2021 Downtown Diamond Daze Begins Friday

This year’s Downtown Diamond Daze will be held Friday and Saturday, Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marty Green said.

The newly renamed weekend event will be filled with family fun for all ages and this year’s celebration will even have a new location. It will take place along Oak, Choctaw and Elm streets from Cherokee Avenue, and the Stanley W. Tubbs Memorial Library lawn will also host some events.

Sallisaw Main Street’s Finger Lickin’ barbecue contest is back this year and the group will be selling taster kits to those in attendance.

Downtown Diamond Days is sponsored by the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce and Sallisaw Main Street.

Following is the schedule of Downtown Diamond Daze events:

Friday, April 30

Main Street “Pig” -- Indian taco sales at lunchtime

Vendor set-up in assigned places after 5 p.m.

Barbecue contestants set up on Cherokee Avenue

6 p.m. -- Talent Contest preliminaries on the GRDA Stage

6 p.m. Treasure Hunt rules and details will be released

Saturday, May 1

10-11 a.m. -- Car Show registration and setup

10-11 a.m. -- Diamond Daze Cornhole Tournament sign-in

11 a.m. -- Cornhole Tournament begins

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Children’s area opens

11 a.m. -- Talent Contest preliminaries (2nd Round) on the GRDA Stage

11 a.m. -- Taster kits go on sale for the barbecue contest

Noon to 4 p.m. -- Hot air balloon rides (weather permitting)

2 p.m. -- Barbecue Contest award presentations on the GRDA Stage

3-3:30 p.m. -- Local Singer Drake Hyde on the Pocket Park Stage

3:30 p.m. -- Award presentations for Car Show winners

3:30 p.m. -- Cornhole tournament awards

5 p.m. -- Music by the Black Diamonds on the Pocket Park Stage

6-8 p.m. -- Cruise Night on Cherokee Avenue

6:45 p.m. -- Final round of Talent Show -- Top three perform on the Main Event Stage

7-8:30 p.m. -- Crossroads -- Main Event Stage

9 p.m. -- Main attraction Greg “The Ultimate Aldean” West on the Main Event Stage

The deadline to enter the Finger Lickin’ Barbecue Contest has already passed, but talent show, car show, cornhole and treasure hunt participants can find entry forms at sallisawchamber.org, by calling (918) 775-2558 or stopping by the chamber office, 101 N. Wheeler.

The event will also feature a Children’s Zone, complete with inflatables and other fun activities.

Vendors are welcome to sign up for Diamond Daze for May 1. Arts and crafts vendors are free, as are businesses/chamber members/non-profits. Food vendors and food trucks are $50. Vendor applications are now available at the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce and the chamber’s webpage, where payment may also be made.

Green said the organizers of this event were thrilled to get Downtown Diamond Daze up and running again after the disappointment of last year’s cancellation of the festival because of the coronavirus.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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