Rodeo, parade, free Beans & Barbecue lunch part of Labor Day weekend.
A hundred years ago, the village of Wagon Mound — then a major center for the production of pinto beans — held the “Mora County Farmer’s Harvest Jubilee,” in which Higinio Gonzales and his crew cooked up beans in wash boilers behind the schoolhouse.
And that’s why “Harvest Jubilee” is the theme of this year’s parade at the 99th annual Wagon Mound Bean Days celebration, to be held Saturday, Sunday and Monday in the northeastern New Mexico village off Interstate 25 at exit 387 (N.M. 120).
The biggest open rodeo in New Mexico, with bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, bronc riding, chute dogging, mutton busting, a “Dress the Sheep” contest and more will be held at 2 p.m. each day, according to a Bean Day Association news release.
A parade through downtown Wagon Mound will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Labor Day Monday, followed by entertainment on Main Street and street races and other games for the kids.
And the traditional free Beans & Barbecue lunch will follow from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Village Park, a giant outdoor banquet serving 1,500 or more meals, according to the release.
Camping at the LJM Village Park is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and additional camping locations and motels are available in Springer 25 miles to the north on I-25, or in Las Vegas, N.M., 40 miles to the south.
