WALLACE – Next week marks the 84th running of the Wallace Gyro Club’s Lead Creek Derby, the club’s sole fundraiser supporting college scholarships, youth activities and civic projects. This year’s first-place prize will be the most valuable silver award in derby history, thanks to the sharp rise in silver prices. 

The festivities kick off Wednesday, June 17, with the Gyros’ modern take on the historic Radio Day. As has become tradition since the end of KWAL 620 AM, the Gyros have replaced radio with a live videocast from the sidewalk next to the Wallace Elks on Wednesday afternoon. 

Organizers promise jokes, games, food, beverages, Lead Creek Derby tickets and more. The public is invited to stop by for a hamburger and a beer or tune in on Facebook Live. 

This year, festival goers are encouraged to celebrate the legendary Sano Haldi, who passed away last October. Haldi was a legendary figure in Wallace and guests are welcome to have a beer on Sano, who will miss the event this year for the first time in forever. 

Thursday is when the real fun begins, as carnival lights will set the streets of downtown Wallace aglow. 

“We have the same great carnival again this year that we have enjoyed the last few years. They will have rides and games, and we encourage everyone to come to Wallace on Thursday or Friday night or all day and night on Saturday to enjoy the carnival,” commented Charley Roberts, Gyro president. 

Thanks to support from Silver Valley businesses and individuals, the Gyro Club again provided free carnival passes for children in grades K-8 in Mullan and Wallace. The passes were distributed through local schools before the end of the school year. 

Friday night adds even more excitement as the Wallace Elks Drum & Bugle Corps parades throughout town performing selections from its extensive repertoire of cheerful tunes. The group’s first stop will be the 1313 Club at approximately 6 p.m., before continuing on to pubs throughout Wallace. The public is encouraged to follow along. 

The Lead Creek Derby begins Saturday when the ball drops at noon from the Last Chance Bridge in Mullan. This year’s honorary ball dropper is longtime Wallace community supporter Dave DeRoos. 

After spending much of his career in Southern California, DeRoos returned several years ago to his hometown with his wife, Bonnie. Since returning, the couple has devoted significant time to community endeavors. 

Spectators line the creek to watch the large derby ball make its way downstream as Gyro Club members help keep it moving past trees and shrubs along the route. Once the ball reaches Wallace, the crowd, carnival, prize winners and downtown festivities combine to create one of the Silver Valley’s signature celebrations. 

Gyro Club members are currently selling tickets, each assigned a computer-generated time predicting how long it will take the ball to travel from Mullan to Wallace. The ticket holder whose assigned time is closest to the actual finishing time wins the grand prize of 50 valuable Silver Rounds. Thirteen additional cash prizes will also be awarded. 

Tickets are available at local Wallace merchants and restaurants. Proceeds from ticket sales fund the Gyros’ annual scholarships, youth programs and support for the carnival.