Wallace readies for 79th Lead Creek Derby
The Gyro ball floats down the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River to its finish line at the Sixth Street Bridge in Wallace in 2017.
File Photo
WALLACE — After a hiatus of a little more than one year, the celebration season in Wallace is set to resume when the Lead Creek Derby returns for the 79th edition of this annual fundraiser. Due to the coronavirus that basically shut down the normally robust schedule of summertime celebrations in Wallace, the Gyro Club was forced to cancel last year's event for the first time since 1942.
In June 1942, things were a little different than now. FDR was president and America had just joined the war. However, one thing was the same; the Wallace Gyro Club was looking to raise funds to help others. Back then, they sent cigarettes to our troops overseas with the money raised from the first Lead Creek Derby. Now, in 2021, through proceeds from the 79th Lead Creek Derby, the Gyros are funding scholarships for Wallace and Mullan students headed to college, as well as furnishing support for other youth and community events. They do this by selling tickets during a celebration called Gyro Days which includes a new version of Radio Day, a three-day carnival, and the World-Famous Lead Creek Derby.
The festivities start Thursday, June 17, with the carnival on the streets of downtown Wallace.
“We’ve got the same great carnival again this year that we have had prior to last year. They’ll have rides and games, and we encourage everyone to come to Wallace on Thursday or Friday night or all day and night on Saturday to enjoy the carnival,” said John Jordan, Gyro president.
The carnival is located on Sixth and Cedar streets in downtown Wallace.
Friday night provides added excitement as the Wallace Elks Drum & Bugle Corps will parade around town playing from their large repertoire of cheerful tunes.
Saturday starts the Lead Creek Derby as the ball drops at noon at the Last Chance Bridge in Mullan. The honor of dropping the ball in the creek this year is being given to a deserving local citizen.
After the ball drops, people get on bikes, Jeeps, cars, trucks or skateboards and follow the ball to Wallace. The large ball floating down the creek is a unique sight to see for everyone. The crowd celebrates the entire way down the creek as the Gyros help make sure the ball does not get hung up on trees or shrubs. Once in Wallace, the large crowd, the carnival, the winners and all the associated festivities combine for a terrific time.
The Gyros are currently selling tickets that will each be assigned a computer-generated time that it will take for the ball to reach Wallace. The buyer of the ticket with the assigned time that is closest to the actual time wins the first-place prize. First prize is 50 one-ounce Silver rounds. There are 13 additional cash prizes paid, so people are encouraged to purchase tickets at local merchants or restaurants in Wallace. The sale of these tickets is how the Gyros fund the scholarships and the various other youth activities every year, as well as provide financial support for the carnival.