Delta has something for everyone

By Ross Farrow
News-Sentinel staff writer

Nestled between the San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area are more than 1,000 miles of waterways known as the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

The Delta allows boats to go from Sacramento or Stockton to the Golden Gate and beyond.

The Delta is a prime location for outdoor people who enjoy boating (either the slow- or high-speed variety), fishing, water skiing, camping, lounging on houseboats, bird watching or just exploring small towns like Isleton and Locke that maintain their Gold Rush and Chinese immigrant heritages.

The main roads linking the Delta are Highway 12 between Lodi and Rio Vista, Highway 4 from Stockton to Pittsburg and Highway 160 linking Sacramento with Antioch.

A popular destination, called the Delta Loop, is accessible by taking Highway 12 and turning right on Brannan Island Road. The loop is a 10-mile stretch along Andrus Island with many local businesses and resorts.

The Delta has many historic draw bridges to allow boats to navigate the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Mokelumne rivers along with many other waterways.

Fishing is big in the Delta, with the most common varieties for the taking including stripers, black bass, blue gill, catfish, sturgeon and salmon.

Many migratory birds can be found in the Delta at such locations as the Cosumnes River Preserve off Interstate 5 and Twin Cities Road north of Thornton, the east end of Snodgrass and Lost sloughs near Walnut Grove and at Hog, Beaver and Sycamore sloughs off the south fork of the Mokelumne River.

Quiet areas for canoeing and kayaking include Seven Mile Slough between Brannan Island State Park and Owl Harbor, Old River in the Tracy area, Middle River west of Stockton, the Thornton area near the junction of the Mokelumne and Cosumnes rivers and Lost Slough, near Walnut Grove.

Wild blackberries grow in plentiful amounts along the banks of many Delta waterways.

Several Delta towns host annual festivals and special events. They include:

Sacramento Jazz Jubilee — Every Memorial Day weekend at the Old Sacramento waterfront areas and at selected locations throughout Sacramento. A parade marks the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend which features more than 100 jazz bands from throughout the world. Ticket prices vary. Call (916) 372-5277.

Rhythm & Brews Festival — Late May at Suisun City Marina. Features music, food garden and many microbrews. Call (707) 429-2628.

Classic Motorcycle Show — June 4 at Suisun City Marina. Call (707) 429-2628.

Waterfront Jazz Festival — June 9 from noon to 6 p.m. at Suisun City Marina. Call (707) 429-2628.

Free Fishing Day — June 10. Fishing license not needed to fish on this day anywhere in California.

Isleton Crawdad Festival — June 15-17 in Iselton’s downtown for Father’s Day weekend. There will be crustacean delicacies, music of almost 20 bands, arts and crafts booths. Parade on Main Street at 10 a.m. Sunday. Free admission. Call (916) 777-5880.

Toga Party — June 17 at Mossdale Marina in Lathrop. Wear your finest robes and enjoy live music. Call (209) 982-0512.

Bethel Island ’50s Bash — July 21-22 in downtown area. Automobiles, sock hops, arts and crafts, dog show, duckie races and an offshore boat display are featured. Free admission. Call (925) 684-3220.

Stephens Rendezvous — July 27-29 at Village West Marina in Stockton. Display of vintage Stephens yachts. Free admission. Call (209) 951-1551.

Courtland Pear Fair — July 29. A parade will kick off the event, which will include pear-based food and drinks, games and contests. Call (916) 775-2000.

Brannan Island Kite Festival — Aug. 11 at Brannan Island State Park. Call (916) 777-6671.

Suisun Harbor Bike Races — Aug. 19 at Suisun City Marina. Hundreds of cyclists compete annually. Call (707) 429-2628.

Rodeo on the River — Sept. 8-9 in Isleton. The event features bull riding, roping and other rodeo events, food, and arts and crafts. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Call (916) 777-5880.

B&W Steamboat Meet — Sept. 28-30 at B&W Resort between Terminous and Rio Vista. Amateur steamboat club brings about three dozen steamboats to the resort. Usually includes a parade and picnic lunch at Tower Park or Westgate Landing at 10 a.m. Saturday. Free admission. (916) 777-6161.

Harbor Day Festival — Sept. 29 at Suisun City Marina. Includes bathtub derby, bed races, kiddie carnival, music, food and Sunday Dixieland Festival. Call (707) 429-2628.

Antique & Classic Boat Gathering — Oct. 5-7 at B&W Resort between Terminous and Rio Vista. The American Classic Boat Society features old Chris-Craft runabout boats and other trailer boats. Call (916) 777-6161.

Rio Vista Bass Festival —ÝOct. 12-15. A parade down Main Street will begin at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Festival to include a carnival, car shows, entertainment and food. Call (707) 374-2700.

Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Christmas Parade — Dec. 1 on the Stockton Deepwater Channel. Open to all boaters, the parade begins at dusk in front of Windmill Cove. Then it heads back to the Stockton channel and back. Entry fee per boat is $20, which will be donated to the Salvation Army. Registration is from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. Call 474-6992.

Rio Vista Lighted Boat Christmas Parade — Dec. 1 at Delta Marina. Parade begins at the marina and runs up the Sacramento River to the Rio Vista bridge, then returns to the marina. Open to all boaters. Call (707) 374-2315.

Bethel Island Frozen Bun Run —ÝJan. 1, 2002, at the Rusty Porthole in Boyd’s Harbor. Organizers provide tow boats and even water skis if you need them. Costumes are encouraged. There is a $10 fee to ski. Call (925) 684-3220.

Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Party and Gumbo Feed — Feb. 12 at Hotel Del Rio in Isleton. Participants must bring a fresh meat, fish or vegetable to contribute to the gumbo pot. Call (707) 777-6033.

Del Rio Spam Doo-Wop Party — Feb. 17, 2002, at noon at the Hotel Del Rio in Isleton. Participants are encourage to dress in outrageous Spam outfits and build art objects using only Spam. There is a $10 fee to enter the Spam-carving contest. Call (916) 777-6033.

Isleton Chinese New Year-Asian Celebration —ÝMarch 2-3, 2002 in Isleton’s Chinatown. Includes a parade, marching Clampers, rickshaw races and rides, drum beaters, lion dancers and food. Free admission. Call (916) 777-5880.

For more information about Delta events, visit the California Delta Chamber and Visitors Bureau Web site or call (916) 777-5007.