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Gold Rush Days Changed To Americana In Old Sacramento For Labor Day Weekend

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Gold Rush Days are officially gone from Old Sacramento, at least for this year, but a new event will try to fill the Labor Day weekend void.

There won't be dirt on the streets, or bad guys and shootouts, but an event called Americana in Old Sacramento is planned for early September.

"They were a little concerned about the cancellation of Gold Rush Days but all in all I think we're on the same page," said Steve Hammond, the head of the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau.

He revealed Plan B to the Sacramento City Council after the mayor, the council and countless others were upset they didn't get to give input before the annual event was axed.

"We've moved on and now it's about the Labor Day weekend and a really great event for four days that's going to be family friendly," he said.

The revised event promises live music, a beer crawl, and a Jimmy Buffett cover band.

"We're going to have full programming from the waterfront park all the way down to the 1849 scene," he said.

The event will have components from Gold Rush Days without the water waste in keeping the dust down and cooling horse-drawn carriages.

"We put 40 tons of dirt in Old Sacramento and during Gold Rush Days, we have to water and that takes about 3,000 gallons of water and the cleanup in 100,000 gallons," he said.

The festival has been held since 2000 and attracted more than 100,000 visitors, giving a huge boost to area businesses.

The visitors bureau promises a bigger and better Gold Rush Days for next year, but for now, Americana in Old Sacramento will run Aug 29 to Sept. 1.

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