JUBILEE CELEBRATION

Tourists and locals alike flocked to Moorcroft’s 56th Jubilee over the weekend, filling every event with fun. Forty teams played in both the volleyball and cornhole tournaments and it was very much standing room only at the ranch rodeo.

With the Jubilee Committee blending with younger volunteers and their ideas, there were a few notable changes as well. Organizers of the rodeo provided a bouncy house and inflated slides for youngsters not involved with the events in the arena; the splash pool at the Splash Bash was installed on the closed off end of the street to protect the grass in Robinson Park; the 3K race began along the west end of Railroad Street; and for the first time in 56 years, every state in the Union was represented in the parade.

Co-organizer of the parade Charlene Huckins has worked on this endeavor for some time and this year, a week before the event, again she only had 36 signed up. Huckins did not give up, though, she kept putting the word out and by Saturday morning, 54 riders, with their horses, were waiting to pick up their flags and join the line-up.

When asked about the extra volunteers, Huckins said the extra riders were on call for any emergency replacement and as the participants lined up, there was just such a situation so all was saved.

The kids made an unusually good haul at this year’s parade, filling their bags with assorted treats with much actually left on the street. While a few participants had walkers to disperse candy by the handful, one float used a snow shovel and a feed scoop was also employed, bringing the little humans to a frenzy of avarice.

Later, the visit with Thomas Jefferson at the museum was both informative and entertaining, putting context to a time before and during the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Finally, early Monday morning, after all the guests had gone and the streets were quiet, Moorcroft’s public works crewmen were out cleaning up. According to Public Works Director Cory Allison, between five and ten tons of garbage are cleaned up after the celebration every year and this Jubilee was no different.

By all accounts heard, the new ideas and changes blended with the old favorites made for a great 56th Jubilee.