Parkfield Earthquake
Links to Photos, Earthquake Information, and More Travel Reports at bottom
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If you read about the latest California earthquake (September 28, 2004), centered near Parkfield, you may have recognized that as the town where I attend a bluegrass festival each May. This event increases the population from 35 to somewhere between 500 and 1000 for the weekend. Even so, it's not likely a quake during the festival would cause any great harm. Some of the vendors who have merchandise precariously perched or hung in their booths might suffer minor damage. The trailers and motor homes would shake, but being designed to withstand the vibration of the road, should survive. Things left out on the counter or table might crash to the floor. The lighting fixtures mounted above the stage would sway, and possible come down if not mounted tightly. In fact, the town and the festival promoters have long celebrated the area's "shaky" status. A sign by the restaurant reads "Be here when it happens." The festival is described as "the world's most earthshaking bluegrass festival." Signs at a bridge into town announce that one is entering the North American Plate or the Pacific Plate. (Check them out here and here.) After all, they've been expecting this event since the 1980s. –
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| On the Fault Line | Earth slippage north of town | ||
| New York Times Parkfield earthquake story | |||
| Parkfield Information | More Parkfield Photos | ||
