February 21, 2026
Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest | March 7, 2026 at Dusk
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PEG LEG SMITH LIAR’S CONTEST
Since 1916 To Date
The next saga of the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest is a month away, 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 YouTube 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 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 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).
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 (10 points max)
- Garb, stunts, random foolishness, helpers, music, or whatever (5 points max)
The last five points only separate the scores, as even last-minute sign-ups during the event are competitive.
If we have children under
10 years of age, we will have a
child judging category as well.
Audience & Participation
It is a liar’s contest. We can have 50, 100, 150 or more in the audience, but without liars…there is no contest.
- Sign up at the event
- Viewers bring a folding chair
- Bring non-alcoholic beverages (the 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
It will occur rain or shine, at the date and time, at the Legion.
Bring a Lie
It can 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 except a few friends that might have come along, so you can’t be embarrassed in front of strangers.
Prepare to lie. We ALWAYS need liars. 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
Learn More About Borrego Springs
