Friendly competition was the name of the day at the 2024 49er Festival and Taste of Tuolumne. From the US Army vs. Tuolumne County Sheriff to stiff competition from a wide variety of Parade entrants to the People’s Choice Auto Pavilion awards, it was a good day to score big bragging rights.
Shooting under the tutelage of Grand Marshal and Olympic silver medalist Sagen Maddalena in the Safe Shooting Games, youngsters Wren Canaday and Jason Mitchell medalled in Junior NERF, with Mitchell winning gold in Junior Watergun. In the senior category, Dominick Leija aced Marshmallow gun and took silver in Senior paintball behind Ava Augustino’s gold. Alan Ahlswede scored the bronze in Senior paintball.
The shooting got fancy when US Army SSgt. Sagen Maddalena stepped up to the range against Tuolumne County Sheriff David Vasquez. After a few rounds each of one-handed, precision paintball, they both got creative with some serious behind-the-back and under-the-leg shots. The US Army claimed the Star Shooter title by showing up at the Awards Ceremony on the Main Stage. Hmmm. Was the Sheriff called out to an incident? Did Sagen beat the Sheriff? We’ll never really know for sure.
It was great to see Hot Chili Charlie (Paul Purifoy) back on the balcony of the Hotel Charlotte, joining Sheriff Yosemite Bob (Turney) and his saloon girls with their lively commentary on the Main Street Parade. Thanks again to Kiefer Insurance Agency for sponsoring this year’s parade and for handing out flags to parade-goers. 2024 Parade winners are Best Equestrian: Therapy Dogs, Best Walking Group: Orange Crush Marching Band, Best Motor Vehicle: Les Miller’s 1968 Ford, Best Float: Grade to Gate Foundation, Best in Show: Grand Marshal’s Army National Guard Humvee. If you missed the Main Street Parade, you can view every awesome minute of it, courtesy of Access Tuolumne County HERE.
Motor vehicle parade participants carried on to the Rivian Auto Pavilion in Upper Mary Laveroni Park to hang out in the shade and talk about cars. Rivian was there with a test drive vehicle and plenty of chances to crawl around inside and outside a new Rivian, even give the tires a good kick. Meanwhile, Savage Diggins Motorcycle Club Support handed out voting slips and the results are in for the 2024 49er Festival Rivian Auto Pavilion People’s Choice Awards. Third Place: Mike Horvath’s 1950 Willys Jeep Tin Woody station wagon, Second Place: Bob and Carol Shannon’s 1966 Factory Five Cobra Roadster, First Place: Savage Diggins Motorcycle Club (collectively). Congratulations on your wheels of great appeal!
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