CALIFORNIA FOCUS / EVENT: Two Bay area icons come together to ring in Friday the 13th

TWO BAY AREA ICONS COME TOGETHER TO RING IN FRIDAY THE 13th, 2017

San Francisco 49ers’ mascot Sourdough Sam visits Winchester Mystery House for traditional ringing of its bell on the unluckiest day of the year.

WHAT: Sourdough Sam, the official mascot of the San Francisco 49ers, will visit the legendary Winchester Mystery House in San Jose to toll its bell 13 times, at 1:00 p.m. (13th hour of the day) on Friday the 13th. The tower bell at the landmark mansion was originally utilized to communicate with farmhands on the once sprawling Winchester estate and now it chimes for special occasions.

WHY: Sarah Winchester considered 13 to be a lucky number and scattered hidden “13s” throughout her labyrinth-like mansion in the form of 13 stairs, 13 ceiling panels, 13 door hooks, 13 stained-glass patterns, etc.

Every year on Friday the 13th the Winchester Mystery House salutes Sarah Winchester and her fondness for the number 13 by having a local celebrity toll its tower bell 13 times at the 13th hour (1:00 p.m.) on Friday the 13th.