Clarendon finalizes plans for July 4th

Anticipation and excitement rises as Clarendon starts preparing for this year’s 132nd Annual Saints’ Roost Celebration to be held July 2-4.

The festivities will begin July 2 starting with the Downtown Merchants’ Western Days Street Sale, which will run all day long. There will also be a Trade Show in the Clarendon Community Center at the rodeo ground starting at 5:00 p.m., which will take place all three days.

The fun continues that night starting at 7:30 p.m. with a 16 and under Junior Rodeo, which will be held at the COEA arena, followed by an outdoor dance on the COEA slab.

Each night of the rodeo there will be a calf scramble, open calf, Jr. donkey and steer riding available to all young cowboys and cowgirls. Boy Scout Troop 433 will provide concessions for all three nights of the rodeo.

The all day long Downtown Merchants’ Western Days Street Sale will continue to kick things off July 3rd, and a Depression Lunch will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Henson’s famous annual Turtle race will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Third and Kearney.

Later on that night, another rodeo will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the COEA with an outdoor dance immediately following.

The busiest day of the celebration will be July 4, starting at 8:00 a.m. with Open Barrel Racing. Lineup and registration for the Kids’ Bike Parade will be at 9:30 a.m. across from Henson’s. The Kids’ Bicycle Parade will start rolling at 10:00 a.m.

Also starting at 10:00 a.m. will be the County Craft Fair and the Senor Citizens’ Bake Sale, both taking place on the Courthouse Square. For booth space at the County Craft Fair, contact the Donley County Extension Office.

The Old Settler’s reunion will start at 10:30 a.m. with live entertainment. The Al Morrah Shrine Club’s annual BBQ Lunch will start serving at 11:00 a.m. and will continue until the food runs out.

Registration and lineup for the annual Western Parade will be at 1:00 p.m. at the baseball field, and the parade will take off at 2:00 p.m. The Lion’s Club Cow Patty Bingo will begin playing at 3:00 p.m.

That night, the annual COEA Ranch rodeo will open at 7:30 p.m. followed by a live band dance featuring Ed Montana. The St. Mary’s Catholic Women Quilt Drawing will take place at 9:00 p.m.