30th Annual Mooning of Amtrak & 4th Annual Mooning of Metrolink July 11, 2009

This has to rank among the wackiest event to ever have originated in a bar. Moon Amtrak draws hundreds people to a chain link fence between the Mugs Away Saloon and the railroad tracks on the second Saturday in July. Otherwise respectable people then do something they normally wouldn't dream of doing - they drop their drawers and "moon" the two-dozen passenger trains that pass by that day. When it gets dark they moon by flashlight and by lanterns hung on the fence, hundreds of bare buns glowing in the flickering light. The mooning, which has been going on since a bar challenge started it all 25 years ago, draws crowds to both sides of the fence. The trains are booked solid months in advance for moon day. No one actually sponsors or organizes this event; it just has a life of its own.

Moon Amtrak takes place annually the second Saturday in July across from Mugs Amway Saloon in Laguna Niguel, CA. Web: http://www.moonamtrak.org. Free.

Found on http://www.eccentricamerica.com/highlights.htm

Directions: Northbound on Interstate-5: exit "AVERY PKWY". Turn west at the end of the off-ramp. Short block street ends at "T" intersection, Turn North (Right) on Camino Capistrano. The train tracks will be on your Left. 1.2 Miles to Mugs Away Saloon, Please don't park next to the chain link fence by train tracks; that's where the "mooning" happens.

Read details of Venue for more/go to official site for all details.

WHO IS IN CHARGE? No one. No one organizes or is responsible for this annual event. Everyone who attends helps make it a safe, law-abiding, fun & successful day. It occurs the second Saturday in July each year, whether this web-site existed or not. This web site is a gratis service to provide some helpful information.

Newspapers & TV: As in past years, reporters & photographers from the newspapers and Videographers for TV are expected.

Sheriff: As in past years, the area will be patrolled by the Orange County Sheriff for the City of Laguna Niguel. Absolutely NO "controlled substances", carrying an alchoholic beverage outside, exposing certain prohibited body parts or hasseling with the sheriff deputies. The deputies have been considerate and liberal in the past. Please don't ruin it for the future.

Exact Location: Latitude 33° 33.917´ North, Longitude 117° 40.435´ West. This data is useful if you will be using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. But, keep in mind that you cannot get here from Crown Valley Parkway as its bridge goes over Camino Capistrano Road, without connecting. See "Driving Directions" above. This is about 4¾ track miles North of the San Juan Capistrano Amtrak train station and about ¾ miles North of the "Laguna Niguel - Mission Viejo" Metrolink station. This track location is milepost 192.7 of the Amtrak "Pacific Surfliner" Line.

Official Website: http://www.moonamtrak.org