In 1957, there were about 2,000 people living in the greater Elk Grove/Wilton/Franklin area.

The Elk Grove Elementary School Mothers’ Club needed to raise funds to assist their children and their school. To do so, they organized the first Western Festival. The committee chose the first weekend in May to celebrate the beginning of Summer.

During the week prior to the festival, weeds were pulled in the cemetery, the trees lining Elk Grove Boulevard were whitewashed, western apparel was sold in local stores, and businesses encouraged their employees to dress in western attire. The festival parade had 60 entries. Anyone could enter and there were lots of students riding bicycles they had decorated. After the parade, all the festival activities were held in the high school cafeteria, now Kerr Middle School’s multi-purpose room.

The event was a great success. After paying festival expenses, the club was able to buy glasses, give medical assistance to needy students, purchase record players, records, rainy day games for the classrooms, and new furniture for the teacher’s room.

It has been 68 years since the first parade, but after a hiatus that started with the Covid 19 shutdown, this year we will be back in the saddle with Elk Grove’s 63rd Annual Western Festival.

Today there are approximately 200,000 people living in the greater Elk Grove/Wilton/Franklin area. The festival is a two-day event and is held in beautiful Elk Grove Regional Park. The parade has over 150 entries consisting of floats, bands, color guards, drill teams, classic and historial vehicles and equestrian units. The parade is still open to everyone. The event has become a major happening in Sacramento and the surrounding counties with visitors coming from Sacramento, Stockton, Roseville, Folsom and surrounding towns.