Make it so

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

PINEHURST — Almost every city in Shoshone County takes pride in holding a marquee event that it can call its own. In the Silver Valley’s second largest city, that event is Pinehurst Days.

Once regarded as one of the most well-attended festivals in the area, Pinehurst Days has seen a dip in both attendees and organizers in recent years due in part to decreased participation and a dwindling list of activities.

In early 2019, the event’s few remaining organizers were debating if they should just let it fade away. Fast forward to today and the event from Aug. 2-4 is set to have one of its best years in a long time.

Pinehurst Days “The Next Generation” is boasting a wide variety of activities for people of all ages — one of which being the return of a Pinehurst Days classic.

Pinehurst/Kingston Lions member and event organizer Bruce Rumpel explains that it was a long road to get to this point.

“We started beating the bushes (earlier this year) saying, ‘hey if anyone wants Pinehurst Days, we need volunteers to step up and help do something. Otherwise it was going down the tube.”

Slowly but surely, the effort worked and more volunteers began to step up.

With the added manpower, a list of activities was drawn up and a new theme for the event this year was born.

“We were just talking about what we wanted to do and what would be a good name for it, and someone came up with a ‘Star Trek the Next Generation’ theme,” Rumpel said.

Pinehurst Days “The Next Generation” is currently boasting a wide variety of activities that will be fun for the whole family.

Starting on Friday, Aug. 2, kids will be invited to participate in a Geocache scavenger hunt where they can use a smartphone to find hidden “caches” through town.

Later that day, the P/K Lions will host a steak dinner from 5 to 8 p.m.

Starting at the same time, a “battle of the bands” music competition will kick up just down the street from the Lions building. This free competition will feature several local bands battling for the top spot on stage.

Saturday is when the real bulk of the Pinehurst Days events begin.

Attendees can start the day off with breakfast at the P/K Lions building starting at 6 a.m., then have the opportunity at 10 a.m. to burn off those calories with a 5K fun run/walk.

At 11 a.m., the Pinehurst Days parade will roll through town. This will be followed by the start of the Real Life Ministries “Kid’s Korner” at 11:30 a.m. on its new property on the north end of Division Street.

Across the street, The Tall Pine Drive-In will be hosting a barbecue cook off starting at 3 p.m. Even further down Division, a golf scramble will be held Pinehurst Golf Course starting at 10 a.m.

The day of fun will cap off with the return of the beloved Burnout Competition at 7 p.m. Junk/beater cars with their rear brakes released must try to make it from start to finish while burning rubber and trying to maintain control.

“Basically it’s something to do that’s smelly and fun,” Rumpel said.

A $250 gift certificate to Les Schwab will be awarded to the winner.

Family can settle down from the excitement with an outdoor movie night in the City Park starting around 9 p.m.

The final day of the event will have the traditional BMX competition go on at 10 a.m. at the BMX park along Division Street.

Aside from the return of the Burnouts, the activities list for Pinehurst Days looks very new and that’s exactly how this year’s organizers want it.

“It’s completely reborn,” Rumpel said. “There’s very little left of the original Pinehurst Days at all.”

While the P/K Lions provides insurance for the event and will host a few of the activities, most of the fun will be handled by new volunteers — a pleasant change for those who have worked hard in the past to keep things going.

For more information on Pinehurst Days, visit www.pinehurstdays.com.