Pioneer Days is a Paso Robles tradition that dates back 80 years. It started as a way for the local businesses to say "thank you" to the local community. Employees are given the day off, there are no concessions, and lunch is provided for free. It's a pretty nice way to get to know the your neighbors.The day started with a parade down Main Street (Spring Street, technically). Marching bands, fire trucks, antique tractors, Shriner's on mini bikes, and various other parade regulars were on hand. The street was lined for miles, and everyone was in good spirits waving at the passing participants. Our favorite was the contingent of World War I ambulances from the local military museum. The riders were dressed in old uniforms and looked like a Gary Cooper movie come to life.
After the parade ended everyone headed down to City Park, a huge historic park with a playground, BBQ pits, and a lot of beautiful large oak trees. A band played in the gazebo while the Lions Club served beans and bread to the entire city for free. Everyone was just so friendly. While standing in line for the Bean Feed, we met a nice lady, Toby, who invited us over to their picnic spot for some hot dogs and beer. Toby introduced us to her family and friends and we had a great time getting to know some Paso locals. Sophie played with some little boys on the blankets in the grass, should I be worried already?We left a little later in the afternoon to give Sophie her afternoon nap. We said goodbye to our new friends and headed back home. The sun and excitement wore Sophie out. She actually fell asleep on the changing table. I know she will want to come back next year, and we definitely plan to.
Written by Chris Johns
Wow! Talk about small worlds! The journey that brought me to the Caribbean STARTED on the Central California Coast. My first job after graduating from UCSB was at the Santa Maria Times. Although it wasn't wine country then. I think they grew more broccoli than anything else – and man it stank when the wind came up every afternoon. This was back in '78, '79. Part of my job involved covering sports, so I often was up to Paso and Atascadero to cover games with St. Joe High. I wasn't in love with Santa Maria, still remember it as the least pleasant place I've ever lived, but up north in SLO county there were a lot of towns I really liked. God, I remember covering a football in Morro Bay when all of a sudden it started raining so hard it was as if someone had just scooped up the bay and dumped it on us. Good luck on your life. But be careful! You may be there now, but you ever know where life will take you. Look where it took me!
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