Heritage Days is returning from the 17th to the 21st of July, bringing with it several events, and one new to account for. Cassielien Vankerrebrook, Executive Director of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce, illustrated the preparations and planning regarding the work that goes in for the full team.
While Heritage Days prep-work may be routine for the committee, which welcomes new members annually to help with planning, themes and support, for Vankerrebrook, it is her first go around for this particular event.
Vankerrebrook explained the preparation begins as soon as the first week of February, providing a six month time-frame to plan and put together the event. They chose a theme, established a contract, acquired permits, and charted a course for the events that are going to take place. Even the weather is considered during planning, being forecasted as mostly sunny throughout the week this year.
The theme for Heritage Days 2024 is: “Back to our Heritage.”
Seeking out volunteers, the Chamber of Commerce Event Committee hosts meetings bi-weekly until June, and then weekly in July, welcoming new volunteers to come and assist with planning, and footwork, Vankerrebrook said. Assistance for orchestrating the event is in no way a small ordeal put forward by the volunteers of the community. From local businesses, to individual citizens, and even Keep Alliance Beautiful, which cleans the streets after the event is finished, many people and entities are involved.
“If one volunteer falls out, it’s definitely felt,” Vankerrebrook said.
Kicking things off on Wednesday is the Grand Marshal ceremony at 6 p.m. on the 200 block of Box Butte Avenue, followed by the 7th Street Dancers on the 200 block at 7 p.m. There will also be a FFA Mud V-Ball Tournament.
Thursday Cattle Capital Rodeo Youth Play Day will be at 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, the Prairie Dog Open Disc Golf tournament will kick off at Laing Lake, and Bands on the Bricks from 6 p.m.-1 a.m., featuring The Greendales and New Wave Time Machine. Saturday will feature the Band Road Run 5k/10k & 2 mile walk at 7:30 a.m., registration for this event will be at 6:45 a.m., followed by the Heritage Days Parade at 10 a.m. beginning on Black Hills Ave and traveling east on 3rd St. The Dave Kimmel Memorial Disc Golf Tournament will take place at 10 a.m., along with a BBQ lunch at the Masonic Lodge #183 after the parade until 1 p.m. The AHS Activities Golf Scramble takes place also at 1 p.m., and the final event, Bands on the Bricks, featuring Loaded Dice, from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Food vendors will open in the 300 block of Box Butte Avenue Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; however, on Wednesday, food vendors will only be open until 9 p.m. Frazier Shows Carnival will be available from Wednesday through Saturday.
Special events take place on the final day, including team roping at the Double L Arena, the 12th Annual John Whitecrane 3 on 3, basketball tournament, as well as a new event: “The Cornhole Tournament” hosted by the Masonic Lodge #183. All of these events will begin at 1 p.m. A three-person scramble, 9 holes is also set for 3 p.m. on Sunday.
“We want to thank our volunteers, thank everyone who is on the committee, thank Keep Alliance Beautiful, and if anyone who wants to be on the Heritage Days committee, reach out to the Chamber about joining next year. We are always open for ideas, and picking out themes,” said Vankerrebrook.