Join us on May 9, 2026, for the Castro Valley History Festival, an all‑community celebration presented by the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Committee. This year’s festival features a major new exhibition: “Old Town Castro Valley: Untold Stories of a Growing Community.”
The exhibit explores the early commercial corridor, family‑run businesses, ranching traditions, and the everyday relationships that shaped Castro Valley’s identity. Through photographs, maps, artifacts, and first‑person accounts, visitors will discover the people who built the foundations of the town—shopkeepers, farmers, laborers, families, and community organizers whose stories rarely appear in official histories.
Alongside the exhibit, the festival offers a full afternoon and evening of activities:
- History Festival from 3–9pm
- Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo Parade at 6pm
- Classic cars, cowboy demonstrations, street vendors, food, and live music
This event invites visitors of all ages to experience Castro Valley’s heritage—its early “Old Town” businesses, its agricultural roots, and the personal stories that reveal how a rural valley grew into a thriving community. The festival blends celebration with education, honoring both the well‑known landmarks and the lesser‑known individuals who contributed to Castro Valley’s development.
The History Gala
The Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade
