By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Crestline Chamber of Commerce held its first community chamber meeting of 2025 on Jan. 21, where they introduced the new board members and presented their new schedule of events for the year. They are feeling a new business and recreational energy in the air this year and encourage everyone to get involved somehow in this year’s events and to not miss attending even one of them.
The first major event the Crestline Chamber is planning is their third annual wintertime Corks & Hops “Mardi Gras on the Mountain,” scheduled to be held at the San Moritz Lodge on March 1, rain or shine. Because the Mardi Gras is inside the historic log lodge, the attendance numbers are limited due to occupancy limits. This wine and beer tasting festival for those 21 years of age and over will be held from 5 to 9 p.m.
Crestline songstress Shannon Bizzy added her voice to the band.
The Mardi Gras event exudes a party atmosphere with shiny beads and masks everywhere, featuring live music, dancing, New Orleans-inspired foods and artisan vendors. Those attending are encouraged to come dressed in colorful purple and green Mardi Gras costumes to add to the magical festivities. There will be food trucks offering a selection of New Orleans-style Southern-inspired fare.
Sixteen pour stations offered their best craft beers, wines and ales at last year’s event.
The 10-piece funk band Private Affair will be filling the air in the main lodge room with music for dancing and for those going from tasting station to tasting station. In the bar the Hillary Watson Band, which was well received last year, will make a return musical appearance. The festive evening of wine and beer tasting and great music is one not to be missed.
Last year, the décor, costumes, music, food and excitement led one masked participant to say she’d been in New Orleans several times to celebrate Mardi Gras and she was having as much fun in Crestline as she had experienced in New Orleans. She hopes to return to celebrate Madi Gras on the Mountain this year, too.
The last two years Crestline’s Mardi Gras on the Mountain has sold out before the night of the event, so order your tickets online now, as they are currently discount priced prior to the event, saving $10 per ticket by using the discount code “earlybird” at www.corksnhops.com.
Mardi Gras on the Mountain is the first Corks & Hops event of the 2025 season. The summer events begin on the first Saturday of June and continue on first Saturdays through October, except for July and September as they are holiday weekends. The tickets are already on sale for the entire season at www.corksnhops.com.
The chamber is still seeking volunteers for the Mardi Gras decorating committee and to help during the event; call the chamber office at (909) 338-2706. Corks & Hops organizational meetings are held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at the chamber office at 24385 Lake Drive.
The chamber announced there will be several changes from traditional activities from previous years, due to snow canceling so many spring activities in the past few years.
The first major change is with the Duck Derby, which had previously been held in conjunction with an Easter Egg hunt the day before Easter. That will not be occurring this year. For the past three out of four Easters, the egg hunt had to be canceled due to weather; the chamber, at this time, has decided to not sponsor an egg hunt this year.
However, the very popular Duck Derby will be held this year on Saturday, May 10. For the last two years, it had to be postponed due to snow. Because of the change in date, the location will be changed to below the San Moritz Meadow area, so the community can be involved and watch their ducks in their race to the lake and enable them to cheer their duckies on.
The chamber is currently seeking committee members to coordinate the Duck Derby race. The first committee meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. in the chamber office on Feb. 11. They would enjoy having some nonprofit groups have booths on the meadow that day during the Duck Derby, as May 10 is just before the summer season; it would be a great time to promote their various summertime activities.
The ever-popular Jamboree Days, including the parade, afternoon fair with kids zone and evening fireworks spectacular over Lake Gregory will be held on Saturday, July 5. The committee meetings to coordinate the event are occurring at the chamber office on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in being involved is invited to attend these meetings. The community picnic will be held the Sunday before, on June 29 from noon to 5 p.m., and they also need volunteers. All community groups are invited to be involved in the community fun day at the Meadow. More details will be forthcoming, as plans are made.
The chamber of commerce board of directors is feeling a new energy in the community with the new year in the community. They hope the 2025 Jamboree Days theme – which was chosen from about 20 submissions – reflects that energy: Crestline Vibes-2025!
0 Comments