Frogtown, USA…A snazzy new Frogmobile is transporting Calaveras County’s Celebrated Jumping Frogs on their annual public appearance tour. The State Captiol Frog Jump highlights the itinerary on May 6 in Sacramento, with many local stop offs scheduled prior to the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, May 14-17 at Frogtown. The frogs and their entourage of Frog Jump Committee members/handlers are traveling in luxury in a van wrapped with frog graphics – courtesy of donations from Angels Sewer and Drain and the Wintercreek Foundation. Graphics are by Eric Calialgro.

The frogs hit the road on May 5, appearing at Rail Road Flat School at 9 a.m. And then traveling to Government Center in San Andreas for the annual jump pitting county departments against each other, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The entourage then continues on to Christian Family Learning Center in Angels Camp for a jump event at 2:30 p.m.

On May 6, elected officials, legislative staffers and media representatives will vie for bragging rights in the 41st annual State Capitol Jump, beginning at 11 a.m. on the east side of the Capitol building. There were over 30 entries last year and the winner – Assemblymember Cheryl Brown, representing Assembly District 47 in Southern California – traveled to Frogtown to participate in the 2014 Grand Finals. The State Capitol Jump is sponsored by Senator Tom Berryhill, who represents local Senate District 14.

The Frogmobile returns to Calaveras County for the remainder of the tour –

May 7 – Rite of Passage at 11 a.m.

May 8 – San Andreas Elementary at 8 a.m. and Foothill Village in Angels Camp at 1 p.m.

May 9 – Jr. Frog Jump at the Altaville Fire Station at 9 a.m.

May 11 – West Point School at 10 a.m.

In addition to exhibition jumping, the frogs and their handlers have lots to talk about. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Mark Twain’s story which started it all – The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County.

To celebrate the anniversary, fair officials have slashed the cost to jump a frog to just $5 this year!

And with the new Jump Start program, you can form your own team to compete with the seasoned frog jockeys who return every year to vie for the World’s Record in the Grand Finals. The record of 21 feet, 5 ¾ inches was set in 1986 by Lee Guidici and his frog Rosie the Ribiter.

For complete details, check out www.frogtown.org