Welcome to sonsfestsd2026
The Saps At Sea San Diego Tent Oasis #30 wants to thank everyone for attending the 24th International Sons Of The Desert Convention 2026 !
We will see you in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 2028!
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach January 14, 1892-November 2, 1992 Elmira, New York
Arthur Stanley Jefferson 'Stan Laurel'
June 16 1890 – February 23, 1965
Ulverston, England
Oliver Norvell Hardy January 18, 1892-August 7, 1957
Harlem, Georgia
A Message from the Laurel Family
On behalf of the Laurel family, I simply want to say thank you.
When my great-grandfather, Stan Laurel, and Oliver Hardy made films together, they hoped people would laugh. I don’t think they could have imagined that nearly a century later, people from around the world would still gather—not just to watch the films, but to celebrate the kindness, friendship, and joy they represent.
In a world that can often feel divided, Laurel and Hardy remind us that kindness, humility, friendship, and laughter are timeless. Those values matter just as much today as they did when these films were first made.
From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of our family, thank you for protecting this legacy with such love. We don’t take it for granted. We are incredibly grateful for every one of you.
— feeling blessed at Legacy Resort Hotel & Spa.
We’ll see you in 2028! Cassidy Cook
Our formal banquet will be hosted by our good friends at the Way Out West Tent
of North Hollywood/LosAngeles
(Pictured here are: Bob Satterfield, Jimmy Wiley III,
Bob Duncan, Grand Sheik Rick Greene, David Rodriguez)
Mr. Russ Peck, our own organist extraordinaire and fellow Sap will be providing the live musical entertainment for our theatrical showing
Mr. Randy Skretvedt, famed radio host, historian, and author extraordinaire, will be making a very special presentation!
Mr. Marc Wanamaker, noted author, historian, and filmmaker will be giving a special presentation about the Lot Of Fun:
A History of the Hal Roach Studios
Mr. Jordan Young, noted author, historian, playwright and native of Culver City, will talk about interviewing George Marshall and Jess Robbins.
The incredible, Mr. Dean Mora and his orchestra, will be providing a special musical presentation!
We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Sunshine (Nigel Dreiner) has returned to perform at the Laurel & Hardy Festival in San Diego in June!
He will be singing with Dean Mora and his Orchestra - lots of fun on the way!
sonsfestsd2026 is proud to be the voice of the Saps At Sea San Diego Tent Oasis #30
Please visit our Saps page on this site!
Mr. Jamie McKenna and Mr. Bill Leavy, those fine thespians, will be with us throughout the convention.
A personal message from the Webmaster...
From all of us here at sonsfestsd2026, we are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of one of our fellow beloved Sons and great pal, Mr. Craig Lightowler. When we were at the Harrogate Convention in May of 2025, before the launch of this website, Craig graciously signed on to be a special advisor to the making of our site. I will forever be grateful for his kindness, wisdom, good humor & his dedication to sonsfestsd2026. Craig encouraged me to make this project as a labor of love & from the heart. I sincerely hope that we did just that. We could not have launched this website without him. Our site will be dedicated to him. Our deepest condolences go out to Katherine, Freya, Ian & the entire Lightowler family. We will miss you Craig, always. God Bless, David
A Go Fund Me campaign has been set up to help & support the Lightowler family. Here is the direct link: https://gofund.me/71ae408e6
