The 75th Annual Grubstake Days continues in Yucca Valley

Jef Harmatz Jef Harmatz Send an email May 23, 2026

The community celebration will include a number of family friendly events and activities, including a carnival, live music, food, drink, and the Grubstake Days specialties that only happen in Yucca Valley.

I asked Z107.7’s own Gary Daigneault to explain what exactly is a grubstake?

“Well, back in the day, when a miner was going to go out to try to find gold, he would get a grub stake. Someone would stake him for the equipment, for his food, for everything he needed to take with him. So they had to have that ready to go out to actually take the gold. So a grub stake was basically the supplies needed to go look for gold in the desert,” said Daigneault.  

Grubstake Days is happening through Sunday at the intersection of Twentynine Palms Highway and Hilton in Yucca Valley. There will be food vendors, beer, and live music happening all day long. And you can’t miss the carnival. Just look for bright lights and children screaming with joy. The fun runs all day Saturday (May 23) and Sunday (May 24). 

Also happening Sunday morning is the Town of Yucca Valley’s Grubstakes Run.

Jakub Kusmieruk from the Town of Yucca Valley’s recreation department explains the run:

“In partnership with Grubstake Days, we have our 2K, 5K, 10K Grubstakes run. It’s our 35th anniversary run, Our running events have been very successful. We average about 100 participants on those, a lot of community, a lot of people spectating, so they’ve been very popular, people like those,” said Kusmieruk.

The Town of Yucca Valley invites runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts of all ages to participate in the 35th Annual Grubstakes Run, on Sunday, May 24, beginning at 8 a.m. at Yucca Valley High School Stadium. 

The event features a 10K, 5K and 2K Walk, offering options for all fitness levels. Participants can register online at yucca-valley.org or in person at the Community Center. Early registration is available through May 3 at a reduced rate of $30 per person and includes a special keepsake giveaway. Regular registration from May 4 through race day will be $35 per person. Early registrants will also benefit from express check-in on race day. On-site registration will be available from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. via QR code and electronic payment only (no cash accepted). Souvenir shirts will be available while supplies last.

This event is organized by the Town of Yucca Valley Community Services Department, with generous support from media partners Hi-Desert Publishing Company and Z107.7 FM Radio. Alliance Race Timing will provide professional timing services. We can’t wait to see you out there!

For the full list of Grubstake Days events, visit yuccavalley.org

Jef Harmatz Jef Harmatz Send an email May 23, 2026
Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz is the co-host of Z107.7’s “Morning Show with Cody and Jef” and Z107.7’s News Director. He has worked as a journalist, cartoonist, chef, and delivery driver. He is known nationally for his writing and comics in publications like TimeOut, Popula, Roadtrippers, Solrad and Spiralbound, and for his album covers for Third Eye Blind and Sir Sly. He is known locally for his pop-up barbecue restaurant Hot Dog Panic. He remains unknown in the field of beekeeping, because he is too afraid of being stung to try it. When not on the radio, he draws comics and self-publishes little books. He lives with his partner and his dog Sunday in Yucca Valley, where he cooks them both elaborate meals.