Victorian Days in the Park
A celebration of San Mateo history
1979 – 2002. Victorian Days in the Park was a celebration of San Mateo history held annually on a summer weekend in Central Park. It was sponsored by the San Mateo County Historical Association with cooperation from the City of San Mateo. Many organization participated including the San Mateo Arboretum Society.
Victorian Days featured craft/vendor booths as well as historical booths.
A popular event was the historical fashion show where vintage garments were paraded. Another popular event was a vintage rifle demonstration where volunteers dressed in period regalia demonstrated 19th century firearms.
Also on display were antique automobiles. On occasion, old timer San Mateo Blues ballplayers would make an appearance and autograph baseballs. Live music was performed on the Recreation Center stage. A play area included a sluice where children could pan for gold.
Upwards of 50,000 visitors would attend.
Victorian Days in the Park ran from 1979 until 2002 when it was discontinued as a business decision by the San Mateo County Historical Association.
Victorian Days lives on in another form. Each summer, the Historical Association hosts Victorian Days tours of various cities in the County and runs a family program at the San Mateo County History Museum.
The stage at Victorian Days In Central Park, c. 1980s.�Unknown image attributed to
San Mateo County Historical Association
Rooftop view of crowd, Victorian Days , 1981
Photograph by Rosemary Hood.�San Mateo County Historical Association (1982.246.35)