History took center stage in Grant County last weekend with two days of festivities commemorating the 19th century gold rush that put the region on the map.

Every year in mid-June, the nonprofit Whiskey Gulch Gang puts together the ’62 Days Celebration, marking 1862 as the year gold was discovered in the place that later became Canyon City.

Whiskey Gulch Gang President Colby Farrell said around 1,200 people attended this year.

“Overall it was another successful ’62 Days,” Farrell said. “We appreciate everybody who came out and supported us and everybody who chipped in one way or another. We couldn’t do it without all the people that came out and supported and enjoyed it and all the people who stepped up (to volunteer). It wouldn’t have happened without everyone involved.”

Festivities kicked off at 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, with the reopening of Sels’ Brewery, a historic 19th century locale on Washington Street. Sels’ opens a few times a year for music, food and beer, starting with the ’62 Days Celebration.

Just over a dozen vendors set up in downtown Canyon City throughout the two-day event, with live music provided both days at the brewery by Copper Ridge.

Saturday, June 15, started off at 6 a.m. with a “miner’s breakfast” at the Squeeze-In Restaurant.

Then came the Gold Rush Run & Walk, which follows a 5,000-meter course around Canyon City. The annual event attracts runners and walkers of all ages and speed levels, with awards for the overall men’s and women’s winners in two age divisions, 39 and under and 40 and over. The top two finishers in each 10-year age division are awarded ribbons, and all children age 12 and under receive medals.

Race director Logan Randleas, 17, of John Day, said 38 people participated in the event this year.

“It was a phenomenal run,” Randleas said. “It’s great to have as many people out here as we can. It’s not a competitive race, and that’s the best part about it. … When you’re done, it’s that feeling of community and accomplishment that you get from being done.”

One of the highlights of ’62 Days each year is the parade, which starts at Humbolt Elementary School and heads north on Humbolt Street before turning south on Highway 395, the main drag through town.

This year’s parade featured flag-carrying Boy Scouts, Grant County Fair and Rodeo Queen Lavina Kiser on horseback, a flatbed trailer carrying the Whiskey Gulch gang can-can dancers, ATVs and side-by-sides, vintage automobiles, motorcycles, public agency vehicles and more. The grand marshal for 2024 was Don Jones, 89, of John Day, a former Canyon City council member and a longtime teacher, coach and athletic director at Grant Union High School.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church hosted a pie social.

Children played in Sproul Park, where a variety of games were set up, and tried their hand at panning gold at local miner Bud Irwin’s booth.

Contestants in the medicine wagon show competed for a gold-colored miner’s pan in categories such as best beard and best joke, with the winners determined by audience approval.

The James Gang Band performed for the crowd at Sproul Park throughout the day.

A high point every year is a simulated Old West shoot-out and hanging reenactment in front of Sels’ Brewery. In this year’s rendition, trouble erupted over an accusation of cheating at cards.

“I think it really brings people together,” Randleas said of the ’62 Days celebration. “I think it provides something for everyone to do. It started off as kind of a way to go out and drink with some friends, but it became a more community-oriented event, I mean with live music and the parade and everything. It’s a way for our community as a whole to kind of bond over this monument of the finding of gold here in this part of Oregon.”

Gold Rush Run Results 

Total Participants: 38 

1st Place Women’s Finisher: Kristin Adams; 24:14

1st Place Men’s Finisher: Jason Murray; 20:31 

 

Age Group Winners 

0-9: 

Womens: Jackson Sykes; 57:01 

Mens: Ezra Randleas; 26:34 

10-14: 

Womens: Kaitlyn Charrete; 26:38 

Mens: N/A 

15-19: 

Womens: N/A 

Mens: Landon James; 22:48 

20-29: 

Womens: Kelsey Long; 52:44 

Mens: Jason Murray; 20:31 

30-39: 

Womens: Kristin Adams; 24:14 

Mens: Shane Stevenson; 42:48 

40-49: 

Womens: Levana James; 34:47 

Mens: Stephan Charrete; 26:46 

50-5:

Womens: Janet Plocharsky; 44:59 

Mens: Thad Labhart; 21:48 

60:

Womens: Kristen Long; 31:41 

Mens: Jim Hammet; 30:06