PEG LEG SMITH LIAR’S CONTEST
Since 1916 To Date, The Next Saga Of the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest Is A Month Way, Saturday March 7th.
Location- American Legion Post #853
4515 Borrego Springs Road
Borrego Springs, Ca.
Date- March 7th, 2026
Time- Dusk
Who- Thomas Long Smith, miner, horse thief, Indian fighter, and notorious liar. Google him for details or You Tube for videos.
What- A ‘100 plus year old event, a ‘perpetuation of prevarication’, where participants at the event manufacture the truth or a lie about the a real person, Thomas Long Smith, aka, Peg Leg Smith who allegedly found, then lost, a gold mine in the Borrego Valley back in the mid-1800’s. He existed. The mine is what is in question.
Why- Must be fun, it’s been held here in the Valley nearly every year, give or a take a few world wars and related interferences……since 1916.
Rules- None. Just make up a lie about him, or not even him, most anything, that is interesting, logical, entertaining, relatively short (10 minutes or less) and if it is good and you just show up and lie, you will receive a trophy (recycled) and a nice certificate good enough to frame.
Judging- there are three judges, all veterans of the event, all with 20 or more years doing so. The Chief Judge, me, has been judging since 1982 (no remuneration, free, poor judgement on my part). Winners are not chosen on bribery or status, but on three major categories; quality of the lie (10 points max), performance in presenting it (also 10 points max), and garb, stunts, random foolishness, helpers, music, or whatever (5 points max). The last five points only separate the scores as I have discovered even last minute sign ups during the event are competitive as well. If we have children under 10 years of age, we will have a child judging category as well.
It is a liar’s contest. We can have 50, 100, 150 or more in the audience but without liar’s…..there is no contest. Sign up at the event. Viewers bring a folding chair, non-alcoholic beverages (Legion has a full bar), sit outside near the campfire (held outside always, dress accordingly).
Services- Bathrooms, bar and kitchen courtesy of the Legion and volunteers. Dinner is available, might be pulled pork again by popular demand, or not, it is a liar’s contest. Actually, I might be lying to you now.
The only truth is it will occur rain or shine at the date and time, at the Legion.
Bring a lie. It can even be a short one, bad one, dumb one about anything you want to lie about, or even the truth is welcome. Just say his name, then run off in any direction you lie about best. You probably won’t know anyone there but a few friends that might have come along, so you can’t be embarrassed in front of strangers? Prepare to lie, we ALWAYS need liar’s. Even bad ones.
Again, Google the contest to learn more. It is always fun and out of doors. What could be better than that? Oh, free as well.
Jim McKenna
Also check out other Contests in Borrego Springs.
