Good Morning!
I always get to August and feel surprised and sad that the end of summer is already in sight… I’ve said before that it’s the Sunday of the year. But then September comes, and like Monday morning, I feel excited to get back to work. September brings fresh starts and new beginnings. If ever we needed a new beginning, it’s this year! In many ancient cultures fall marked the end of the harvest and the start of the new year. And while we don’t farm or follow an agrarian schedule in Lead, I always feel reinvigorated by fall (our short short fall) and the promises of a do over with a clean slate.
As we say our last goodbye to the warmer months I hope you’ll come celebrate Gold Camp Jubilee with us! If you haven’t been to Lead lately this is a great chance to come see what I rant and rave about each week! We have so many fun things planned (and we’re hoping and praying for the snow to start on Tuesday not Monday!!)
We did have to cancel the fireworks due to the fire danger (hot dry winds don’t make for ideal conditions) but everything else is happening, including the VIP party on Monday night. I’m already behind this morning so I’ll dispense with reiterating the entire schedule but suffice it to say – there’s TONS of awesome stuff on it! So be sure to cruise through! www.LeadMeThere.org/GoldCampJubilee
______Here’s what’s happening in town this week
Today, Thursday 9/3
United Way normally does a Day of Caring but this month they’re extending it to a Month of Caring with a virtual kick off that it TODAY at 11:30! You can get more info here and check it out: https://www.unitedwayblackhills.org/month-caring
Friday, 9/4
4pm – We’re excited to have our RIBBON CUTTING for Jailhouse Taps microbrewery! We’ll meet at their location on Siever Street right in the basement of the Town Hall Inn (the space used to be the town jail).
Saturday, 9/5
1pm – Singers & Song writers concert at the Historic Homestake Opera House! You won’t want to miss this great event as the kick off to Gold Camp Jubilee! (ticketed)
2pm – 8pm stick around after the concert and enjoy dinner at Stampmill, with live music on the patio, and don’t miss Jailhouse Taps grand opening day right across the street. Miners & Merchants will also have music and a sip ‘n shop, so if you’ve been meaning to check out their shop, now would be a perfect time!
Sunday, 9/6
9am – Gold Tournament, we’re super excited to have our first annual golf tournament. We’re thrilled that this event is sold out! We’re looking forward to seeing you there if you’ve already registered!
10am – Douglas Hoff will be having a book signing at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center. He wrote several books about his grandparents’ journey to the United States and settling in South Dakota. He’s a really interesting guy and we’re excited to host him. He’ll have books for sale.
Things kick off at noon at Manuel Brothers park for Gold Camp Jubilee! Check out the full schedule! Music, beer garden, inflatable bonanza! vendors, and FREE community dinner in the evening as well as our move in the park, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre”.
Monday, 9/7
We’re starting the day with a PARADE through Lead! Line up will be starting at 9am behind the high school. If you haven’t registered yet, no worries! Just show up! Kate and I will be there making sure everybody is signed up. We’re excited to have a great parade! We’ll take off at 10am down South Main Street and continue down Main Street to the Visitor Center! We probably can’t rival the Rose Bowl but we can bring back the Labor Day extravaganza to town!!
Park activities continue and we’ll have our Yahtzee Run from 12-4pm at the Chamber Booth (in front of the Visitor Center). (It’s like a poker run not a real run run.)
We’re also excited to have Interpretive walking tours of Gold Run Park thanks to the Black Hills Mining Museum. Don’t miss that or the David Vardiman talks at the Visitor Center both days at 2pm. He’ll be talking about Homestake and our Mining history. These are free but space is limited to allow for extra room.
There is really so much fun stuff happening, so please check out the schedule so you don’t miss anything! Even without fireworks (and if we get bad weather on Monday) the weekend is still going to be super fun!!
www.LeadMeThere.org/GoldCampJubilee
Tuesday, 9/8 – City Commission will be on Tuesday due to the holiday.
_____Other News & Notes_____
We recently had two board members resign due to various personal reasons. We want to say a big thank you to Moses Ward and Matt Klein for their service to our organizations (both the Lead Chamber and the Visitor Center). We wouldn’t be where we are today without their help. We’re excited to welcome Dave Bruckner from Cheyenne Crossing to our board to finish out Matt’s term, and we’re looking for someone to finish Moses’ term which will end 3/24. If you’re interested let’s talk!
I hope you’ll come enjoy this weekend with us. We’ve put a lot of heart and soul into planning this event, especially in light of our disappointing canceled year.
With love from Lead,
Sierra Ward