Annual Founders’ Day brings history and fun to Templeton
A photo from a previous Founders Day Festival.
Event includes trains, history, and free pie
– The Templeton Historical Museum Society will host its annual Founders’ Day celebration on Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 309 S. Main St. in Templeton. The event commemorates the 1886 arrival of the first passenger train in Templeton, which established the town as the southern terminus of the rail line from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
The museum’s house, blacksmith shop, and railroad depot will be open to the public, offering a glimpse into Templeton’s past. Visitors can view displays of antique vehicles, tractors, and railroad artifacts, along with operational “Hit and Miss” machinery. Blacksmithing demonstrations, live music, and museum tours will be ongoing throughout the event.
Attendees can also learn about the history of the Salinan Tribe and participate in family-friendly activities such as cakewalks, carnival games, and a 4-H petting zoo. Local food vendor El Red Rooster will be serving food, and wine will be available at Clavo Winery next door.
In keeping with tradition, free pie and cake will be served while supplies last, continuing a Founders’ Day custom that began in 2006.
