Buck in the New Year at sixth annual Blowout

MOSES LAKE — A few people’s boredom some years back means more excitement on New Year’s Eve for residents of Moses Lake.

The Moses Lake Junior Rodeo Club plans to hold its Sixth Annual New Year’s Eve Buckin Blowout on Thursday, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Grant County Fairgrounds’ Kenny Ardel Pavilion.

Gates open at 5:#0 p.m. with the main event kicking off two hours later.

The cost is $10 for everyone over the age of five, and those at or under get in free of charge.

Lynette McMillian, a founder and current president of the club, said that despite the cold weather associated with the season it rarely deters a strong turnout.

“It seems the worse the weather is people have been cooped up and want to get out for the evening,” McMillian said. “It’s also early enough in the evening that they can spend the night with the kids and go to the Blowout and still get home early enough. Usually it gets done over around 9 or 10 p.m.”

The main showcase for the evening includes the rough stock events which involve bull riding, saddle bronc riding, and bareback riding.

The Businessman’s Donkey roping is also set to allow local businessmen a “chance to show off their roping  and donkey riding skills,” according to a club press release.

Kids activities include stick horse bull riding, barrel racing and dummy roping.

There will also be a balloon stomp and a chicken scrabble for the kids and these two events require no entry fees.

To think all this came about when a small group of people found themselves with nothing to do on New Year’s Eve.

Now, according to McMillian there could be more in store for the future.

“We pack it at the Pavilion every year so its about a thousand people,” she said. “Our goal is to make it more affordable that more families can come in the future. I’d also like to see more people with families be there as well and enjoy the evening.”

For more information on the event, contact Lynette McMillian at 246-7114.