The Wild West Film Festival returned to Vacaville on Saturday October 11th - 12th and this year!

Vendors gathered at Vacaville’s Downtown Theater and Journey Coffee’s courtyard in the old Carnegie Library to celebrate the 7th Annual Wild West Film Festival!  This multi-cultural and educational celebration of the legends and lifestyle of the legacy of the American Wild West included films, documentaries and exhibits of cultural art, poetry, keynote speakers, and authors.

Visitors met Ron J. Jackson, Jr., bestselling author, historian, speaker, and former award-winning journalist who has been writing professionally for 38 years. He is the author of numerous books, including the ground-breaking “Joe, the Slave Who Became an Alamo Legend”, winner of the prestigious Award of Merit for nonfiction from The Philosophical Society of Texas.  Ron’s book traces Joe’s story from his birth in Kentucky through his life in slavery to the Texans’ battle for independence to his eventual escape and disappearance into the shadows of history.  Local Author Lee Martin, author of over 30 Western novels, numerous screenplays, from which three Western movies have been made, including 2013’s Shadow on the Mesa, featuring Kevin Sorbo, 2021’s Last Shoot Out, featuring Bruce Dern, and 2022’s The Desperate Riders, featuring Trace Adkins and Tom Berenger chatted and signed books for park visitors.

The Two Day Annual Wild West Film Festival competition kicked off on Saturday with film screenings. Sunday showcased the remaining western films. The Peña Adobe Historical Society clapstick video featuring James Tunstall was shown on Sunday (Wps://www.youtube.com/@penaadobehistoricalsociety3311).  The Peña Adobe Historical Society shared pre-gold rush artifacts from the Mowers-Goheen Museum with visitors on Saturday from 10am - 6pm.

Wrapping up the Wild West Film Festival was the presentation of the Westy Award winners. From Bowdie Bentz Films, the western short “Blood Trade” won Best Short, Best Actor and Best Actress!  Blood Trade follows an outlaw pursued by two marshals. The chase involves a fur trader and a risky plan, leading to tense dialogue and a nighttime confrontation! 

We are looking forward to next year’s Wild West Film Festival!