Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Pioneer Days will take place this Friday and Saturday.
Contributed Article
Here is a schedule of events for the annual Gila Valley Pioneer Days festival.
Friday
The Variety Show at the David M. Player Center for the Arts at 980 S. 14th Ave. in Safford kicks off the festivities Friday night at 6 p.m. Tickets are $2.50 each.
The Rodeo begins at 7 p.m. at the Vard Lines Memorial Arena in Pima at 1200 S. 800 West. The rodeo will feature a stick horse race, cowhide race, greased pigs and money steers, cowboy musical chairs, ribbon roping, and Mormon team roping. For more information contact Troy Judd at 520-507-7000.
Jon Johnson File Video/Gila Herald
The Family Dance will take place after the rodeo from 8:30 – 11 p.m. at the Pima Stake Center parking lot at 49 N. 100 West.
Saturday
The Pioneer Days 5K & Fun Run starts at 6 a.m. at the Thatcher High School parking lot.
The Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament runs from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and will take place in gymnasiums at Pima and Thatcher schools as well as Eastern Arizona College.
The 3-on3 Basketball Tournament runs from 1 – 5 p.m. and will take place in gymnasiums at Pima and Thatcher schools as well as Eastern Arizona College.
Jon Johnson File Video/Gila Herald
The Parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Pima and will meander its way west on 400 South to Main Street, then north to 200 South, west to 200 West, north to 100 South, east to Main Street, back south to 200 South, then east to 200 East and then south to its end at the Dan Hinton School.
The celebration will then continue with food, fun, and friends at Pima High School’s Edd Hubbard Field and ballfields from 5:30 – 9 p.m., featuring the famous $5 BBQ plate.
There will be games and activities from 6 – 7:30 p.m., with the Pioneer Pageant Celebration starting at approximately 8 p.m. The festival will culminate with a fireworks show after the pageant.
