‘62 DAYS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
A3
’62 Days Celebration commemorates 100th year
The ‘spirit of 1862’
lives on in
Canyon City
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County’s ’62 Days
Celebration commemorated
its 100th year over the week-
end when the two-day festival
kicked off on June 11 at Sels
Brewery in Canyon City.
Roughly 1,500 people
turned out for the event mark-
ing the discovery of gold in
Canyon Creek in 1862, accord-
ing to Colby Farrell from the
Whiskey Gulch Gang, which
organizes the event.
The celebration — both
kid and adult-friendly — had
something for everyone. Peo-
ple gathered in the down-
town park for live music, ven-
dor booths and a wide array of
other events to celebrate the
“spirit of 1862.”
The parade kicked off at
11 a.m., starting from Humbolt
Elementary, and meandered
its way down the highway
past Canyon City Park, where
emcee Mark Bagett introduced
each fl oat.
The fl oats included the
Whiskey Gulch Gang can-
can girls performing their
high-kick dance routine in
their frilly saloon dresses, tae-
kwondo students, Jack Young,
the 2021 parade grand marshal,
and many more.
A mock fi ght spilled out of
Sels Brewery, escalating into a
gunfi ght in the middle of town.
After a hail of gunfi re, a cow-
boy surrendered his weapon.
Moments later, the townspeo-
ple led the outlaw to the gal-
lows and charged him with riot-
ing and looting.
Children had no shortage of
activities. They panned for gold
with Bud Irwin, competed in a
watermelon eating contest, dug
for treasure in a wood shavings
pit and got their faces painted.
With temperatures upwards
of 90 degrees, the Canyon City
Fire Department shot a fi re hose
up into the air to cool things
down.
Longtime Grant County res-
ident Beth Spell, whose fam-
ily goes back three genera-
tions, said she appreciates what
the Whiskey Gulch Gang does
in putting on the festival each
year. She said it was good to see
so many young families with
kids at the celebration.
Kenny Clement, who grew
up in Long Creek, said he had
never been to ’62 Days. He said
he brought his family with him
to enter chili in the cook-off on
behalf of 1188, where he works
as a cook. Clement said he
thought it would be a great place
to bring his two kids, Kianne and
Dawson, 8 and 10, because of
the kid-friendly activities.
Grant County resident
Heather Swank said she is glad
the community holds the event
each year. She said the history
and discovery of gold in Can-
yon City are both essential to
remember.
“History,” she said, “is what
made us who we are today.”
From left, Allison Field, Jamie Vandehay, Morgan Randleas and Kim Randleas pose at the 100th ‘62 Days Celebration in Canyon City Saturday.
PARADE RESULTS
Mounted individual
First: Jessie Sealy
Second:Shirley
Daniel
Eagle photos/Steven Mitchell
Brenda Coley, owner of the Snaffl e Bit Din-
ner House in John Day, shows off the $100
she won Saturday after in the chili cookoff
at the ‘62 Days Celebration in Canyon City.
Mounted group
Julie Bowling,
Nicole Lexson and
Genevieve Perdue
Second: Grant Union
Class Reunions of
2000 and 2001
Classic car (over 20
years old)
Third: Grant County
Republican Precinct
Committee
Individual
Second: Traci Rob-
ertson
First: Chad Law
Antique car (over 45
years old)
First: Painted Sky
Business
First: Ralph Good-
win
Second: John Day
Polaris and Byron’s
Excavating
Second: Jeanette
Third: Thunderbolt
Lavana James, left, and Phillip James of the James Gang play a set at the ‘62 Days
Celebration Saturday in the down town park in Canyon City.
The Whiskey Gulch Gang’s 1929 Model AA truck.
Group entry
First: Kim’s Tae Kwan
Do
First: Emma Car-
niglia
The Whiskey Gulch Gang gets ready for the 100th ‘62 Days Celebration Saturday: from left, Colby Farrell, Mike
Farrell, Hugh Farrell and Bill Sproul.
Newman driving for
Jeremy Newman
From left, Dawson and Kianne
Clement, 8 and 10, check out their
fi rst booth Saturday at the ‘62
Days Celebration in Canyon City.
Bill Sproul, left, ties a noose around Colby
Farrell’s neck as Alex Finlayson looks on
during Saturday’s mock hanging.
Don & Jennifer Mooney
Will be celebrating their
55th Wedding Anniversary
June 18th.
Golf
Grant vs Harney
Battle Fundraiser
(annual fundraiser for the
high school golf teams)
Saturday, June 19 th
For more information, contact:
Burns golf coach, Scott, 541-589-1849
Grant Union golf coach, Ron, 541-620-0427
4-person scramble, one person must
live in Harney or Grant County.
S249146-1
Eastern Oregon
Sunday Slam
Every Sunday open to players of
all skill levels.
Team Awards paid weekly!
For complete details and to reserve
your spot, call (541) 573-5150.
Contact dave.lewis@silvies.us
with questions about golf events
and tournaments.
Silvies.us
S248951-1
S245324-1
Come play in the Slam for Father’s Day!