County Confirms Tourism Projects

The Cheyenne County Commissioners on May 17 approved funding for two promotional projects.

The commissioners approved a request by Gold Rush Days for $3,000, and $4,000 for Downtown Sounds.

Gold Rush Days is an historic-educational-recreational weekend held at Legion Park. This year the event is scheduled for June 11-13. Event planners suspended activities in 2020 due to the coronavirus. It comes back this year with fan favorites including blacksmithing, woodworking, spinning, and gold panning. There will also be music exhibits and Peter and Kathy Gibbs will be returning with their display from the Rosebud Reservation.

This year's event will include music by Rex Rideout. Rideout played the fiddle in the 2011movie “Cowboys and Aliens.” The three-day event will also include local singer Chris Gutierrez and Chis Sayre, known for his musical variety, “a musical journey across America,” and a “British Isles and Irish sampler.”

The weekend will also include Caryl Harvey's portrayal of Sara Ann Whitney, Charlotte Endorf's “No Time on My Hands: The Story of Grace Snyder,” and “The Life and Legacy of Annie Oakley.”

Sidney Gold Rush Days starts with a Campfire Kick-off scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, June 11, with performances by Rideout and Gutierrez followed by free hotdogs, brats, chips and a drink provided by Wheat Belt Public Power District. The first night ends with Charlotte Endorf and her “No Time on My Hands: The Story of Grace Snyder,” and Peter and Kathy Gibbs presentation on Lakota culture, traditions and dance.

Activities start Saturday morning with a trail-style breakfast. A 5k obstacle run/walk starts at 8:10 a.m. And Jerry Lucas tells the story of Hiram Scott at 9:15 a.m., followed by Peter and Kathy Gibbs talking about Lakota culture, traditions and dance at 10:15 a.m., and Caryl Harvey doing an historic portrayal of Sara Ann Whitney at 11 a.m.

Downtown Sounds, an open-air concert series planned for Hickory Street Square, was awarded $4,000 to promote its three concert dates.

Brooke DeNovellis, representing the Visitors Committee, said the Gold Rush Days committee submitted a marketing plan with its request for funding. Downtown Sounds is planning on July 9, Aug. 6 and Sept. 10 as concert dates. DeNovellis said the plan is to have no repeat concerts from previous years, and bring in big-name acts.

She said the concerts have been drawing 300 to 400 people per concert.

The hope is to schedule a different style of music for each date.

The concerts are held on north 10th Street near Hickory Street.with businesses encouraged to extend hours. Food and drink vendors were encouraged to participate as well.