8
BEHIND THE SCENES
JUNE 8�15, 2022
FROM THE
COVER
Celebrate Canyon City’s history at ‘62 Days
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
CANYON CITY’S
’62 DAYS
For information, visit the
Whiskey Gulch Gang page on
Facebook, call 541-575-0329
or email whiskeygulchgang@
gmail.com.
C
ANYON CITY — Since
1922, residents of Canyon
City have celebrated ’62 Days
to commemorate the event that
established the Grant Coun-
ty town.
Gold was discovered in Can-
yon Creek near Whiskey Gulch
on June 8, 1862.
The Whiskey Gulch Gang was
formed in 1922 and organized
the fi rst ’62 Days.
Colby Farrell, a member of
the Whiskey Gulch Gang, points
out that those fi rst celebrations
were during Prohibition — and
he suspects the festival was a
way to circumvent that law.
“There’s never been a ’62
Days without alcohol,” he said
with a laugh.
Sel’s Brewery, located in
Canyon City, was shut down
during Prohibition and has had
several other tenants over the
years. In 1972, the Whiskey
Gulch Gang took it back to
its roots.
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
The Canyon City Fire Department cools off the kids during the ‘62 Days Celebration.
“They restored it to an old-
time saloon,” Farrell said. “We
open it every year for ’62 Days.”
This year’s celebration is
June 10 and 11.
Sel’s Brewery will be open
both Friday and Saturday nights
with live music by Copper Ridge.
A chili cook-off happens
Friday night — for information,
call Bill at 208-870-8216 — and
a few vendors will be set up.
Saturday starts early with
the Gold Rush Run and Walk at
8 a.m. Same-day registration
is $22 and starts at 7 a.m. at
Sel’s Brewery.
The Miners Breakfast also
Upcoming Classes at Crossroads
www.crossroads-arts.org
Arts – Crafts – Pottery
Music – Dance – Theater
Drop-In Ongoing Classes
Art of Bookfolding
June 14 • 6:00-8:00pm (ages 12-adult)
Missoula Children’s Theater – Jungle Book
June 13-18 (1st-12th graders)
Crash Course in Pottery
June 23 or July 14 • 5:00-7:00pm (adult)
Summer Dance Camp
June 21-July 7 • Tuesday/Wednesday/Thusday
10:00-11:00am (ages 8-12)
Adult Open Studio
Weekly on Saturdays
1:00-3:00pm (adult)
Beginning Wheel
June 28, July 5, July 19 • 6:00-8:00pm (adult)
Kids Watercolor
June 30 • 10:00am-Noon (ages 8-12)
2020 Auburn Avenue
Baker City, Oregon
541.523.5369
www.crossroads-arts.org
starts at 8 a.m. at the fi re hall.
Parade entries can line up at
9 a.m. at Humbolt Elementary,
and the parade begins at 11 a.m.,
followed by games and events
around town.
The day also features music
by the James Gang, a pie social
at the Episcopal Church, a medi-
cine wagon show, a melodrama,
a talent show and contests at
Painted Sky Center for the Arts,
and a shoot-out and mock hang-
ing at 2 p.m.
Vendors will also be set up
throughout the day on Saturday.
At 4 p.m., a cornhole tournament
is planned at Sel’s.
“We’ll try to have a good time
like we always do,” Farrell said.
“This is the big celebration —
Canyon City’s big hoorah.”
Sweet Roll Race Quilt Class
July 7 • 10:00am-4:00pm (ages 15-adult)
Brass Lab
June 24-July 29 • Fridays 9:00am-10:00pm
(4th -6th grade)
Tap Dancin’ with D
June 27–August 16 • Monday afternoons/evenings
(classes for ages 2-adult)
Crossroads is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Young Artists’ Studio
Weekly on Fridays
1:45-3:45pm (ages 10 and up)
Learn to Love
Watercolor and Pastels
Weekly on Wednesdays
3:00-5:00pm and/or
5:00-7:00pm
(teens and adults)