Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival facts for kids

The Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival is a fun event held every year in Ridgecrest, California. It celebrates the amazing 10,000-year-old petroglyphs (rock carvings) made by the Coso people. These ancient artworks are found in the Coso Rock Art District. The festival started in 2014 and quickly became popular. In its first year, over 15,000 people visited! It was even called one of the "10 Most Unique Autumn Festivals in the Country." The festival includes a special Native American gathering called an Intertribal Pow Wow, a street fair, and guided trips to see the real petroglyphs.

What is the Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival?

The festival is all about celebrating the ancient rock art of the Coso people. It's a weekend filled with activities that help people learn about and appreciate these important historical carvings. You can explore a street fair, watch traditional dances, and even take tours to see the petroglyphs up close.

Exploring Ancient Rock Art

The main focus of the festival is the petroglyphs. These are images carved into rocks by people long ago. The festival offers several tours during the weekend. These tours are organized by the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest. The most famous sites, Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons, are where many Coso petroglyphs are found. These canyons are located inside the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. This special location helps keep the more than 20,000 documented images safe and undisturbed.

Intertribal Pow Wow

A big part of the festival is the Intertribal Pow Wow. Many different Native American tribes gather for this event. A Pow Wow is a traditional celebration with dancing, singing, and drumming. It's a wonderful way to experience Native American culture. In 2014, a famous Native American flautist named R. Carlos Nakai performed at the festival.

Petroglyph Park

In 2014, a special place called Petroglyph Park was created in Ridgecrest. This park has copies of some of the most famous petroglyphs from the area. It's a great way to see what the carvings look like, even if you can't go on a tour to the actual sites.

Virtual Festival

In 2020, because of special circumstances, the festival took place online. This allowed people to still enjoy and learn about the petroglyphs from their homes.

How to Learn More

If you want to learn more about the petroglyphs or the festival, here are some places to contact:

• Maturango Museum, 100 E. Las Flores Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555; (760) 375-6900, maturango.org.
• Naval Air Weapons Station, (760) 939-1683.