lesson. Andy will also be available in the evenings for any individual questions you may have. He’s here to help!

Handouts will be distributed, however most material will be learned from demonstration.

Register 30 minutes prior to class at the Village Shelter at the Mountain Man Village.

FRIDAY
BEGINNING – 10:00am  12:00pm
INTERMEDIATE -  2:00pm – 4:00pm

SATURDAY
BEGINNING – 10:00am  12:00pm
INTERMEDIATE -  2:00pm – 4:00pm

SUNDAY
COMBINED  – 12:00pm – 2:00pm
We’ll all get together and jam on some songs!

Park your RV and pitch the tent for the kids at this year’s Huck Finn Jubilee, Father’s Day weekend, June 15-17 in Victorville.

The 36 year old self proclaimed “great American party” annually celebrates the life and times of Tom and Huck, Mark Twain’s storybook characters.

The Jubilee is held at the 800 acre Mojave Narrows Regional Park, near Route 66, in Southern California. From Victorville, follow I-15 to the Bear Valley Rd. exit. Drive east to Ridgecrest Ave. and turn north three miles to 18000 Yates Rd and the park. Unlike its high desert surroundings, the Narrows is an oasis bordering the Mojave River and resembles park land near the Mississippi River. Parking is free and camping is offered.

During the three day festival you can find games that include building river rafts, climbing a greased pole, searching for nickels in a haystack and tossing horseshoes. All are free to enter, and ribbons are given to winners.

There’s a Friday night barn in the mountain man village, a Huck Finn look-a-like contest on Saturday, and the Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Championship Sunday afternoon.

A crafts village offers items that are hand-made and uniquely American, and there are barbecue ribs, ice cream and corn on the cob in the Vittles village.

A Route 66 Car Show offers pre-1982 show car entries one free admission with one paid when arriving Saturday and Sunday. The California State Arm Wrestling Championships and the Deering Banjo Championships both are held at noon on Saturday and offer t-shirts, trophies, titles, and cash as prizes.

Music continues into the evening, and all night picking parties are held in special campgrounds on the park. Named 2001 Bluegrass Event of the Year by the International bluegrass Music Association the Jubilee also provides many informal “chat sessions”, music workshops and band showcases that bring both artist and fan together.

Hot air balloons rise early each morning to give a bird’s eye view of Pelican Lake and campgrounds in Mojave Narrows. The regional park offers fishing, horseback riding and water splash area.

Weekend camp arrivals are welcome and are available upon entering the park.

In Victorville and Hesperia, the Hawthorn Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express, the Courtyard by Marriott and Red Roof Inn offer special rates to Huck Finn visitors upon request. Youth ages 6 yrs thru 12 yrs. are admitted free to the Jubilee when hotel key is presented. Families can also camp at Mojave Narrows Regional Park campgrounds.

Tickets are now on sale and discounted until June 1. Camping with electrical hookup is readily available, and it’s not too early to get a reservation for this popular weekend festival. A three day admission with two nights camping package is $75. Youth ages 6 yrs. thru 12 yrs. is $20.

Jubilee hours are Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m.to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily admission is $20. Youth ages 6 yrs., thru 12 yrs. is $5. Children younger than 6 yrs. are free. Parking is also free.

Information, camping and tickets are available by calling 951-780-8810, or going to www.huckfinn.com.

Victorville is located in southern California along historic Route 66. Enjoying its 36th season, the Huck Finn Jubilee offers a great Father’s Day weekend get-a-way for families, RV enthusiast and vacation travelers.

Randy Sampias coordinates the tournament that returns Saturday June 16th to Mojave Narrows Regional Park. Nearly 100 contenders are expected to vie for the California title.  “Because it’s an open tournament, both amateurs and professionals can compete, “Sampias says. “The separate weight classes also allow everyone to enter on his own level and come out a state champion.”

Bruce Way, who appeared in the 1989 arm wrestling movie “Over the Top” starring Sylvester Stallone,, was among past year’s competitors. “The term arm wrestling is highly inaccurate, “states Way. “Your whole body’s involved.”
Success in arm wrestling demands more than strength. A clever arm wrestler combines speed, balance, physical and mental conditioning and knowledge of body leverage to defeat his opponents.

There are twelve classes offered for the men’s competition. Bantam, light, middle, light-heavy, heavy and super heavy weight for men’ right and left hand categories are available. Women can compete in a separate open class. Anyone 18 years and older can compete and details are available by calling Sampias at (760) 868-6835.

Weigh-in for the competition starts at 9 a.m. during the Jubilee. The tournament begins at noon in the Shed World Arena at Mojave Narrows Regional Park. There is an entry fee of $25. All contestants will receive Souvenir T-shirt of the competition, and trophies are awarded through 3rd place. The arm wrestling competition promises plenty of action for participants and spectators alike. It is one of the many activities planned during the weekend at Huck Finn’s 36th Jubilee.

Mark Twain may be best remembered for his classic novel Adventures Of  Huckleberry Finn first published in 1885. That book, jammed packed with controversial themes and memorable characters is considered the author’s greatest achievement. Ernest Hemmingway said of  Huck Finn – “it was the one book from which all modern American literature came.” The truth is that the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn may never have been written if its author had not first found a frog in Calaveras County, California! Interestingly, Calaveras is just a few counties away from Victorville where we celebrate The Huck Finn Jubilee each summer on Father’s Day weekend.
The birth of Mark Twain’s first published short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County was printed November 1865 in a New York Newspaper and quickly reprinted around the country. The name “Mark Twain” exploded onto the national scene and launched one of the most famous writing careers in American literature. Though Mark Twain later discounted his frog story as a “villainous backwoods sketch”, America quickly embraced it and its author and has ever since. On the lecture circuit Mark Twain would bring out a shortened version of   the frog tale to the delight of his loyal fans.

Today, Mike Randall as Mark Twain Live makes an exclusive Southern California appearance during the Huck Finn Jubilee. The one-man performance plans to address  various topics, including Bad Habits, Huck and Jim, A Ghost Story, and of course, the famous California frog.

Randall has been portraying Twain for 36 years with performances ranging from The State Department in Washington D.C. to New York City’s only dinner theater, “The Little Hippodrome”. He’s often been compared to Hal Holbrook, and reviews credit him for giving a breathtaking re-creation of America’s most famous humorist.

The Mark Twain Live performance is included in Friday’s Huck Finn Jubilee admission of $20 per adult; $5 youth (6 years through 12 yrs). Children under 6 and parking are free. The Jubilee takes place at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, 18000 Yates Rd in Victorville, California.

Other activities relating to Twain’s storybook characters and their antics that take place during this year’s Jubilee are Tom Sawyer’s Fence Painting Championships, river raft building, tomahawk throwing, frog jumping and Injun Joe’s Treasure Hunt. For Huck Finn and dozens of other stories and hundreds of wonderful characters created by Mark Twain, it’s not too much of a stretch to conclude that we owe a debt of gratitude to a California Frog?

For further information go to www.huckfinn.com or call 1-951-780-8810.