In 1928 Angels Camp paved the main street. To celebrate the occasion the citizens held a frog jump competition. This frog jump competition was modeled after the frog jump in the famous short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", written by Mark Twain. Twain spent a great deal of time in Angels Camp and first heard the jumping frog story at the Angels Hotel that still stands today. The event became known as the Jumping Frog Jubilee.

Every year since 1928, with the exception of 1933 during the great depression, the Jumping Frog Jubilee has been held in Angels Camp. In 1938 the County Fair and the Jumping Frog Jubilee were combined.

Today this internationally renowned event draws competitors from around the world as hundreds of jockeys and their frogs compete. The winner receives a trophy, $750 and a plaque honoring the jockey and his or her frog embedded into the sidewalks of downtown Angels Camp. World record holders recieve special recognition on a plaque as a world record holder, in addition to a trophy and $5000. The current world record is held by Rosie the Ribiter who jumped 21' 5 3/4" in 1986.

The City of Angels was proclaimed an official Kindness Zone on February 17, 1995.  For more information, see this page.