Great Day in Elk Turns 50 — Who Coined That Great Name? Now It’s a Great Night Too, With Chef Matt Cooking
We did a KOZT Radio segment on Friday and went hunting for the origin of that perfect name — Great Day in Elk. We love it, readers love it, and Elk is the only town on the Coast that uses “Great Day” as its annual festival title. So who coined it, and when did it first appear?
Our time‑machine dive into the Mendocino Beacon archives turned up a 1976 issue using the phrase “Great Day in Elk” before the first event was ever held. The article gave no explanation for the name, no origin story, nothing. Just the title — already fully formed.
While searching for a fun angle for Saturday’s Great Day in Elk, organizer Carole handed us another gem: the annual charity cake auction. Auctioneer Peter Lit presides over a friendly fundraising rivalry between the Anderson Valley contingent and the Elk contingent. Last year the bidding climbed higher than ever until an Elkie — who prefers to stay anonymous — dropped $2,000 on the whole thing. Kevin represented Elk, Rainbow represented Anderson Valley, Lit cried “sold,” and everyone celebrated by eating tiny ceremonial pieces of the cake. That’s our version. If you have a more accurate or more colorful one, send it our way.
A later Beacon article offered a clearer origin story: the name “Great Day in Elk” was attributed to part‑time resident Bill Edison, who spent summers on Martha’s Vineyard and winters in Elk. He was inspired by the 150‑year‑old Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Festival, a huge 19th‑century tradition known for unusual contests — including a greased‑pole climb. Edison reportedly approached the Greenwood Community Center Board with the idea, saying that every day in Elk is a great day, but this will be the greatest great day.
We couldn’t find a primary record confirming this, and social‑media lore offers other theories — including a popular one that a group at the Oasis Bar collaborated with Edison on the name. The truth may be somewhere in the mix, but the result is the same: a beloved event now celebrating its 50th year.
And here’s the press release Carole sent for the big anniversary:
50th Annual Great Day in Elk — Saturday, August 29
The 50th annual Great Day in Elk will be held on Saturday, August 29, from noon until 11 p.m.
The noontime parade will travel through downtown Elk to the Greenwood Community Center. All afternoon there will be game booths with prizes, do‑it‑yourself crafts for children, a greased pole with a $100 bill at the top, watermelon‑eating contests, sack races, and an egg toss.
This year’s live entertainment features the Taiko Drummers and The Bring Joy Band, with Sarah Larkin of The Real Sarahs. A silent auction, cake auction, and raffle round out the afternoon.
Lunch options include tamales, Caesar salad (with or without chicken), grilled hot dogs, clay‑oven focaccia with Moroccan lentil soup, and the Civic Club’s ice‑cream sundaes topped with fresh berry sauce. Drinks include fresh‑pressed Greenwood Ridge apple cider, Elk’s famous margaritas, soft drinks, beer, and wine.
Dinner, from 4 to 7, is presented by Chef Matt Samuelson of the Spontaneous Café, serving garlic‑lemon chicken and tempeh cutlets with all the trimmings.
Great Night returns for the 50th anniversary, from 6:30 to 11, featuring the Talking Heads tribute band Burning Down the House, with drinks and pizza. Advance tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.
Enjoy a full day — and night — in Elk, five miles south of Highway 128 on Highway 1. All proceeds benefit the Community Center. Please leave dogs at home.
For more information, email Mea Bloyd at meabloyd@gmail.com or visit the Elk community website at elkweb.org.
