A rocking good time
Annual event evolves into big-time festival

By LARRY MEYER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Saturday, July 4, 2009 8:58 PM PDT

Sue Barton (left), Nyssa Chamber of Commerce secretary, looks at quilted work by Christiane Smith (right). A quilt show has become an annual part of Thunderegg Days, which takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Nyssa.

NYSSA — Whether people have never been to Nyssa’s Thunderegg days, have not been there for a while or attended last year, this week’s festival — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — offers everyone the chance to see what is new and to enjoy events that continue to be popular.

There will be about 42 vendors parked in front of the Nyssa Elementary School showcasing everything from rocks, gems and jewelry to art work, hand-made items, glass work and home-made breads, Susan Barton, Nyssa Chamber of Commerce secretary, said.  In addition to the rock and craft vendors, there will be eight food vendors.

One of the newest activities during the show will be a historical exhibit set up by the Mike Tyner family of Nyssa. The Tyners demonstrate how the pioneers lived and worked showing the types of tools and utensils they used.

“They are in period costume,” Barton said.

The Tyner display will be set up all three days of the show. On Saturday, the area Civil War re-enactors will visit the show and be set up on the grounds, firing their cannon from time to time.

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Another ongoing event each day of Thunderegg Days is the quilt show in McPartland Hall, next to the north end of the show grounds. The cost is $2 for the show, which opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Three evening meals are also planned by local groups. Thursday, the Nyssa Lions Club, which has been participating at Thunderegg Days from its inception, will be serving a barbecue chicken dinner, followed Friday by the Nyssa High School Class of 2010, which will be serving a spaghetti dinner. Saturday, the Nyssa Chamber is having its annual ribs barbecue. All dinners will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Breakfast will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. in McPartland Hall, served by the Nyssa Dawgs eighth grade girls basketball team.

Although the event officially begins at 10 a.m. Thursday with the opening ceremony to welcome visitors and vendors, the first event, a rock tour to find jasper, leaves at 7 a.m. from the north side of McPartland Hall, next to Bower Avenue. This is the first of three tours, and each costs $5 per vehicle. Participants will need to pack a lunch, carry lots of water and have sunscreen. The second tour will be a trip to an area that contains petrified wood, and the third will hunt for thundereggs.

“People will have to have four-wheel drive (for the last one),” Barton said.

Another new activity will be the sidewalk chalk art contest at 10 a.m. Saturday. The cost is $1.50 per square.

“It’s open to all ages,” Barton said. “We are providing the chalk.”

 The “Thunder in the Streets” car show takes place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. between the administration building and elementary school. It has been getting bigger every year, Barton said.

Another popular event, which has usually been held Saturdays, the Outlaw Lawnmower Dragsters, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday on Good Avenue, near the show grounds.

Live entertainment will be on the Malheur Federal Credit Union stage each night, starting at 5 p.m. Playing the second half of Thursday’s entertainment, starting at 7 p.m., will be a “Different Shade of Blue.” Friday’s entertainment will finish with High Desert Karaoke, and Buckin’ Country will conclude the entertainment on Saturday.