Events
Events Sponsored by: Friends of Columbia SHP
Friends of Columbia SHP sponsors many events for the public. For a complete list of all the events in Columbia State Historic Park, click Park.
Ghost Stories Tour
When: Pop-up events in 2026
Time: 3 PM
Cost: $10 per person
Location: Meet at the Columbia Museum
Event Description: These are pop-up events. We will advertise on social media and signs at the museum. Have you heard that there are ghosts in Columbia? Join a ghost tour to find out where they lurk and the stories behind those who lived in Columbia during the Gold Rush. This event is coordinated by Friends of Columbia State Historic Park
In the Shadows of Columbia Paranormal Research Tour
When: April 25, June 6, October 10, 2026
Time: 6;30pm – 10-30pm
Cost: $50 per person
Location: Meet at Eagle Cotage
Event Description: Have you ever wondered if Columbia is truly a Ghost Town? Have you ever “felt something” while stepping into one of our old buildings? Now is your chance to be a part of history and interact with Full Spectrum Paranormal researchers as they use their equipment to detect paranormal activity in four historic places in Columbia. After a brief introduction at Eagle Cotage where the tour begins, you will be led to different buildings. You will spend time at paranormal sites with the researchers as they explain the fascinating experience and conduct their research. This event is hosted by Friends of Columbia SHP and Full Spectrum Paranormal out of Sacramento California
Paranormal VIP Tours
When: September12, 2026
Time: 3:00pm to midnight
Cost: $100 per person
Location: Meet at Miners’ Hall
Description: This is a very special VIP Tour by the Full Spectrum Paranormal Team from Sacramento. It is limited to 10 people. We will meet at Miners Hall for an introduction to the team, their strategy on investigation, and an introduction to cutting edge instruments. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, no open toes. The afternoon into the evening will progress from the old 1860 Schoolhouse to Wells Fargo building and include several locations in between. Around dinner time, there will be a no host dinner at the Bella Union in Columbia with the Full Spectrum Paranormal Team. (The price of the dinner is not included in the price of the tour) The tour will follow the researchers as they conduct their research and use their equipment to detect paranormal activity and explain the experience along the way. This event is hosted by Friends of Columbia SHP and Full Spectrum Paranormal out of Sacramento.
Back to School 1861
When: September 19, 2026
Time: 3-6pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Historic Schoolhouse
Event Description: Join us at the historic Columbia Schoolhouse and discover one of the parks most fascinating Gold Rush era buildings. During this reminiscent event, sit in on a lesson taught by a docent dressed as an 1860s schoolteacher, play games of long ago, and help make hand-cranked ice cream.
Stories in Stone
When: September 25, 26 October 2, 3 2026
Time: 7:00pm and 7:30pm
Cost: 16 and older $30.00 per person.
Children 10 – 15. $10.00 per child. Not recommended for children under 10
Location: Columbia Cemetery
Event Description: Visitors are led through Columbia’s historic cemetery by living history docents carrying lanterns where they will visit 10 gravesites. The dead come to life as interpreters tell about their lives, how they died, and how they came to lie in Columbia’s cemetery. This event is sponsored by Friends of Columbia State Historic Park
Boo Boulevard
When: October 24, 2026
Time: 2 – 5pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Main Street Columbia
Event Description: Come join the fun. Trick or Treating, Face Painting, Creepy Crafts, and a Photo Op Corral, Gargoyle Quest, Carnival Games Face Painting and more. Meet Bigfoot and take a pic with him. Everyone is invited to march in the Halloween Parade. Bring your family, and hang out with the ghosties and ghouls! This is a free event! This event is sponsored by Friends of Columbia State Historic Park and Black Oak Casino.
Lamplight Tours
When: December 4, 5, 2026
Time: Friday: 6 tours starting at 6:30pm
Saturday: 9 Tours starting at 5:30pm
Tours every 15 minutes
Cost: 16 and older $30 per person. Children 10-15 $10 per child and not recommended for children under 10
Location: Throughout Town. Meet at Columbia Museum
Event Description:
Meet us at the Museum at Columbia State Historic Park to join our annual Lamplight Tour. The Lamplight Tour is a historical walking play where guests wander the streets of Columbia after dusk, led by lantern-carrying guides. In 2025 the ghosts of Christmas Past were headed to the Gold Rush! Our play was – A Miners’ Christmas Carol – a hilarious, heartwarming retelling of Dickens’ classic. We sold out, so you might want to get tickets early. We will post more later about the play this year, but rest assured it will be phenomenal. Presented by Friends of Columbia State Historic Park.
Miners’ Christmas
When: December 19, 20, 2026
Time: 12-3pm
Cost: FREE
Where: Main Street Columbia
Event Description: Join the holiday celebrations at Columbia State Historic Park with a family friendly event demonstrating what Christmas in a Gold Rush town may have looked like in the 1850’s. Stop in and listen to Christmas stories from some of the ole’ timer miners, taste chestnuts roasted over the open fire, and make a variety of old-fashioned crafts. Explore the historic buildings of Columbia adorned with old fashion decorations while you sip hot cider and coffee. You might even catch sight of Father Christmas as he visits the town of Columbia arriving by stage at 12:30pm. This event is sponsored by Friends of Columbia State Historic Park.
Diggins Tent Town 1852
When: May 2027 Diggins Tent Town Educational Living History Program. Reservations required for Schools. Please see Schools’ Page
When: May 2027 Diggins Tent Town for General Public Reservations not required. Participants enter and pay through the portal
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: $10 Adults Children under 17 Free
Location: Diggins Tent Town (located near main parking lot)
Event Description: Look for updates for 2027 which will be updated before we post the book it buttonStep back in time to the year 1852 and discover what life was like in a gold diggings encampment during the early Gold Rush period. Over 150 volunteers help to recreate this time in history by living the life of a miner, merchant, actor/actress, and more. School tours are led Thursday and Friday by reservation and booked online on our Schools page. Park visitors are welcome all four days of the event and pay in person at the portal. We do not sell tickets to the public online for this event. This event is sponsored by Friends of Columbia State Historic Park.
Memorial Day Remembrance – Honoring Our Fallen Heroes
When: May 31, 2027
Time: 11:00am Cemetery
Where: 11am at Columbia Cemetery Cost: FREE
Friends of Columbia State Historic Park invites the public to join a heartfelt Memorial Day Remembranceon Monday, May 31, 2027, honoring the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.
The day of remembrance begins at 11:00 AM at the Columbia Cemetery, where The Grenadine Belles and the Columbia Militia Color Guard will lead a moving tribute to our fallen veterans in a setting rich with local history.
“We are honored to host this annual event in remembrance of those who sacrificed everything for our freedom,” said a spokesperson for Friends of Columbia. “This day is not only a time to reflect, but also to come together as a community in solemn gratitude.”This event is free and open to the public.
Park Anniversary Celebration with 40s Big Band Street Dance
When: July 2027
Time: 6-10pm
Where: Main St. Columbia
Cost: FREE or Reserve a Table
Reserve $100 VIP Tables. Please choose 4 people for your table when you make the reservation. if you choose less, someone else may book the other seat or seats at your table. The cost is the same to reserve all four seats, because you are purchasing the use of a whole table, not seats at a table.
Event Description: Look for updates for 2027 which will be updated before we post the book it button. Join us as California State Parks celebrates 82 years of preserving Columbia State Historic Park. Columbia SHP contains some of California’s best Gold Rush era buildings. To celebrate the Park’s founding, we put on a 1940s style Big Band Street Dance. Put on your dancing shoes to boogie down to the music of Rod Harris and his Orchestra as we celebrate the 81st anniversary of our beloved State Park. The Event is free, bring your own chairs. This event is sponsored by Friends of Columbia State Historic Park