Black Jack Ketchum


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Black Jack Ketchum Festival

Retail Business Plan 2nd Annual Black Jack Days Festival
Excerpts from February 6, 2002 Union County Leader Article by:  Sue Richardson
Black Jack Artwork (at left) Courtesy of Nils Wikner& R-wayo Ltd Graphics

Black Jack Ketchum Days, is scheduled for Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1, 2002.  Tentative plans  include:

Carnival Across from the Post Office on Walnut St. with rides for children and adults Starting May,30 running through June, 1
with Concession Booths.

On Friday the Union County Historical Society hopes to conduct a bus tour of Black Jack Ketchum Sites, including the location near Folsum where the gang held up the Colorado and Southern Train on 3 different occasions, and Turkey Creek near Cimarron, where the famous shoot out occurred.

Friday Evening will see the Old Settlers Potluck Picnic for all community residents and guests at the Clayton Fair Grounds.  Meat will be Beef Brisket with drinks and paper goods furnished by the the Clayton Business Association.  Those who attend are asked to bring vegetables, salads, etc to share.  Music will be provided by the Western Swing Hall of Fame Inductee, our own Eloy Gonzalez and Band.  There probably will be a pie and cake auction.

Saturday will see the closing of Main Street from Front to First Street, and from First to Second Street, for the Main Street Market.  Come join the fun.  Arts and Crafts, Games and Food Booths from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Also Saturday the Newly formed motorcycle club, The Black Jack Drifters will hold a Poker Run, along with other events centered around in the downtown are to add to the fun and festivities.

The Herzstein Memorial Museum will be open all day showcasing Black Jack History and Memorabilia and a ride on the Black Jack Train

Also there will be a dance Saturday evening featuring the Doo-Waa Riders, a well know country group who have performed in concert with many entertainers, from Garth Brooks to the Oak Ridge Boys.
The Dance will be held Saturday June 1, 8:00 pm to 12:00 am at the Clayton Civic Center.
Advance tickets are:
$12.00 single and $20.00 per Couple
Advance tickets can be purchased at:
(click on colored links)
Cattle Town Co. Real Estate
Herzstein Memorial Museum
Clayton - Union County Chamber of Commerce
Ropes Western Wear - 110 Main Street - Clayton, New Mexico - (505)374-8787
Country Tavern     201 S 1st   Clayton, New Mexico   (505)374-2413

 

Please contact the Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce for details on Booth Space and
Check back soon for more information.

Check back soon as we will be adding Black Jack Festival Pictures from 2001

Below is a list of the schedule of events from 
Last Years
2001
Black Jack Festival

Thursday, May 31

Event:            Clayton Players Present, Dogsbreath Devereax, the Dastardly Doctor by
                         Billy St. John.  (Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. Denver)
Time:              7 p.m.
Location:      Don Wood Auditorium

Event:              New York Chamber Soloists
Time:                3 p.m.
Location:        The Eklund Dining Room and Saloon

Event:               Baddest Jack Junior Competition
Time:                 4 p.m.
Location:          Clayton Centennial Park

Event:                Old Settler's Picnic (free/bring food to share!), with cake walk, pie sale,
                             tug-of-war, and musical entertainment.
Time:                  5:30 p.m.
Location:          Clayton Centennial Park

Event:                Clayton Players' Melodrama
Time:                  8 p.m.
Location:           Don Wood Auditorium

 

 

Saturday, June 2

 

Event:                Masonic Breakfast (Fundraiser)
Time:                   6 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Location:           Clayton Ranch Market Parking Lot

Event:                 Booths/Food & Drink, Games, Demonstrations, Baddest Jack Team
                             Competition.  ( 9 a.m.)
Time:                   All Day
Location:           Walnut Street, between South First and South Second

Event:                 Black Jack Reenactment
Time:                   11 a.m.
Location:           Downtown Main Street

Event:                   Dedication of Historical Plaque on Sheriff's Office
Time:                     1:30 p.m.
Location:             Sheriff's Office

Event:                   "The Life and Times of Thomas Edward "Black Jack" Ketchum
Time:                     2 p.m.
Location:              Herzstein Museum

Event:                    Car Show
Time:                      2:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m.
Location:               New Mexico National Guard Armory

Event:     Kwadahi Indian Dancers
Time:                      7 p.m.
Location:              Huff Gymnasium, Clayton High School Campus
Cost:                      $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 students

Event:                   Western Dance

 

Costume Contest For All Ages, Cash Prizes to be Announced.  Winners will be announced before the Saturday Evening Kwadahi Dancer Performance!

Sponsored in part by:  New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities, Clayton Retail Merchant Committee and Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce,  Historical Society, and Union County Commission.Union County

Contact the Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce for more information on any of these events.  (505)374-7112