Beans are no longer grown by the ton in the Wagon Mound area, and the beans for the town’s Bean Days fiesta on Labor Day weekend probably won’t be cooked in washboilers, as they were at the first event in 1909.
But the annual fiesta continues this year Aug. 30-Sept. 2 – the 103rd such event. Highlights include rodeos, a parade, street dances, musical performances and, of course, the free Beans & Barbecue lunch at noon on Labor Day, Sept. 2.
Festivities start Friday, Aug. 30, with a hamburger and hot dog fundraising dinner followed by a street dance.
Saturday, Aug. 31, begins with a Veterans Memorial Service at 9 a.m. at the town’s Veterans Memorial Park on N.M. 120. Musical performances continue in the town park from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. with a dance on Saturday from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at the school gymnasium.
Rodeo performances are at 2 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday and again at 2 p.m. on Labor Day at the Wagon Mound rodeo grounds.
Highlights on Sunday, Sept. 1, include a car show – a Bean Days first this year – near the park. The mud bog races start at the rodeo grounds at 11 a.m. Free music at the park continues all afternoon, followed by dancing from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at the school gym.
On Labor Day, get to Wagon Mound early – the parade, often one of the largest in the state, begins at 9:30 a.m. That’s followed by street races and games for kids and the Beans & Barbecue free lunch, noon-1 p.m. in the park.
To get to Wagon Mound, take exit 387 off Interstate 25 and take N.M. 120 east. Free camping is available on a first come, first serve basis at LJM Village Park and at the rodeo/mud bog grounds. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.beanday100.com.
