Oakhurst celebrates centennial with melodrama and more

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636 

Melodrama to mark Oakhurst Centennial Celebration

Oakhurst, CA. – The community of Oakhurst has a busy calendar of events this year as the town marks its centennial.

It was 100 years ago this month that the town of Fresno Flats was renamed to Oakhurst. Residents have a long list of events celebrating the milestone, with everything from music festivals to barbecues.

February 28 is the date that the change was made official by the US Congress back in 1912, at the behest of a newer resident thinking that the switch to Oakhurst would help people forget about a crime in which her husband had allegedly taken part. 

“He had been accused, but never convicted, of robbing a stagecoach to Yosemite many years before. While he had grown to earn the respect of the town, the name ‘Fresno Flats’ still reminded people of that incident. So she pushed to change the town’s name to Oakhurst to disassociate her and her husband with that memory,” said Darin Soukoup with the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Golden Chain Theatre in Oakhurst is staging a melodrama on the hundredth anniversary Feb. 28 as part of the celebration. Alliteratively titled “Fastidious Finagling Fiasco Fixing Fresno Flats”, the melodrama will put a humorous spin on Oakhurst’s origin tale.

There will be an open house at the theatre from 5 pm to 7 pm with cake, merchandise commemorating the centennial, local historians and other festivities, followed by the play which starts at 7. The public is invited to the open house which is free. Tickets for the play are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students 13-18 and $6 for children 12 and under. Children under 3 are free. 

Other upcoming centennial events include the Ragtime Vintage Music Festival at Fresno Flats Historic Park Feb. 10 -12, Oakhurst Community Park Elegant Auction April 14 and the Oakhurst Fall Wine and Chocolate Festival Oct. 13 and 14. 

For a full list of centennial events planned in Oakhurst, visit www.Oakhurst100.com. For more information, contact the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce at 559-683-7766. 

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