Burney Basin Days

At six on the morning of July 4, 2026, Main Street in Burney was already set for Burney Basin Days. The Burney Chamber of Commerce’s newsletter recorded the scene along the parade route. Chairs stood at the curb for families who had not yet arrived. The Burney Lions were at work on their annual pancake breakfast. The Basin Days banner moved in the breeze above a route dressed in flags and red, white and blue. The newsletter reported the sky as “perfectly cloudless.”

The town lies on State Route 299 at 3,123 feet, at the foot of Burney Mountain, an extinct volcano of 7,863 feet. The 2026 celebration fell on the nation’s 250th anniversary and was billed as “Celebrating 250 Years of Our Nation’s Freedom.” Admission was free.

Main Street on the Fourth

The day ran on a fixed schedule. The Lions served pancakes from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. a craft faire filled the paved, partly shaded parking lot of Burney Sporting Goods on State Highway 299E.

The Kiddie Parade and the Main Street Parade shared the block from 10:15 a.m. to noon. The 2026 theme was “A Nation’s Story, A Town’s Treasure.” Announcers read a description of each registered entry, written by its entrants in twenty-five words or less. ATVs are barred from the parade, and only street-legal motorcycles may ride. No one on a float throws candy. Anything handed out goes to the crowd from the bike lane.

At noon the smoke came up from three directions: a Lions barbecue luncheon, a deep-pit barbecue put on by the VFW and the American Legion, and a cornhole tournament alongside. The Mountain Cruisers car show ran from noon to 3:00 p.m.

Judged parade entries competed for Best Float at $500, Best of Theme at $200 and My Choice at $100. Winners were announced at the fireworks show that Saturday night. Luke Hennessey took Best Float in 2026.

Burros on the rail trail

The day before the parade, Intermountain Endurance holds the Burney Basin Days 10K, 5K and Burro Race. It starts from 22143 Black Ranch Road and follows part of the Historic Great Shasta Rail Trail and a forest road through the Burney Basin. All distances start together at 7:30 a.m., and the burros start with the runners. The 5K field turns right before the 10K split, and the 10K goes on for a longer loop. The race is cupless, so runners carry their own reusable cups to the aid stations. The 2027 race is set for July 2, 2027. The organizers’ advice to runners is to stay for the craft fair, parade and fireworks the next day: “Come for the run—stay for the fun!”

Queens, an honorary mayor and an honorary pet

The chamber still posts three forms on its Basin Days page: a Queen Application, an Honorary Mayor Entry Form and an Honorary Pet Entry Form.

In June 2002 the Intermountain News photographed Janice Barnes going over practices and media interviews with eleven contestants for Basin Days queen. Mrs. Barnes was coordinating the pageant once again. The young women had been to Redding the week before to publicize the contest on Redding radio stations. The pageant was set for July 5 at the Vets Hall in Burney, beginning at 7 p.m., with admission $1. The contestants were Rebecca Marie Lawson, Jenessa Renee Barnes, Tabitha Michiel Crawford, Amy Lee Rowland, Nicole Elizabeth Looper, Amber Marie Denny, Kaylie Rane Babajan, Shawna Marie Hecht, Holly Elizabeth Burns, Katie Ann Ellis and Ashley Barrineau.

The valley where Burney died

Before American settlement, the Atsugewi, a Pit River people, lived along Burney Creek. The town takes its name from Samuel Burney, a settler of the 1850s who was found dead in the valley in 1857. The place came to be called “the valley where Burney died,” and finally just “Burney.”

The chamber that runs Basin Days was established in 1944, by its own account, and serves Burney and the Intermountain Area. The celebration has depended on more than one club. In 2002, Burney Rotary handled traffic control for the parade and helped pay for the insurance needed to keep the parade and fireworks from being canceled.

By October 2003, Larry Armstrong had chaired the Basin Days parade for two years. Penny Rodgers had chaired the Crafts Faire for four years. On the festival committee she had served one year as secretary, two as vice-chair and three as president.