Fallon graduates from the past 60-plus years will come together this weekend with family and friends for a weekend of fun, food, music, camaraderie, and strolls down memory lane.
The Fallon/Churchill 7th Annual Community-Wide Reunion Committee has planned a schedule packed with activities from Friday, August 20 through Sunday, August 22.
The old saying, “It takes a village” certainly applies to putting on the Community Reunion event. Although there are only nine people on the committee, volunteers from all around the community are involved in making all of the weekend events happen. Reunion Committee Chair, Susan McCormick, has been organizing the event since its inception, and with the support of the committee, the community, and the City of Fallon, the reunion has really grown. McCormick was originally part of the Mayor's Sesquicentennial Committee, and Mayor Ken Tedford told McCormick he wanted something that would benefit the community for years to come. She enlisted the help of Bunny Corkill, and together they developed the idea of holding an annual community-wide reunion event. They chose the third weekend in August so the reunion would coincide with the City's second summer concert in the park each year, and it took off from there. McCormick said the first year, they estimated attendance at 500, and each year that number continues to grow. In 2019, they had 14 Class Tents; this year they have 19 Class Tents.
The Community-Wide Reunion events kick off on Friday when the Churchill County Library will have digital yearbooks available to view from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. Attendees can flip through their class yearbooks on one of the library's computers, and search for old photos. All of Fallon's old High School yearbooks have been digitized, even the old mimeograph versions, which should surprise many older graduates. Later, at 7:00 p.m., a live concert by the local Coaches Band will take place at the Fallon Theatre, where songs from the past can be enjoyed and dancing in the aisles will be encouraged.
On Saturday, from 8 a.m. until noon, the Pennington Life Center will be hosting a breakfast and a free Show-And-Shine Car and Antique Tractor Show. Breakfast tickets will cost $8 for adults, $5 for children under 10, and can be purchased at the door. The City of Fallon is holding a free Open Swim at the outdoor City Pool right next to Oats Park beginning at 10 a.m. Tours of historic buildings will be held throughout the afternoon. Mayor Ken Tedford will be available for a “Chat With The Mayor” at City Hall, an activity that was added three years ago.
But, McCormick said, “Please don't bring city gripes to the Mayor at this time. Just come in and enjoy a talk about city history or other fun topics with him.”
Billy Joe and the Dusty 45s Band, who will be performing for free in the park at 7:30 p.m. that evening, will be available for conversations with attendees at the Art Center starting at 3 p.m. Reunion attendees can begin gathering at their Class Tents at Oats Park starting at 4 p.m., where the Art Center galleries and Art Bar will also be open. Wild West Burgers will be selling an assortment of delectable munchies from their food truck, and the Twisted Branch will be selling thirst-quenching beverages from their mobile bar too; however, attendees may also bring their own refreshments. On Sunday, many classes are planning their own breakfast get-togethers before saying goodbye to each other until next year.
Each year, the Community Reunion honors the graduating class from 60 years prior. Last year would have been the 60-year reunion for the Class of 1960, but due to COVID, that event was not held. This year, the Reunion Committee felt that they should make things right for them by honoring the class of 1960 as well as the class of 1961. An Honoree ceremony is held at every reunion, where the Mayor introduces each Honoree in attendance and presents them with their 60-year reunion certificate.
“The Mayor also personalizes each presentation by talking about memories of past family relationships or connections with the honoree,” McCormick said. “He's an active participant.”
Other Saturday afternoon tours include the Churchill County Museum, the Old High School, the Cottage School, Fallon/Churchill Fire Department, the Douglass House, the Old Post Office, and the Frey Ranch Distillery.
McCormick went to school at Oats Park, went on to teach there, and was then involved with the building's renovations.
“It's a highlight of the reunion for people to see how beautiful the old school that they attended is today,” she said. “There's something tantalizing about having a cocktail in your old eighth-grade classroom.”
Touring the building brings back fond memories of the student's school days there.
Besides Susan Saxton McCormick, the other committee members are Bunny Corkill, Tammy Grace, Eileen Hannafin Montgomery, Edna Price Dianda, Yvonne Arciniega Sutherland, Kaitlin Haugen Ritchie, Kelly Martin Helton, and Patrick Hunstman. The committee is well-organized and has developed detailed plans documenting processes, procedures and contacts for running the reunion. Each year, the committee updates the plans with any changes from that year. Their hope is that this will assist in getting additional people involved by making it easier for them to understand what it takes to run the event.
“It's Mayor Tedford and people like Candy Dolan, Ryan Swirczek, and the other volunteers who make this event possible in the form that it is now,” McCormick said. “All of our volunteers are so essential to putting on the event, as there is so much work that goes into this. The sense of community and camaraderie in Fallon is incredible. In return, this event helps to contribute to the local economy and brings old friends together.”
More information about the Community-Wide Reunion can be found on the Reunion Committee's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/communityreunionfallon
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