77th ANNUAL GOLD RUSH DAYS

Head to Wickenburg, Arizona for the 77th Annual Gold Rush Days celebration. This historic event celebrates the town’s origins as a ranching & gold mining community in the days before Phoenix. This heritage event was founded 77 years ago by the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce. They invite visitors to celebrate with residents and share in the ranching and mining history of our town. Today, Wickenburg and Gold Rush Days welcomes thousands of visitors to share in the 4 days of activities.

Festivities kick off Thursday, February 12 at 12:00 pm at the Everett Bowman Arena, where the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce hosts the first annual “Roping for Gold” All Women’s Breakaway event. Want to compete? Enter in advance by calling the Chamber, or sign up the morning of. That same day, bring the family downtown when Brown’s Amusements Family Fun Carnival opens at 4:00 pm. The weekend also features two concert performances by Grammy Award-winning The Gatlin Brothers – Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14 at 7:30 pm at the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts (tickets: 928-684-6624).

The 77th Annual Gold Rush Days officially begins Friday, February 13 at 10:00 am with Opening Ceremonies on Frontier Street, followed by a Classic Car Show showcasing restored automobiles from across Arizona. From Friday through Sunday, the main festival action fills Valentine Street in Wickenburg’s historic district, with exhibitors throughout town: the Wickenburg Art Club Artisans’ Fair at the Wickenburg Library and Stone Park, and a wide variety of vendor booths at the Wickenburg Community Center (retail, arts and crafts, commercial businesses, and more). Expect daily fun from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, including gold panning, food, and art vendors, plus the carnival running into the evening. A free stage nearby features live music daily starting at 12:00 pm.

Don’t miss Saturday’s parade at 10:00 am – one of Arizona’s largest, with 75+ entries each year, including classic automobiles, marching bands, youth groups, and more. This year’s theme is “Heart of Gold.” Parade applications are available at wickenburgchamber.com. Saturday afternoon brings the excitement to the arena with the first performance of the National Senior Pro Rodeo & Open Rough Stock at 2:00 pm at Everett Bowman Arena (935 Constellation Rd., about 2 miles east of downtown). Gates open at 11:00 am and remain open until 5:00 pm. Admission: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, and kids under 5 are free.

On Sunday, the Wickenburg Community Center stays busy with the Mucking & Drilling Contest at 10:00 am, traditional gold panning at 11:00 am, and the Arizona Gold Panning Championship at 1:00 pm – then head back to the arena for the second Senior Pro Rodeo performance at 2:00 pm. The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce invites you to explore everything our historic community has to offer – shop, dine, and immerse yourself in cowboy culture like no other, then come back throughout the year for more events and activities. Gold Rush Days is proudly produced each year by the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, along with the Town of Wickenburg, partners, and sponsors. For more information or tickets call (928) 684-5479 or visit visitwickenburg.com and wickenburgchamber.com.