Area residents and visitors will be celebrating the 135th anniversary of the founding of Joseph City on Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19. The festivities will begin Friday evening at the B.G Bennett Auditorium with a show featuring local musicians and talent that will include a special community presentation to two very special residents of Joseph City. The program begins at 7 p.m., but doors will open at 6 p.m. A historic memorabilia display will be available for viewing in the lobby. Saturday’s events will begin early with the traditional boom of the cannon as Ivan Lee and his crew fire the anvil throughout the town, followed by a flag raising ceremony at the LDS Church presented by Boy Scout Troop 259 at 6:45 a.m. Area athletes are invited to participate in a 5K and 10K run/walk that leaves from the LDS church at 7 a.m. Prizes will be presented to the winners. From 7 to 9 a.m., or until the food runs out, a pancake and sausage breakfast hosted by the Joseph City Midway Ward will be held at the church. A parade will make its way down Main Street beginning at 10:30 a.m. It will begin on the west end of town at McLaws Road and travel east on Main Street to Randall Road. There are more than 60 entries for this parade, and past and present Joseph City 85 or older will be honored as the grand marshals. The parade will include local residents, businesses, Navajo County departments and dignitaries, schools, the Joseph City Fire Department and more. For information on the parade, contact Dale or Deanne Smith at (928) 288-3259. Following the parade, a barbecue luncheon and auction will be held at the Joseph City Fire Department. The lunch begins at 11 a.m. and will continue until 2 p.m., with the auction beginning at 12 noon. The meal will be served for $7 per plate. Young children and teenagers will be invited to show off their skills with a basketball by participating in a hoop shoot contest at the old gym. The event begins at 12 noon. A tractor show and contest will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bushmans’ property at 8200 Porter Road, where antique and newer model tractors will be on display. A historical re-enactment of an Old West gunfight will be performed by the Bucket of Blood Re-enactors beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the town park. From 2 to 4 p.m. a turkey shoot will be held at the crossroads south of Joseph City. The shooting contest will include .22 rifles, center fire rifles and pistols, with prizes of turkeys and ammunition to be awarded to the winners. There will be a $2 entry fee for the event, and gun safety will be highly stressed and observed. Contestants must provide their own firearms and bring them unloaded. For more information on this event, contact Robert Pugh at (928) 288-0829. Taking place at the same time over at the park will be a variety of activities and games for all ages. Try your skill at the sack hop, two and three-legged race, stick pull, water balloon and raw egg toss, horseshoes, roping and other fun events. Prizes and candy will be presented to the winners and participants. Teenagers and adults can have fun playing team volleyball from 4 to 6 p.m. at the high school gym. Organize your team and compete to see who will rule the court. The racquetball courts will also be open to players. Finally, Founders Day will culminate with a family dance, which will be held at the old gym at the elementary school. There will be a $3 entry fee per person or $10 per family.