Ray Grain Palace Days started 114 years ago
Saddle bronc rider Cy Hughson of Crawford, Neb., has a good ride at the Ray Grain Palace Days’ Bulls and Broncs rodeo event Saturday, Aug. 1. Photo by Roger Riveland.
Gymnasts and class cars join the parade as children scramble for candy during Ray Grain Palace Days on Saturday, Aug. 1. The annual event in Ray included a Wings & Ribs Cookoff, concert, car show, community feed sponsored by the Ray Fire Department, a vendor market, Bulls and Broncs rodeo and DJ party street dance. Photo by Roger Riveland.
The Ray Fire Department sponsored a community feed during Ray Grain Palace Days. Photo by Roger Riveland.
Saddle bronc rider Cy Hughson of Crawford, Neb., has a good ride at the Ray Grain Palace Days’ Bulls and Broncs rodeo event Saturday, Aug. 1. Photo by Roger Riveland.
Gymnasts and class cars join the parade as children scramble for candy during Ray Grain Palace Days on Saturday, Aug. 1. The annual event in Ray included a Wings & Ribs Cookoff, concert, car show, community feed sponsored by the Ray Fire Department, a vendor market, Bulls and Broncs rodeo and DJ party street dance. Photo by Roger Riveland.
The Ray Fire Department sponsored a community feed during Ray Grain Palace Days. Photo by Roger Riveland.
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RAY - The community of Ray continues a tradition that started 114 years ago.
The first Grain Palace Festival was held July 26-27, 1912.
According to City of Ray and the Ray Pioneer newspaper information, 8,000 people attended the first event.
The exhibition was held in the Bond Lumber Co. located on South Main, near the Great Northern depot. Over this large building, the Grain Palace was constructed, at a heavy cost, entirely of sheafs of grain and grasses, with the work being done by skilled and trimmers. Donations from the community, primarily from farmers, financed the project. It was to be a standing advertisement of the great productiveness of the rich soil in the Ray area.
Prizes were offered for the best entry of the exhibits.
The honorable A.A. Bruce, judge of the North Dakota Supreme Court, and a candidate for reelection, delivered an address on the subject of good citizenship.
A 1,500-pound steer was roasted whole for a free noon barbecue.
Entertainment was a water carnival and baseball games, as well as a tug of war contest. The tug of war contest was between the southern and northern parts of the city. A grand band concert was held at the Ray Opera House. The theatrical group known as The Crows put on a play "The Shamrock" at the Opera House. The Bijou Theater gave continuous performances to packed houses. A bowery dance went on night and day.
Today's Grain Palace Days - the most recent event held July 31-Aug. 2, - included a parade, cookoff, concert, car show, community feed sponsored by the Ray Fire Department, vendor market, Bulls and Broncs rodeo and DJ party street dance.