What the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee Is
The Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee is a four-day fair in Angels Camp built around Mark Twain's first published story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." The city of Angels Camp held the first modern frog jump in 1928, and it became part of the annual fair in the 1930s. The fair is held the third weekend of May. The Jubilee opens with a children's parade in downtown Angels Camp and ends with a destruction derby on Sunday evening. The 2026 edition, themed "Frogs Sing and Freedom Rings," ran May 14 to 17.
The Frog Jump
Frog jumping starts on Thursday, the first day of the fair, and continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. Contestants can jump for fun on Rosie the Ribeter's Stage or on the main stage to qualify for the finals. The top 50 jumps from the four days go to the International Frog Jump Grand Finals on Sunday afternoon. The world record is 21 feet 5 3/4 inches, set in 1986 by Rosie the Ribeter, and the prize for breaking it is $20,000. Professional frog teams travel from around the state to compete, and past champions camp at the Frog Pond. The frogs live in the Frog Spa during the fair and are protected by a Frog Welfare Policy the fair board adopted in 1995.
Ways to Enter
| Competition | Who | Fee | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Stampede (Cowboy Roundup, Barrels, Poles, Big T, Keyhole) | Ages 5-8, 9-13 and 14-17 | $25 for all five events | May 14, noon |
| Youth Ranch Penning | Two-rider teams, ages 9-17 | $50 per team | May 14, after the Stampede |
| Hide Race | Three-person teams, age 9 and up | $50 per team | May 15, noon |
| Competitive exhibits | Adult, professional and junior | $1 per adult amateur entry | Entries due April 4 |
Arena Events: Rules
- Stampede, penning and hide race are held in the Frogtown Arena and are open to residents of Calaveras, Amador, Tuolumne and Alpine counties. Out-of-area riders may enter if half of the team is a Calaveras County resident or producer.
- Age is counted on January 1, 2026. Stampede contestants must be at least 5.
- Entries close May 1, 2026. Each Stampede division is limited to 12 contestants, and the hide race to 10 teams.
- A release of liability signed by the contestant (and parent if a minor) is required.
- Stampede contestants must wear a cowboy hat or helmet and a long-sleeved western shirt. Helmets are encouraged.
- Stampede points across all five events decide the Champion and Reserve Champion buckles in each division. Ranch penning and hide race winners also earn buckles.
- An entered Stampede contestant gets free fair admission on Thursday, and a hide race contestant on Friday. Everyone else in the vehicle needs a pass.
Competitive Exhibits Timeline
- Saturday, April 4, 5 p.m.: all entry forms and fees due at the fair office or by mail (no faxes or emails, no late entries). Horticulture and small animal forms are due Friday, May 8.
- May 5 and 6: deliver entries to the fairgrounds.
- May 13: baked goods delivered 7 to 9 a.m., horticulture 8 to 10 a.m.
- May 18, noon to 6 p.m.: pick up entries and purchased items.
Most classes are open to residents of the four counties. Adult amateur entries cost $1 with cash awards of $5, $3 and $2 for first to third. Table settings cost $10, with $150 for Best of Show and $100 for Reserve. Exhibits must be made by the exhibitor within a year of the fair, and the limit is two entries per class. Junior classes include baking, photography, arts and crafts, floral, record books and ag mechanics, and ag mechanics projects can sell at an auction.
Where
Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 2465 Gun Club Road, Angels Camp, CA 95222. The fair office is at (209) 736-2561.
Questions
How does a frog reach the finals?
The top 50 jumps from the four days of the fair are entered in the Sunday afternoon International Frog Jump Grand Finals.
Can out-of-county youth ride in the arena?
Only on a team that is at least half Calaveras County residents or producers.
Official Links
- Frogtown: Frog Jump
- Fair listing with dates and contact
- Youth Stampede entry sheet
- 2026 Entry Guidebook
- Youth Ranch Penning rules
- Hide Race rules
- History of the Jumping Frog Jubilee
California Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
California county and district fairs are where most 4-H and FFA members show and sell market animals. CDFA counts 80 fair organizations: District Agricultural Associations, county fairs, citrus fairs and Cal Expo.
Timing
Fairs run nearly all year. CDFA's 2026 list had Riverside in February and March, Salinas Valley in mid-May, the State Fair from July 17 to August 2 and Big Fresno in October.
Rules to watch
State and 4-H rules require 60 consecutive days of ownership for market sheep, swine and goats and 120 for market beef, per the 4-H handbook. Junior livestock exhibitors must also complete YQCA training each year.
Auctions
Monterey's 2025 livestock rules describe a terminal sale with a 9.0 percent selling charge and required thank-you letters. Other fairs differ.
Next steps
Get your fair's exhibitor book from the fair office or Extension 4-H office and mark ownership, entry and YQCA dates. Dates and weights change each year.
Read the full guide: California Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Calaveras County Fair Rodeo
Saturday rodeo that opens the Mother Lode rodeo season during the Angels Camp fair. Held each year; the most recent date was May 16, 2026.
Angels Camp, CA | Organizer: CCPRA Official event details - International Frog Jump Grand Finals
The top 50 frog jumps advance to a Sunday afternoon final, with qualifying jumps held on fair stages from Thursday. Held each year; the most recent final was May 17, 2026.
2465 Gunclub Rd, Angels Camp, CA 95222 | 209-736-2561 | Organizer: Frogtown USA Official event details - CCPRA Finals Rodeo
Season-ending finals of the CCPRA circuit in Red Bluff, November 27-28, 2026.
Red Bluff, CA | Organizer: California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Official event details - San Joaquin County Fair
Winter holiday-season fair at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, scheduled December 3-20, 2026. Family entertainment and local exhibits.
1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton, CA Official event details - NYE Kick-Off CCPRA Rodeo
New Year's Eve rodeo in Red Bluff, December 31, 2026, that starts the next CCPRA season.
Red Bluff, CA | Organizer: California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.