On March 16-18, the Superior Chamber of Commerce will present the 30th Annual Apache Leap Mining Festival, a beloved yearly event packed with activities for the whole family. The theme of this year’s fun-filled weekend is “Celebrating Women in Mining…From Pickaxe to Boardroom.” This outdoor festival will take place in the eastern section of Main Street and will feature food, vendors, live entertainment and dancing in the street on both Friday and Saturday nights.
On Saturday morning, a parade will kick off the day and set an upbeat tone for the festival’s exciting line-up of events, which will include live music, a carnival, a hilarious chihuahua race, vendors showcasing and selling hundreds of handmade crafts and more. Younger attendees will be able to visit the Kid’s Zone, where they can “pan for copper” and engage in a series of challenges that represent actual mining tasks.
For visitors interested in learning about the past, present and future of mining, contractors and companies like Resolution Copper Mining will be at the festival to answer questions. They will provide information about the different types of mining, what the process involves and how mining is expected to change in Arizona and throughout the U.S. Several speakers will also give presentations about mining history and lore, what it is like to be a woman in mining and the various opportunities available in the industry.
Visitors will not want to miss Saturday’s grueling mining competition, in which both men and women will compete for a $2,500 purse. This strenuous yet fun activity will involve realistic tasks like sawing, spiking, mucking and drilling.
After an invigorating day of events, visitors can relax at the festival’s shaded Beer Garden and enjoy top-notch entertainment from the nearby stage. Musician Armour Gomez will perform on Friday night, and Angie Gomez with Power Drive Band will perform on Saturday. Folklorico dancers, mariachis and Samba dancers will delight attendees and inspire them to get on the dance floor. Other entertainers will include Wildman Phil, who will give a thrilling presentation involving a variety of reptiles. He may even ask brave audience members to join him on stage and hold a snake or put a lizard on their heads while he performs a couple of tricks!
Presented by the Superior Chamber of Commerce, this popular annual festival is unique, fun and free (with the exception of the carnival and vendors). Event runs Fri, Mar 16th – 6pm to 9pm, Sat, Mar 17th – 10 am to 11 pm, and Sun Mar 18th – 11 am to 6 pm. Many sponsors make the event possible, including Resolution Copper Mining, The Town of Superior and numerous industry leaders. See the schedule and event updates at www.superiorarizonachamber.org , or call the Chamber of Commerce at 520-689-0200.
