This is it. Saturday
July 13.
For the past 40 years, people have been mooning the passing
Amtrak train as it grinds past a little dive bar in Laguna Niguel named Mugs Away
Saloon. The bar sits across the street
from the railroad tracks, and if you go on the second Saturday in July,
everyone elbows for a spot along the chain link fence for the honor of dropping
their drawers.
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| Photo Credit Chuck Coker, Flicker |
While the story origin varies depending on who is talking, tradition
say that on July 14, 1979 a crusty regular of the dive bar offered to buy a
beer for anyone who dared bare their backside to the next passing train. Ever since then, people have been flocking to
Mugs Away for the annual event. So Steeped in tradition, the Amtrak actually
slows down on that day as it passes by.
For a while, the spectacle was getting quite raunchy. What started out as a little prank grew into
a full-blown, frat party-like atmosphere.
People brought their RV’s to park in some of the nearby parking lots in
order to reserve a spot, tailgate, and watch the fun.
Mugs Away Saloon is a small, stifling little room with
insufficient air conditioning, and on the day of the event they hire a
really bad nostalgia band. No
matter. No one comes for the music. They
barely come for the beer anymore. They
just want to watch the debauchery unfold.
A few years ago, the Laguna Niguel police department “cracked
down” on the mooning, as too many people were showing much more than a brief
flash of butt. The following year, things
were much more subdued, but as time has passed people continue the push the
envelope. Skimpy (but legal) attire is
often on display, as passengers on the train cheer and give thumbs up to the
crowd.
If you want to take part, plan to arrive early, and stay
late: Planning on doing a drive-by isn’t suggested. Some years people are
required to demonstrate they have business along the route in order to pass.
These days, most of the local shops just shut down.
The address for Mugs Away Saloon is 27324 Camino Capistrano,
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
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