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SUPERIOR – The Superior Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring back two of the town’s most popular events: the Superior Burro Run and the 33rd Annual Apache Leap Mining Festival. Held over the weekend of October 22-24, 2021, these one-of-a-kind events will celebrate Superior’s rich history as a mining town with a series of fun, family-friendly activities, ranging from pack burro racing to a hands-on mining competition and more.
With a long history in Colorado, where it is recognized as the state’s official summer heritage sport, pack burro racing debuted in Arizona in 2019 with the inaugural Superior Burro Run. The sport is a throwback to mining days, when “burros” (the Spanish term for donkeys) were used to pack supplies and ore.
For this year’s event, teams consisting of one human partner and one burro partner will compete for glory — and gorgeous custom prizes! — in one of three course lengths: three-, six- or twelve-mile.
On Saturday, October 23, the teams will race down Main Street through the Town and out onto Forest Service trails, navigating together to see who has the best partnership and the fastest feet. The 12K race will start on Main St. at 7 am and the other two races at 8:30 am.
Each course will conclude back on Main Street, where spectators can watch the teams dash across the finish line. Spectators are encouraged to attend this exciting event, which will also feature a beer garden, live music and close up visits with the Burros.
A long-cherished annual tradition in Superior, the Apache Leap Mining Festival showcases the town’s history, with a focus on the past, present and future of the mining industry.
The Festival will launch on Friday, October 22 with a carnival, vendors selling handcrafted goods, music and dancing on Main Street.
Attendees of all ages will not want to miss the Festival’s popular hands-on activities, including a mining competition in which participants perform grueling tasks such as sawing, mucking, spiking and drilling in a battle to win $3,500 in prize money. Fun weekend for for all ages.
Ever made your own pair of Burro ears or been on a “rock burro” scavenger hunt? In addition to the fun, the Festival offers educational opportunities, including historian speakers bringing to life the area’s mining stories from the past. In years past, burros were the “big rigs” that currently haul the ore from the mines.
Superior locals and visitors alike are encouraged to experience these unique, entertaining events, both of which are free to the public (with the exception of race participants in the Burro Run and a few hands on activities.).
Festivities will run from 5-11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.superiorarizonachamber.org, call 520-689-0200 or stop by the Superior Chamber of Commerce at 165 W. Main St., Superior, Ariz. 85173.
Note: Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact the Chamber for details and a form.
Burros and dogs inherently do not care for each other ..
so we ask that you please leave FIDO at home.
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