By Linda Kor –
Holbrook’s 30th annual Wild West Days celebration will be held on Friday and Saturday, July 6 and 7.
The Ace In The Hole Barbecue competition will spotlight up to 40 professional barbecue teams from throughout the country, twice the number of entries in last year’s event. The teams will be competing for $10,000 in prize money and will provide excellent barbecue for the public to enjoy.
Annual favorites at the celebration include the Bucket of Blood Races, the Gunslinger Car Show and performances by the Bucket of Blood Re-Enactors, Native American dancers and the Las Joyas Del Desierta Mexican dancers.
The Dusty Desert Quilt Guild will have handcrafted quilts on display throughout the two-day event, and vendors will be on the courthouse lawn selling food, jewelry, art and more.
Friday starts with fun for the kids with bounce houses, a dunk tank and a cow train. There will also be a talent show for kids 12 and under taking place in the afternoon. A first place prize of a Wii game console will be provided by Passport Potash, with second and third place winners to receive gift certificates to local vendors. Contestants may only perform as an individual or duet, no group performances will be permitted. Sign-ups will be accepted up to one hour before each event. For more information, contact the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce.
That evening at 6 o’clock, a parade will travel from the west end of Hopi Drive, turn north on Navajo Blvd. and go to Hunt Park. It will include automobiles old and new, as well as entries from various groups and individuals in the community. Entries to the parade from the public are welcome, and should reflect the eclectic taste of our Route 66 and Wild West heritage. Only wheels and hooves will be allowed, no walking entries. For more information on how you can take part in this Holbrook tradition, contact the chamber.
Those who follow the parade to the historic courthouse will arrive in time to enjoy some delicious award-winning barbecue, as well as music by the Mountain Saddle Band and Triple Play. In addition, courtroom melodramas will play out in the old courthouse with period dress actors from the Old West.
The fun won’t just be limited to the courthouse grounds. At Hunt Park, the Gunslinger Car Show will have everything from muscle cars to vintage cars on display.
The Hashknife Stampede will be taking place at the Navajo County Fairgrounds. The fun starts Friday evening with open barrel racing, then on Saturday, a 4-H Horse Invitational will begin at 9 a.m. Participants must be enrolled in 4-H to enter. Starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, the Southern Junior Bull Riders Association will hold a North versus South doubleheader bull riding competition. The second performance will start around 4:30 p.m. To enter that competition, go online to sjbraarizona.com.
The 30th annual Bucket of Blood Races will also be held on Saturday. The race line up starts at 5 a.m., with the races set to begin at 6 a.m. from Holbrook’s historic courthouse. Pre-registration will take place from 6 to 8 o’clock the evening before at the courthouse. The entry fees include $40 for the half-marathon, $30 for the 10K trail run, $15 for the two-mile fun run and $20 for the 20-mile bicycle race. Participants will receive a T-shirt and will be entered for a chance to win a Fat Tire bicycle courtesy of New Belgium Brewing. Trophies and medals will be awarded for winners in each age category with the exception of the fun run. To register in advance, visit www.azjournal.com/wwd and go to the Bucket of Blood Races link. For more information, contact the chamber.
A talent show for kids 12 to 18 will be held on Saturday afternoon, with another Wii game console to go to the first place winner, courtesy of Passport Potash. Second and third place winners will receive gift certificates from local vendors. Contestants may only perform as an individual or duet, no group performances will be permitted. Sign-ups will be accepted up to one hour before each event.
MC6 A Cappella will perform Saturday evening.
There are still vendor spots available for this event. The cost is $50 for both days and includes electricity, if needed.
For more information on Wild West Days events, contact the chamber.
