The Donner Party tragedy (1846-47) tested the limits of human endurance. What would you do to save your family?

Many of us know about the one of the worst western migration stories in our history: the Donner Party. They were farmers, merchants, and families who ventured West to California to start a new life, but half of the party did not survive. Those who did had to do the unspeakable to see the spring again in the harsh winter of 1846-1847 in the Sierra Nevada mountains. But who were they and why does their story still fascinate us today? The songs and stories about the Donner Party from the women’s perspective on Alice Osborn’s album bring this history to life showing their grit, civility, and heroism; not only did these survivors form the first families of California, theirs is a cautionary tale about man vs. nature, Indigenous peoples, and society. Theirs is also an inspiring story of how we can better treat our neighbors and be kind even when it’s difficult to do so.

Legacy Day returns at Donner Memorial State Park for its second-ever annual celebration of the land’s legacy, its cultural and natural history, and the people that inhabited the land. Bring the family for this free event and enjoy live music featuring a Touch of Gold and Alice & the Wonderlandz, a Big Blue Q food truck, historical tours, children’s activities, visiting exhibitors, and a program led by the Washoe Tribe! 

Alice & the Wonderlandz is a trio based in Truckee, CA, with Alice Osborn on vocals/guitar, John Kedzie on keyboard, and E. Doctor Smith on electric percussion. Featuring Alice’s original compositions and her strong and sweet vocals, John’s varied and original progressions, and Doc’s meticulous and vibrant beats, this band can’t be categorized—it’s an energic mix of folk, Americana, pop, and adult contemporary that leaves audiences waiting for the next note to drop.

Alice Osborn is based in Raleigh, NC, but is making Lake Tahoe her home this summer. An accomplished songwriter and poet, she seizes the call of home, identity, and history to influence her neo-folk vibe on acoustic guitar. Her most recent CD is Skirts in the Snow: Beyond the Tragedy of the Donner Party and Alice is currently working on a new album incorporating the theme of love and relationships against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains’ climate concerns

E. Doctor Smith of Truckee, CA, is a drummer, producer, electronic percussionist and recording artist with Edgetone Records, who has performed with the likes of Brian Eno, Madonna, Bon Lozago, Howard Levy, Bill Kirchen and many, many, more. Since 2007, Doc has been performing and recording on his custom-made instrument, the Zendrum EXP, designed by the craftsmen inspired by the “Drumitar” created by Roy “Futureman,” and his latest album is Trio Electrique.

John Kedzie (keyboard) of Truckee, CA, grew up in Chicago, and graduated from the University of Illinois with an electrical engineering degree, where he met his bride, Cathy, and moved to Silicon Valley. John studied piano and music theory throughout his early adulthood, playing blues and rock ‘n’ roll covers whenever he got the chance. He has played with several bands: Jack up the Porch in Holland, Michigan; Delta Deuce in Concord, CA, as well as rock and roll workshops in Walnut Creek, CA. John moved to Truckee in 2020 and joined the Tahoe Truckee School of Music; since then he has been backing many artists at local events and open mics in Truckee.