After all of the rain that has fallen in Elbert County over the past month, it was Chamber-of-Commerce sunshine and blue skies for the Elizabeth Stampede and ElizaBash on the morning of June 6.

The morning began with the Elizabeth Stampede Parade, filled with horses and riders, antique cars, and a 2,000-pound Texas longhorn named Blizzard with his trainer, Boo. The U.S. Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard presented the colors at the parade and again later at the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo. The unit is attached to the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow in California, and is the last mounted color guard in the Marine Corps.

The parade route began on South Tabor Street and wound its way through town, making its final pass along East Main Street, where more than 1,000 parade-goers watched and waved while kids dived for treats tossed from the procession.

The day's activity did not end with the conclusion of the parade. Ninety-five vendors waited to tempt visitors crowding Main Street with homemade and spun crafts, specialty items and cotton candy.

ElizaBash is presented each year during Stampede weekend by the Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce and is in its 10th year in its current incarnation.

“The events complement each other,” said Don Means, Chamber of Commerce president.

A brief afternoon shower marked the interval between the end of ElizaBash and the beginning of the second day of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo performances at the Stampede Grounds in Casey Jones Park.

The brief delay did not dampen the spirits of rodeo fans. The Saturday matinee on June 6 kicked off in front of nearly full grandstands cheering on bareback bronc rider Jake Brown, who rode to victory on a horse named Borrowed Angel, and by the end of the weekend took home a purse of $2,047.

Cowboy Bobby Welsh walked away with the top prize for bull riding for his 84-point ride on Hot Potato, and the honors for best all-around cowboy went to steer wrestler and team roper Jesse Jolly. The total payoff for the Stampede weekend PRCA Rodeo totaled over $47,000.

The Stampede wrapped up with the final rodeo matinee on June 7 and the crowning of the 2016 royalty, Stampede Rodeo Queen Kelly Sweigart and her attendant Taylor Braun.

Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo top finishers:

● All-around cowboy — Jesse Jolly

● Bareback riding — Jake Brown

● Steer wrestling — Cole McNamee

● Team roping — Garrett Tonozzi/Matt Kasner

● Saddle bronc riding — (tie) Allen Boore and Jesse James Kirby

● Tie-down roping — Riley Pruitt

● Barrel racing — Meghan Johnson

● Bull riding — Bobby Welsh