Our guide to Gold Fest 2026
El Dorado’s community festival continues to grow every year, and Gold Fest 2026 has more festival events than ever before! For those unsure of how to maximize the Gold Fest fun, here is our guide for celebrating Gold Fest 2026.
Monday, September 21
The week kicks off with the first day of the Medallion Hunt. Grab a friend or the kiddos and get hunting! The Medallion Hunt Clues are posted at 9 a.m. on the front doors of City Hall and on Experience El Dorado’s Facebook page. Pro tip: the clues start off vague and get more specific with each day, so don’t be discouraged if you struggle to find the medallion on day one. This is a great way to get out of the house, meet new friends and explore the community.
Tuesday, September 22
Head downtown for Chalk the Walk! Stop inside Equality El Dorado, where you’ll be assigned a sidewalk square to decorate and given chalk to get creative. Feel free to bring extra tools if you’re feeling especially artistic – this is the perfect event for filling downtown El Dorado with art!
Wednesday, September 23
Wednesday is the first day of the Book & Bake Sale. Stop by Bradford Memorial Library to expand your book collection while supporting the Friends of the Library.
Thursday, September 24
The Train Depot Market begins! Check out the El Dorado Train Depot in the afternoon to grab a snack and peruse crafts made by local vendors. Stop by the depot in the evening for the petting zoo from 5 to 8 p.m. In the evening, grab a seat at the Performing Arts Center to watch the Miss El Dorado Pageant, and learn more about the Miss El Dorado Ambassadors program.
Friday, September 25
Friday evening has five different community events to explore. Paint Night is a Gold Fest favorite event — join the Coutts Museum of Art to paint and personalize a straw cowboy hat. Afterwards, catch some live music at Battle of the Praise Bands
happening at District Stadium downtown. If you’ve got kiddos that love to ride their bikes, head to Dirt to Vert Youth BMX at the Main 8 Bicycle Dirt Waves to ride under the trail lights. Maybe you’re looking for an evening out with friends – brush off your dancing shoes and check out the Line Dance Lessons at El Dorado School of Performing Arts. Then, head to Club Vaudeville for Karaoke to sing your heart out and enjoy the beats of DJ JJ Vega.
Saturday, September 26
Check out The Golden Pickle Pickleball Tournament or the Grizzly Gold 5K & 1K to cheer on the competitors! After that, grab brunch and some lively rounds of Bingo at Frawg’s Bar & Grill, where you can play cornhole, bingo and mini golf for free. Then, explore history and art at the Museum Crawl at all four El Dorado Museums. Get your passport stamped at each Museum to be entered to win a $300 grand prize!
At this point, chances are you’re already near downtown, where the Block Party will be in full swing! Peruse the Main Street Market and the Food Court to do some shopping and grab some grub. Check out the attractions at the Fun Zone to enjoy axe throwing, rock climbing, mechanical bull riding and more! Stop by the Kids Zone for hands-on STEAM projects for the kiddos (and the adults if they're feeling creative). Head to District Stadium for the Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby and the Community Performances, and admire El Dorado’s newest wiffle ball stadium.
Plenty of downtown businesses will be open during the Gold Fest Block Party. Explore The Gathering Point for a Pokémon card trade-and-play, and head to Bakery 177 between 2-4 p.m. for an ice cream social (there’s free soft serve for the first 100 guests). Gold Fest is the perfect time to check out El Dorado businesses, especially if you haven’t stopped in for a while!
Starting at 7 p.m., make a beeline for the dance floor, because it’s time for the Street Dance! Boogie to the beat of ‘90s country with the songs of Ty Herndon and Ricochet. Remember, the Block Party and Street Dance are completely free to attend — no ticket or button needed!
Find the full schedule and list of Gold Fest events at experienceeldo.com/gold-fest
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