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Editorial: Williams offers a special event daily

It's official - summer is here. Many of our special events have already happened. The HOGs have been here and are returning next June. This is great news for our small community, but much more is right around the corner.

On Saturday, the High Country War Birds Air Display will be held at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Valle. This air show will feature antique and war bird fly-bys showcasing a P-51 Mustang, P-40, B-25, and the Ford Tri-Motor along with craft and food vendors. Gates open at 8 a.m. For more information, please call (928) 635-1000.

The Railhead Shooting Competition returns June 30-July 3. The Arizona Cowboy Shooters Association brings this shooting competition to the Williams Shooting Range. Vendors and an event banquet will be held at Wild West Junction. For registration and event information, visit www.acsainc.com.

Much to the delight of many, the Northern Arizona Barbecue Festival will be held for the second year July 1-3. The Williams Main Street Association in partnership with Special Olympics of northern Arizona presents this KCBS-sanctioned barbecue cook-off July 1-2 and an amateur backyard barbecue cook-off July 3. A beer garden featuring regional microbreweries, street dance and kids' zone are all part of this event.

Small Town Fourth of July will be celebrated July 4 with one of the biggest parades in northern Arizona starting at 4 p.m. along Route 66 in downtown Williams. Enjoy Rotary's local barbecue, Kiwanis Korn Roast and an Ice Cream Social at the Methodist Church. Head to the Williams Rodeo Barn after the parade for a barn dance and stick around for a fireworks display at dusk, weather permitting.

Other events on the horizon include the ARCA Arizona State Convention and Hamfest July 14-17; 15th Annual Cool Country Cruise-In and Seventh Annual Miss Route 66 Pageant Aug. 12-14; National Barrel Horse Association Barrel Races Aug. 27-28; and Taste of Williams Sept. 24.

During the summer on any given day, special events are offered in downtown Williams. A gunfight erupts daily at 7 p.m. when the Cataract Creek Gang stages a show at various downtown locations. Watch for the Gang's signs downtown since the location changes nightly.

We welcome all these events along with the additional visitors they bring to Williams. There's virtually something for everyone to enjoy. It's going to be a busy and eventful summer. We'll see you around.


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