Fireworks, Tree Lighting at Ucross Christmas Event

There will be a fireworks show, carols, a new Christmas story and a tree lighting at the ninth annual Ucross Community Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 11, at the Raymond Plank Center. The event starts at 4 p.m. sharp and will continue through 6 p.m. It is free and fun for the whole family.

A popular tradition of the Ucross Community Christmas Celebration is a special reading of a new Christmas story by bestselling author and Ucross resident Craig Johnson, known for his Longmire series.

Johnson’s seventeenth Longmire novel, Daughter of the Morning Star,came out September 21st and hit #3 on the New York Times Combined Print and Ebook Bestseller’s List. In a recent interview Johnson said this about the book, “This one’s a little different in that it puts Walt Longmire in the role of bodyguard for a phenom girls’ basketball player up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.”

Johnson said he’s been doing the Ucross Foundation Christmas Event for nine years,and he added, “It’s near and dear to my heart. Heck, it’s the only event I can ride a horse to… We did a virtual version last year, so we’re looking forward to getting back in the saddle.”

Craig said his Christmas stories are new each year. “I started sending out a Christmas story many years ago with the first one I ever wrote which was in Cowboy & Indians magazine and it became a tradition. All of the early ones are included in the anthology Wait For Signs, and there will probably be another collection coming soon. Anybody that can’t make the library events in Hardin, Billings, Ucross, Gillette, Sheridan, Ranchester, Story, Buffalo or Clearmont can get it in their email inbox on Christmas morning by signing up at my website at www.craigallenjohnson.com”

He added that this year’s Longmire Christmas Story is called Warms You Twice and concerns the explosive theft of some firewood in Absaroka County.

This year the Ucross event will also include a piano performance by Ebenezer Eferobor, an internationally experienced composer who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and developed deep-rooted connections in the area while attending Sheridan College.

In addition, the Buffalo Balladiers will sing Christmas carols and there will be crafts for children and festive refreshments for all.

At the conclusion of the evening, a cannon will be fired by Ucross neighbor Joe Reed to announce the start of a fireworks display by Bruce Burns and his crew, followed by the lighting of Christmas trees in the Park at Ucross. The trees are strung with new lights each year and the Powder River Energy Corporation team will again volunteer to hang the Christmas tree lights.

In the spirit of Christmas, Ucross invites guests to bring canned goods and non-perishable food items for families in need. After the event, Ucross staff will distribute the donated items to several local community food pantries.

“The Ucross Community Christmas Celebration has become a beloved annual tradition,” said Ucross President Sharon Dynak. “We look forward to welcoming our friends and neighbors back to Ucross to celebrate the holidays together.”

The Raymond Plank Center is located at the intersection of Highways 14 and 16 East in Ucross. For further information, visit www.ucross.org, or contact (307) 737-2291 or info@ucross.org.