All years, all classes, students, teachers, family, and friends are invited to the free weekend-long Community-Wide Reunion sponsored by the City of Fallon. The fun kicks off on Friday night, August 19 with a concert by the Great Basin Band with Dineen and Larry Little at the Fallon Theatre. The celebration continues with free breakfast on Saturday and activities throughout the day including a free concert in Oats Park that evening. The event concludes with individual gatherings and final farewells on Sunday, August 21.
The Community-Wide Reunion started nine years ago but had to miss celebrating in 2020 due to COVID making this year the 8th annual event. It all started with a suggestion from Mayor Ken Tedford after the city's Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2014. Reunion Committee member Susan McCormick was on the Mayor's Sesquicentennial Commission and said “He wanted ideas for a lasting event for the community. I did a write-up to suggest the reunion and it just started from there.” She said the other committee members were Eileen Montgomery, Tammy Grace, Bunny Corkill, Edna Deanda, Patrick Huntsman, and Yvonne Sutherland.
Mayor’s Office Executive Secretary Debra Clifford said at last count there were 17 class tents planned with some of them dedicated to more than one class. “The first one engulfs the 1950s so that's a general tent. The other classes that requested a tent include 1962, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1992, 2000, and 2012. Some classes share a tent, and other classes may participate too, they just haven't asked for a tent yet. The Class of 1962 is the honoree VIP class this year and each of those attendees with receive an honoree letter from the mayor.”
McCormick said of the weekend, “They just have to do dinner for themselves on Friday night. Everything else is taken care of for them on Saturday.” By everything, she's referring to the free breakfast in the Lariat Cafe at Oats Park Arts Center, and the concurrent Show-N-Shine at Oats Park. Churchill County Library will have all of the yearbooks on video display throughout the day. The City Pool will be open for free swimming from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Mayor's Office Executive Secretary Nicole Dooley said, “We also have tours planned of Oats Park school. We have the mayor doing the tour of City Hall rather than having a chat time. We are doing the Saturday breakfast from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. and that's something the mayor wanted to offer to the community as free, as he really loves the community. The Show-N-Shine will include antique tractors and that will be held in the park at the same time.”
Other tours and activities on Saturday include the Churchill County Museum, the Old High School, Frey Ranch Distillery which will also have a food truck on-site, and tours of other historic buildings around town. The Art Center galleries will open at 3 p.m. Food and beverage vendors will be on-site in Oats Park around 4 p.m. The free concert in the park will start at 7:30 p.m. with the celebration continuing in the Art Bar after the concert.
McCormick said they used to try to organize a breakfast on Sunday but getting the number of attendees right was a challenge as that is a travel day for many attendees. “We tried at the Elks Hall, at the Eagles Hall, and the Life Center. We do know that even though people come to town even if it's not their 10 or 20-year reunion, they stay and spend money in town. So, the town's businesses do benefit too.”
Fallon Convention Center's Candy Dolan is also involved and said, “I mostly just help them with organizing, and try to help in other ways behind the scenes.” The other ladies added that she does a whole lot more including handling the tents and their placements and doing all of the signage, all with an easy-going way that keeps them all calm.
Dooley added, “It's transitioning to the city this year, as the effort required has grown beyond the committee's ability. The reunion will be put on by the city with the Reunion Committee's assistance because we still need them. They are such a vital part of making this all happen and to continue to make it run.” McCormick added, “This transition will ensure that the celebration will go on for years.”
For more information, visit the Community Reunion's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/communityreunionfallon
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