KINGMAN – The first day of spring was just two weeks ago, and already Kingman’s spring activities are cutting loose. Several occurred this past weekend, indicative of each spring weekend to come. Here’s a ‘taste’ of the action. It all started with the opening of this years’ First Friday, then barrel races a fundraiser run/walk, a protest against federal policies.
Typically, First Fridays will have up to 60 display booths, plus food trucks. The first First Friday had a larger than average turnout of patrons. Kingman Chamber of Commerce CEO-President Becky Fawson fills in details.
“We are super excited about the kick off the 2025 season of First Fridays. It is going to go from First Street to Sixth Street on Beale, and the side streets of all of those up to the alleys, and we will have a different theme each month.
So, essentially, there’ll be something new to check out each month. This time out it was Adult Special Olympics. Cyndi Bosce with the Kingman Adult Special Olympics group.
“Well, it’s just highlights our athletes, and the support that the law enforcement contributes. This is a big fundraiser for that, the law enforcement course run. We’re hosting community engagement and just bringing awareness of what we do and our amazing athletes and our wonderful volunteers.”
Another consistent activity is the Kingsmen philanthropic organization sponsored barrel races at the fairgrounds. Patricia Carpenter is the race announcer and talks about the season and how barrel racers of all ages may get involved.
“We’re hoping to do them once a month in coordination with the other events that happened here locally, as well as across Arizona. We had a good group here tonight. We hope to grow and have incredibly large races going forward. Future racers can look on “www.saddlebook.com” where we have our races posted. We have another race coming up in May.”
The fundraising “season”, if you will, is getting into full swing with the eighth annual Superhero 5K. This event, like many other similar events, is to raise money for a worthy cause, in this case for foster children. Kim Chappelear is the organizer.
“This is the eighth annual Superhero 5-K. Back in 2015, I believe, is the first year we started it. I’m a runner, I thought why don’t we have some kind of event to raise money for our foster children where all the monies that come in go to unfunded needs of foster children in Mohave County. There’s no other funds that can go to them for that.”
Speaking about funding, nearly 200 folks turned out to protest real and anticipated funding cuts to federal programs and work forces. A person identifying on social media as Debra Edwards posted that people were being hired and bused to Kingman for the protest. One of the people in attendance, Terri Hutchens, was asked where the busses were parked.
“Well, that’s silly fake news. There are no bused-in demonstrators. Nobody here is getting paid. We all sincerely and genuinely believe in what we’re protesting against and are mortified about what is happening to our democracy, country, and economy, locally and world-wide.”
So that’s a look at what spring 2025 has brought to Kingman…concerns being voiced by its citizen along Centennial and Locomotive Parks, a nice crowd for downtown’s First Friday beginning, barrel racing taking over the evening at the fairgrounds, fundraiser run/walks getting started with more to come, here, there, and everywhere.
