Chelsea Meduri and Bill Weissenfluh of Pendleton have a dance in the beer garden at Sels’ Brewery during the ‘62 Days Celebration.

CANYON CITY — It’s time for the annual Grant County shindig to commemorate the year the region was put on the map nationally.

Gold was discovered in the place that is now Canyon City in 1862, and every year in mid-June the nonprofit Whiskey Gulch Gang puts together the ’62 Days Celebration to mark that momentous year. This year, the two-day event takes place on Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15, primarily along Washington Street in downtown Canyon City.

“It just brings, hopefully, the whole county together,” said Whiskey Gulch Gang President Colby Farrell. “It’s usually the first big community event of the year for all ages. It’s a good way to kind of kick off the summer. It’s a good way to celebrate the community and the history of the community.”

Festivities kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, with the reopening of Sels’ Brewery, a historic 19th century locale on Washington Street that opens a few times a year for music, food and beer. Vendors will be set up nearby throughout both days of the festival, and music will be provided both nights in the brewery courtyard by the band Copper Ridge starting at 8 p.m.

Saturday starts off at the Squeeze-In at 6 a.m. for a “miner’s breakfast,” and the Gold Rush Run & Walk sets up at 7 a.m. The annual event, beginning at 8 a.m., is 5,000 meters in length and begins and ends in front of Sels’ Brewery. An online entry form is available at https://tinyurl.com/3j7b8vxb.

The event attracts runners and walkers of all ages and speed levels. The overall men’s and women’s winners in two age divisions, 39 and under and 40 and over, will receive ’62 Days commemorative awards. The top two finishers in each 10-year age division will be awarded ribbons. All 12 and under will receive medals.

The ’62 Days Parade will begin at 11 a.m., with registration at Humbolt Elementary from 9 to 10:30. The parade typically features horseback riders, the Grant County Fair and Rodeo court, ATVs and side-by-sides, motorcycles, agency vehicles and more.

Sels’ Brewery opens up again that day at noon. Music in the park will be performed by the James Gang Band. A pie social will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

In addition to vendors selling food and wares, children will be able to enjoy panning for gold and playing games at the park.

A medicine wagon show takes place at 1 p.m., and a simulated Old West shootout and hanging reenactment in front of Sels’ is scheduled for 2:30.

Last year, the event drew about 1,400 people for the two-day celebration, well above 2022’s turnout of about 1,000 people.

“I think we got quite a bit of momentum last year,” Farrell said. “It was one of the most successful celebrations we’ve had in years because of the attendance and bringing back the medicine wagon show (outdoors).”

For information about how to help out with the ’62 Days Celebration, contact Farrell at 541-620-0874 or visit www.facebook.com/whiskeygulchgang. For more information about the Gold Rush Run, contact Hugh Snook at 541-976-3553.