Waitsburg Celebration Days
Waitsburg, Walla Walla County, Washington. Time-honored event.
Details
- Where
- Waitsburg, Walla Walla County, WA. No street address stated. Directions
- When
- Every third weekend of May. Last held May 15–17, 2026; next year’s date not yet stated.
- Access
- Dry camping available at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds Friday or Saturday night for $25, or $40 for both nights; register online through RegFox.
- Phone
- (701) 269-1133
- Website
- waitsburgcd.com
- Managed by
- Sierra Smith for Waitsburg Celebration Days.
- Established
- 1902.
Waitsburg Celebration Days is a time-honored event, starting in some form as early as 1902.
Notable Events
- 1865The first horse track in Waitsburg was laid in 1865 and ran through 1870, a straight half-mile stretch along what is now Highway 124. waitsburgcd.com
- 1902The first mention of a horse show in the local newspaper, the Waitsburg Times, was in 1902. waitsburgcd.com
- 1903The horse shows moved to Main Street, with trotting and running races being held in the City Park. waitsburgcd.com
- 1903The 1903 meet was held with a two-day picnic sponsored by Occidental Lodge No. 11, AOUW, in Dickinson's Grove west of town, known as Workman Day. waitsburgcd.com
- 1914Waitsburg organized its 10th Annual Horse Show, and the City of Waitsburg held its first decorated automobile parade. waitsburgcd.com
- 1916The annual gathering grew to a three-day event, opening on a Thursday with automobile events and a Friday horse show. waitsburgcd.com
- 1922By 1922 the weekend had been coined the Days of Real Sport, which became the official title for the racing association in 1926. waitsburgcd.com
- 1926The Days of Real Sport, coined for the weekend by 1922, became the official title for the racing association. waitsburgcd.com
- 1930Crews broke ground for the historic grandstands that still stand at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds; they seated 1,000 plus a row of private boxes and cost $2,500. waitsburgcd.com
- 1952DRS President William Payne announced the races had been canceled for the year, saying the association could not operate under the current state rules. waitsburgcd.com
- 1956The Days of Real Sport welcomed pari-mutuel betting for the first time. waitsburgcd.com
- 1963A new paddock, new building, roof, fences, and restrooms were added at the fairgrounds as the event grew drastically, with more than 100 thoroughbred horses arriving. waitsburgcd.com
- 1980The 1980 Days of Real Sport was held the same weekend that Mt. St. Helens erupted. waitsburgcd.com
- 2010The Washington Horse Racing Commission announced there would likely be no more state funds for jockey insurance required for Class C bush tracks, ending the small circuit that included Waitsburg. waitsburgcd.com
- 2013The first official event was a three-day affair with ATV rides, cowgirl horse races, fairway games, a parade, and an antique car show. waitsburgcd.com
- 2020Waitsburg Celebration Days took a two-year break, starting in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. waitsburgcd.com
- The contractor hired by the City of Waitsburg began the demolition of the Days of Real Sport Grandstands at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. waitsburgtimes.com
People
- Bryeana Myrick, first royalty court (2013).
- Emily Adams, first royalty court (2013).
- Megan Morrison, first royalty court (2013).
- Morgan Forney, first royalty court (2013).
- William Payne, DRS President (1952).
- Rebecca Holderman, Celebration Days Queen.
Sources
- waitsburgcd.com
- waitsburgcd.com/events
- waitsburgcd.com/about-6
- waitsburgcd.com/contact-3
- facebook.com/WaitsburgCelebrationDays
- revisitwa.org/waypoint/waitsburg
- waitsburgtimes.com/story/2024/11/07/specials/days-of-real-sport-grandstands-demolished/21286.html
- waitsburgtimes.com/story/2019/05/09/news/waitsburg-celebration-days-is-may-17-19/14238.html
- waitsburgmuseum.org/tours-events