Angels Camp, CA…(Frogtown, USA)…Jumping Frogs goodwill tour launches 90th Birthday Celebration. Calaveras County’s Celebrated Jumping Frogs celebrate their 90th Birthday this year. They will soon launch their annual goodwill tour which builds excitement for the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee. This year’s event is May 17-20 at Frogtown in Angels Camp.

This 90th birthday year means more excitement than ever as the frogs and their entourage of Frog Jump Committee members/handlers hit the road. Students will be especially happy to learn that the frogs’ 90th Birthday Party will be in full swing on Thursday, May 17, which is Kids Day at the Fair. Kids 12 and under get free admission to the fair and free frog jumping. In addition, a 90th Birthday Party will start at noon at the Main Stage – complete with cupcakes, noisemakers and more! For complete details, go to www.frogtown.org

The first Frog Jump was staged in Angels Camp in 1928 to celebrate the paving of Main Street and the event has grown to international prominence over the past 90 years. Every year the frogs promote Frog Jump in advance by appearing around Calaveras County – and beyond. This year’s tour concludes on May 16 at noon with the annual State Capitol Frog Jump in Sacramento.

The event is cosponsored by Calaveras County’s elected representatives in the California Legislature – Senator Tom Berryhill, who represents local Senate District 14 and Assemblymember Frank Bigelow, representing the 5th Assembly District. Last year more than 50 elected officials, legislative staffers and media representatives vied for bragging rights and the opportunity to move on to the Jumping Frog Jubilee Grand Finals.

The local appearance circuit for the Jumping Frogs begins at Valley Springs Elementary School on April 27 with two assemblies beginning at 8 a.m. On May 7, the Jumping Frogs appear at Hazel Fischer Elementary School in Arnold at 10:15 a.m.

The annual Frog Jump at Government Center – pitting county departments against each other — is set for May 8 at noon. The frogs visit Christian Family Learning Center in Angels Camp on May 9 at 2 p m. and then on May 11 the tour visits San Andreas Elementary at 8 a.m.

On May 12, the Jumping Frogs will appear on a special 90th Birthday Party Float in the Mother Lode Roundup Parade at 10 a. m. in downtown Sonora. On May 14, the tours stops first at West Point Elementary School for an assembly at 10 a.m., and then moves on to Rail Road Flat Elementary School at noon.

The local tour winds down on May 15 with appearances at Copperopolis Elementary School at 9 a.m. and Foothill Village in Angels Camp at 11:30 a.m.

The frogs travel in luxury in the distinctive Frogmobile, a van wrapped with frog graphics – courtesy of donations from Angels Sewer and Drain and the Wintercreek Foundation. Graphics are by Eric Calialgro.

In addition to exhibition jumping, the frogs and their handlers have lots to talk about at the tour appearances. This is the 32nd anniversary of the Frog Jump World’s Record which was set by the late Lee Giudici and his frog Rosie the Ribiter in 1986 with an unprecedented jump of 21 feet, five and ¾ inches.