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Another Mother Lode Round-Up is heading our way!

Now in its 50th year, the Round-Up has been the Mother Lode's premiere annual event and features more than a week of family fun and celebration, Gold Country-style, paying tribute to our western heritage.

Wednesday, May 9, is the Tuolumne County Band Review. The downbeat starts at 6 p.m. at Sonora High School's Dunlavy Field. This is an opportunity for area residents to see and hear all the local school bands that will march in the big parade Saturday, May 12. We'd be amiss if we didn't mention the renowned Calcutta event at the Sheriff's Posse Grounds in Jamestown that takes place Thursday, May 10, and a Cowboy Christian concert Friday, May 11 at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.

The world famous Mother Lode Round-Up Parade kicks off in Downtown Sonora at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12, and will feature nearly 200 parade entries marching, trotting and rolling down the entire length of Washington Street. As usual, thousands of spectators can be expected, lining the street to watch and cheer.  What a parade it is! Each year seems to get bigger and better.

And if that isn't enough on Saturday, the parade crowd heads over to the fairgrounds for the first day of a weekend filled with bull riding and steer wrestling rodeo action. The day will be topped off with a dance in the evening, also at the fairgrounds.

Mother's Day Sunday is always special at the Round-Up. A Mother's Day breakfast starts things off at the fairgrounds celebrating this year's Mother Lode Round-Up Mother of the Year. After a Cowboy Church service with Coy Huffman puts the day in perspective, it's time to cowboy-up and rodeo once more; a fitting conclusion to the year's grand event.