Join us for the 40th Annual Gold Rush Days Festival on September 16, 2017
Want to pan for gold? Come to our 40th annual Gold Rush Days Festival and try your luck.
The day will start with a parade at 10:00 am with events occurring throughout the day until 4:00 pm. The National Historic Register says this about the historic Dorn Gold Mine:
The Dorn Gold Mine is an area of nineteenth century mining operations consisting of horizontal shafts, vertical pits and a larger trench which extends approximately 200 feet. There are no above surface remains of mill buildings which stood at the site. The mine is one of the most important gold mine sites in the state. The mine was struck in 1852 by William Dorn, who excavated nearly one million dollars in gold before the vein was exhausted in the late 1850s. Dorn used slaves to excavate the dirt and employed several different types of mills to process the gold. Dorn became a wealthy man but lost much of his fortune after the Civil War. The mine was sold in 1869 to inventor Cyrus McCormick, who spent over $200,000 in a futile search for another rich strike. In 1882 McCormick ceased his search for gold and began selling his land which would become the town of McCormick. Listed in the National Register December 12, 1985.
Visit other historic sites such as The Dorn Mill Complex, The Train Depot, and The McCormick County Arts Council at Keturah (MACK). In addition to various vendors who will be set up at the MACK Park, you can visit the variety of shops and restaurants in historic downtown McCormick.
Attention Vendors! Would you like to register as a vendor for the Gold Rush Festival? Click here to download the application.
Entertainment will be provided by JuggleJuggle Boy Stilt Walker Jonathan Jackson during parade. After the parade, at the MACK Park, Mike Short Jr. will be performing from 11 am – 1 pm, and The Russell Scott Band will be performing from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm. Then, at 4:00 pm, our own McCormick Marching Chiefs will perform.
Come join us for a fun-filled, family day. Contact the Chamber with any questions. You’ll have a great time. See you there!
