ArizonaRealCountry.com 23 February 2018 THE ARIZONA DUUUDE While making the rounds in Wickenburg recently, I found everyone getting ready for Gold Rush Days. The 70th Annual Gold Rush Days, now that’s a good long run. How did all this get started? To find out I was pointed in the direction of Julie Brooks. In a meeting with her, she shared the history of Gold Rush Days. In 1947 the leadership of the Round-Up Club (Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce) made a decision to create another special event for residents and visitors to enjoy. The organization already sponsored local dances, rodeos, and advertising Wickenburg as a destination; they wanted to increase the stay of visitors coming to Arizona in the winter, and to take time to explore what Wickenburg offered. Gold Rush Days – The Beginning locale near San Domingo Wash and the Hassayampa. Same weather pattern occurred; same results with gold found, same enjoyment and fun ensued. The following year the Round- Up Club bosses decided to move the date to February, which today remains the 2nd full weekend of the month. The events were held in downtown Wickenburg near the Hassayampa River, with a barbeque from the Wickenburg Saddle Club, a parade and old mining contests such as gold panning and mucking and drilling. The parade had marching bands, floats, classic cars, U.S. & Arizona congressmen, and Governors participate. The Town of Wickenburg and the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce heralded it a success! Over the years the event grew from one day to two and then to three days of western fun! Rodeos held went from Arizona Junior Rodeo to Open Rodeo to the National Senior Pro Rodeo the past 34 years. A carnival was added in the mid-1960’s, arts & crafts, an old-fashioned melodrama, larger parade, traditional mining events, and many other activities brought more and more people to the community. 25 years ago more activities, partners, and sponsors were added. The Chamber sought out partners such as the Wickenburg Art Club, Wickenburg Lions Club, Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Wickenburg Schools, the town, Desert Stagers, Wickenburg Saddle Club, and the Gem & Mineral Society, to bring more activities and collaboration. The parade entries over the past 15 years have grown, arts and crafts exhibitors, family fun carnival, a fine art and artisans fair, concerts were added with big-name entertainers to kick-off the celebration with the Webb Center, plus the Desert Caballeros Western Museum included programming, and the rodeo became even bigger. The media interest has become a large component to the success of this signature event in Wickenburg. Radio, television, magazine, newspapers, Facebook, websites, blogging, and Instagram posts share what is going on in the community, founded in 1963, and called Wickenburg. 50-60,000 people enjoy spending time visiting Wickenburg during this celebration. Generations return each year to enjoy all of the events planned. Even more, help volunteer during the weekend to ensure everything goes well and the wheels continue to turn! Today the event has been named one of the 100 Living Legacies in the United States by the Library of Congress, in addition, it has received accolades from various Governors and the Arizona Office of Tourism proclaimed the event as one of the Grand Old Classics in 1997. The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce produces the 3 ½ day celebration each year with assistance from major sponsors. The Town of Wickenburg, the Wickenburg Sun, Wells Fargo Bank, Arizona Public Service, UMB Bank, Southwest Gas, Cox Communications, Hensley Beverages, Jones Ford Auto Centers, Circle K Stores, Lifeline Ambulance, 96.3 KSWG Real Country, along with co-presenting partners Crescent Crown Distributing-Coors, and Wickenburg Ranch featuring a Trilogy Resort Community. The staff at the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce plans and manages the event over nine months, along with the Board of Directors and hundreds of volunteers who assist throughout the weekend to help make it all happen! Thank you, Julie, for sharing your wealth of historical knowledge about Gold Rush Days that just keeps getting bigger and better year after year. For more information about this special event and Destination Wickenburg, please contact: Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, 928-684-5479 or visitwickenburg.com By Bob Roloff, “The Arizona Duuude” You can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook. Gold Rush Days became the name of the event which debuted in January 1948. The Arizona ambassador group The Dons were enlisted to help promote the event, as well as all of the dude ranches in Wickenburg and surrounding areas. The group decided to incorporate gold panning into the daily activities and chose a location north of town on the Hassayampa near Martinez Creek. The January date brought with it rain, however, the celebration went on, people found gold, rodeo continued and according to records, 100 people enjoyed the day. The following year saw the date continue in January, however, move to another southern Vic Cedarstaff marshals the Gold Rush Parade, 1972 (Courtesy of Desert Caballeros Western Museum) Gold panning at Gold Rush Days, 1964 (Courtesy of Desert Caballeros Western Museum)