Frontier Days Opens At New, Permanent Spot In Lake Elsinore

After moving from venue to venue in Lake Elsinore, the annual Frontier Days has a permanent home -- and on Thursday vendors were settling in to their new digs, readying for the thousands that are expected to attend the event that runs through the weekend.

"For one week every April, La Laguna Resort & Boat Launch is the site for Frontier Days," confirmed Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce president Kim Cousins, as he took care of last-minute details for Thursday afternoon's opening. "Every year we will make improvements. We will continue to build this."

As Chamber president, Cousins works to promote tourism in the city. He beamed as he looked out at the lake just a few hundred feet from the festival.

Riding the ferris wheel or the merry-go-round on the shoreline may indeed remind some festival-goers of San Diego's Belmont Park or old Coney Island days.

"Without question, this is the best 'venue' we've had," said Tony Trafton, whose Murrieta-based Trafton Company has been producing Frontier Days for six years in Lake Elsinore. "As far as the 'location,' we'll see how this weekend goes."

Cousins explained that signage along Riverside Drive, otherwise known as SR 74, is prohibited without Caltrans approval. Both Cousins and Trafton were hopeful the location won't be too difficult to find and that people don't look for the event at Alberhill or Rosetta Canyon parks, which were both former Frontier Days sites.

Vendors were optimistic about the new locale. Frontier Days features an array of carnival rides, games, food, and wares for sale. There are also pony rides, a petting zoo, and live musical guests performing throughout the weekend.

Dee Payne has been a Frontier Days vendor for the last six years, but has set up at other locations for more than 18 years with her Guns & Garters reenactment troupe. In honor of Lake Elsinore's 125th birthday celebration this week, her team is dressing up in authentic 1880s garb and generally recreating history on the lake. Gun fights, saloon girls, a sheriff, and others will be part of the fun.

"If the wind would just quit, it would be great," she said of the swift breeze blowing off the lake Thursday afternoon. "But you know what, it just adds to the Old West feeling."

In a nearby booth, Charlie and Tonia Cook were getting ready to let their pigs and dogs put on a show. This year marks the first time Frontier Days will have pig races, Cousins said. Festival-goers can place "free bets" on the races, and learn about pig behavior. The Cook's business -- "Cook's Racing Pigs" -- features dogs racing for Golden Oreos and pigs going for ice cream -- the rewards the animals get after each race.

Allen Randleman was practicing his "carnie spiel" Thursday afternoon, prepping for passersby who might be lured into trying their luck and winning a prize at his booth.

Surrounded by giant Teddy bears, Randleman called out, "Wouldn't you like to sleep with one of these big Teddies tonight?"

Lakeland Village residents Andrew and Elsa Thurley were putting the final touches on their booth, "The Hat Shack."

"Stay beautiful, wear a hat," Andrew said to festival-goers, prompting one to buy a wide-brimmed floppy number with a flower adornment. "You are a supermodel," he said to the woman.

As Thurley showed off his various wares, the jovial and energetic former Brit with a zoology degree, said, "We just have too much fun. This [Frontier Days] is the best value for your money."

Frontier Days runs through Sunday. Click here for information on admission cost.

The festival hours are 4-10 p.m. on April 11; 4-11 p.m. on April 12; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on April 13; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 14. The festival's location is La Laguna Resort & Boat Launch, 32040 Riverside Drive, Lake Elsinore.