Bishop is a Welcomed Retreat

Bishop is located in the very middle of California, where Highways 6 and 395 intersect.

Bishop’s elevation of 4,150 feet above sea level makes it a natural environment that changes quickly from the high desert sage and arid climate of the Owens Valley floor to an alpine wonderland of pine forest, rushing streams and gorgeous deep blue lakes surrounded by the mighty mountain peaks of the Eastern Sierra.

The “greater Bishop area,” which includes unincorporated nearby neighborhoods such as West Bishop, Meadow Creek-Dixon Lane, Wilkerson Ranch, Rocking K, Mustang Mesa and Round Valley includes an additional 11,000 residents.

Bishop is a welcomed retreat with warmer weather than Mammoth. With 5.18 inches average yearly precipitation and only six inches of snow, Bishop makes the perfect combo vacation to ski, golf, fish and bike year-round.

Throughout the year, Bishop hosts a bevy of monthly events.

During the month of November, the Bishop Country Club Golf Tournament will be held Nov. 5 at the Bishop Country Club.

For more information on all tournaments or to schedule an event please contact the golf shop (760) 873-5828, or email Steve at steve@bishopcountryclub. com. Tournament schedule is subject to change.

Also on Nov. 5, the Holiday Bazaar will be held at the First United Methodist Church from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Bazaar will feature a variety of tasty baked treats, free coffee, and many hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind items, including fall and winter home décor, as well as upcycled items, gifts, hand-knit and hand-crochet hats and scarves, baby items, and much more. For children, supervised crafts with a snack will be available for $2 per child, while their adult shoppers enjoy the bazaar.

Calvary Baptist Church will also host a craft fair Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. The bazaar will feature soaps, spices, jewelry, honey, Uganda aprons & purses, fine art, homemade crafts, sweet treats and more. A cookie walk with proceeds will benefit the youth mission trip to Arizona next year.

Bishop is home to a number of Murder Mystery Dinners and Shows. Dates and times of shows can be obtained by emailing Tickets@ Brownpapertickets.com.

The Bishop Fall Highball Craggin’ Classic will be held Nov. 5 through 7. This 3-day Grassroots climbing festival is a true celebration of Eastern Sierra climbing.

The Bishop Fall Highball Craggin’ Classic 3-day Grassroots climbing festival is a true celebration of Eastern Sierra climbing. COURTESY PHOTO

Each month, the free COSA Bird Walk is held on the second Saturday. From October to May, walks start at 8:30 a.m., and from June to September, meet at 7:30 a.m. behind the U.S. Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management building, 351 Pacu Lane. Limited supply of binoculars available.

On Nov. 26 through Dec. 17, the Cardinal Village Tree Sale and Christmas Fun will be held in the Cardinal Village Resort.

Fresh-cut Noble Pine Christmas Trees at great prices will go on sale after Thanksgiving. Trees will be for sale every Friday to Sunday after that until the weekend before Christmas. When the trees are selling the General Store is open and Gingerbread Cafe will be serving soups, cinnamon rolls and other goodies from 10-3. Santa will be with at Cardinal Village from 11 am-3 pm on Saturdays and 2:30-5:00 pm on Sundays. There is also free ice skating. You can bring your own skates, or borrow from the resort. Check out Cardinal Village Resort’s Facebook Page for more information.

On Dec. 3 from 4:30 to 6 p.m., a Lighted Christmas Parade will be held. The parade begins at 4:30 pm at High Country Lumber and heads north on Main Street, ending at Bishop City Park for the official tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 pm.

On Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Christmas Train of the Laws Railroad Express will be offered by the Laws Railroad Museum.

Railroad Express is a magical family day at Laws Railroad Museum with train rides, holiday crafts, refreshments and visits with Santa Claus.

Get your train ticket to this small town magical tradition. See your child’s face light up when they get their golden ticket, marching in for the secret ask from Santa, a visit from Smokey Bear, the yummiest s’mores, personalized decorating of Great Basin cookies, two unique holiday crafts AND a free book from Altrusa, all to fit into their very own custom designed bag. Top it off with a hot cocoa and wagon ride down caroling lane, drawn by horses from Rock Creek Pack Station. And the grand finale, taking a 15 minute train ride with carolers, elves and a special gift from Santa’s elves.

Coming up in 2023 is the Bob Bishop Trout Rodeo to be held Feb. 18 and 19.

This is a catch-and-release event brought to you by the Southwest Council Fly Fishers International the weekend following President’s Day weekend. This will be a trout tournament for both fly fishers and conventional fishers. The Bishop Chamber of Commerce has been very supportive in bringing this event to our area. Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Owens River will be the focus of the fishing.

On March 11, the Blake Jones Trout Derby will be held at the Tri-County Fairgrounds & Event Center, Heritage Arts Building.

Over $10K in cash & prizes will be awarded. It is one of California’s largest single-day trout derbies. Registration, check-in and prize ceremony will be held at Tri-County Fairgrounds. Fishing at Pleasant Valley Reservoir and Owens River. Blind Bogey format with prizes for all ages.

For more information on all events to be held in the Bishop area, contact the Bishop Visitor Center, located at 690 N. Main Street. Call (760) 873-8405 or visit BishopChamberOfCommerce.com or BishopVisitor.com.