"Celebrate this much-loved -- and frequently vilified -- holiday staple at this zany community festival..."

December 2007

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Independence
California
on the 4th of July
 

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Open for visitors!  Don’t forget to visit
the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery while you’re here.

----  SPECIAL REPORT  ---- The Third Internationally Acclaimed INDEPENDENCE Fruitcake  Festival December 17, 2007 ---- Live Music by the Indy Fruit 'n Nut Pickers ---- SEE THE 2007 FESTIVAL ON YOUTUBE! "The Fruitcake King"

THE FRUITCAKE PRESS

HEAR NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO COVERAGE OF THE FRUITCAKE FESTIVAL California Festival Celebrates Fruitcake     Weekend Edition Sunday, December 16, 2007 Ah, the fruitcake. It's a universally hated baked holiday good. Or is it? Nancy Masters is the founder of the Independence Fruitcake Festival. On Dec. 17, the town of Independence, Calif., will hold the celebration for the third year in a row. Masters talks to Liane Hansen about the sweet treat everyone loves to hate.

Listeners Defend the Fruitcake!     Weekend Edition Sunday, December 23, 2007 Our story last week about a California fruitcake festival brought letters from listeners who love and defend the much-maligned fruitcake. NPR's Liane Hansen reads a few of these letters, and then hears from one listener who was moved to song.                 READ ABOUT THE FRUITCAKE FESTIVAL IN THE INYO REGISTER                    Fruitcake Fest Sets Sights on Trifecta Inyo Register, Bishop, Calif.   December 15, 2007 The sanity of anyone who would come to a fruitcake festival is suspect, and so anyone who would stand outside in the cold just to get a look at a fruitcake festival and sing a rousing chorus of “All I Want is that Fruitcake in the Window” would probably qualify for a spot on a counselor’s couch.

Held annually at the historic Winnedumah Hotel on Hy 395 in scenic Independence, California   MAP

     From 6.30pm on Monday 17th December in the small Owens Valley town of Independence California the Fruitcake will once again be revered, during the third internationally renown Fruitcake Festival. Hail Fruitcakes!
     In a gathering at the historic Winnedumah Hotel, opposite the Inyo County Court House, locals, travelers, dignitaries and friends from far-flung places will convene to salute the fruitcake.
     Revelers will offer up fruitcakes to be judged, nay…not to be best; specifically to be the finest in categories of their own making – the nuttiest, the fruitiest, the oldest, the furthest-travelled and, of course, the Judges’ Choice will be named. The contest of the Fruitcake Flinging will be open to all and a fascinating exposition of the most aerodynamic of fruitcake brands will also occur during the evening.
     No Festival is complete without the accompanying reverence towards their King – in the manner of the age-old Divine Right of Kings, the Fruitcake King's wishes shall be fulfilled, after a fashion, on the night.
     Fruitcake attire is most highly recommended, as is this unique opportunity to bring your fruitcake and have it judged with the very best, washed down with some fine eggnog (leaded and unleaded) by the roaring fireplace of the Winnedumah.
     Come celebrate a full tickling of your senses as the ‘Fruit ‘n’ Nut Pickers’ serenade us towards the ultimate fruitcake fantasy.
 
     Contact: Fruitcake Festival of Independence California  
              Violette Cerise or Nancy Masters     760 878-2053

  2006 Fruitcake  Festival Photos
"Memories can fade but a fruitcake lasts forever."

Click on an image to view full size. Photos courtesy of Bob and Sharon Rice.

The First Internationally Acclaimed
Independence Fruitcake Festival

Magnificent Fruitcake Recipes

Fruitcake Cartoon Hall of Shame

Famous Fruitcake Sayings

 
A beautiful fruitcake is a wonderful thing
MUST SEE: Moni Schiller's "Nuttier Than A Fruitcake website

  "Events
Not To Miss
CALIFORNIA
Independence Fruitcake
Festival"
  -- Country Living

December 2007

Printable version

FROM FIREWORKS TO FRUITCAKES…

  The Independence Civic Club would like to thank all the people, organizations and businesses who help with the annual Fourth of July Celebration, Christmas at the Courthouse and the Internationally Acclaimed Independence Fruitcake Festival.  Without all of you, our community celebrations and charitable activities would not be possible.

 THANK YOU!

 ORGANIZATIONS:

ABERDEEN
AMERICAN LEGION POST #265
BISHOP WASTE
BOULDER CREEK
INDEPENDENCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
INDEPENDENCE LIONS CLUB
INDEPENDENCE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
INYO COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION
INYO COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
KIDS CLUB
LA FLORISTA
LONE PINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LONE PINE PROPANE
LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER
MAIRS MARKET
MT WHITNEY FISH HATCHERY
OWENS VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
PIONEER MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH
ROCK BAKER INSURANCE
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
VALLEY MARKET/SUBWAY
WINNEDUMAH HOTEL

Don't Miss
The Mt. Whitney Packers and Owens Valley History Site