Michelle Schoonover and friend are shown at the 2025 Tarantula Festival.
Great news for arachnophiliacs, bakers, screamers and others as the Coarsegold Tarantula Awareness Festival crawls into town on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for its first time under new management.
The ever-popular Tarantula Festival was founded by Diane Boland who, with Richard Boland, owned the Coarsegold Historic Village where the event is traditionally held. The festival coincides yearly with the amorous arachnids’ local mating season.
In November 2025 the Village was purchased by Chukchansi Sovereign Enterprises, Inc., a buy Boland said was “perfect.” Boland at the time hoped the festival would continue and this weekend it will, to the delight of countless two-, four- and eight-legged creatures.
As always, admission is free and costumes are welcomed. Dogs on leash are welcome, too.
All the usual exciting events will take place and, as always, event times may vary based on the number of participants. Contest sign-ups begin at 10: 30 a.m. and great prizes will be given.
Rich and Lois Harmon are pictured in 2025 with their tarantula grandson, Sammy Thompson
The spooky schedule:
10:30-11 a.m. — Pumpkin Pie Bake-Off
11 a.m.-3 p.m. — Pumpkin Decorating 11:05-11:25 a.m. — Tarantula Poem Contest and Reading
11:30 a.m.-noon — Scream-Off Contest
12:30-12:55 p.m. — Hairy Leg Contest
1-1:45 p.m. — Live music by Chris Edwards
1:50-2:10 p.m. — Children’s Tarantula
Race
2:15-2:35 p.m. — Bubble Gun Blowing
Contest
2:40-3 p.m. — Pizza Eating Contest
3:05-3:35 p.m. — Entertainment 3:30-3:50 p.m. — Kids Costume Contest and Parade
3:55-4:15 p.m. — Pumpkin Decorating
Awards
4:20-4:40 p.m. — Pet Costume Contest
4:45-5 p.m. — Pumpkin Dance 5 p.m. to close — Grand Finale Tarantula Derby
And that’s not all, folks. The fan-favorite Peddlers Fair will take place over both weekend days, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25.
Coarsegold Tarantula Awareness Festival sponsors include Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino and Round Table Pizza.
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