Worldwide
Leap Year Festival
Staff writer
The Raft
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That year, with only one month to plan, following the proposal of the project, the celebration was limited to a small birthday party. Approximately 40 people gathered to kick off the celebration and wish the 29ers' well, including veteran New Mexico State Representative, Ralph Hartman and his wife Peggy. Even with such short notice, nine people celebrated their Leap Year birthdays together. Guests came from Deming, New Mexico and Canyon, Texas, as well as Anthony, El Paso and Las Cruces. This was believed to have been the largest number of Leap Year babies (29er's) ever gathered in one place.
A new record was set in 1992 with twenty-three Leap Year celebrants sharing a huge birthday cake. A few thousand people enjoyed a two-day festival with events including the first ever Leap Year Day Parade (Congressman Joe Skeen of New Mexico rode in that 1st ever parade and attended the birthday party which followed). There were hot air balloons, a carnival, golf tournament, arts and crafts fair, "42" tournament (a game played with Dominoes), hayrides and more. 'Twenty Niners' came from California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Irmgard Gaertner came all the way from Munchen, Germany. All to celebrate their Leap Year birthdays.
In 1996, Leap Year Day fell on Thursday, a memorable day no doubt for 19 members of the Worldwide Leap Year birthday Club who had come to Anthony from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Chicago, Oregon, California and several cities throughout Texas and New Mexico. Their day started at 5:30 a.m. with a live remote interview by Joan Lunden on ABC's Good Morning America. The nineteen were joined later in the day by several dozen other 29ers', all of whom were featured in Anthony's "traditional;" Leap Year Day Parade. Stately, sparkling antique cars (provided by The Horseless Carriage Club of El Paso and Anthony's own Pettit Farms) proudly transported them down Main Street thousands of local residents and out-of-towners cheered them on. That was quite possibly the biggest parade ever seen in Anthony — 68 units in all. That evening more 29ers joined the celebration (about 68 was our best count) as they and their guests (about 450 people in all) enjoyed a grand birthday party complete with a huge birthday cake, compliments of The Pillsbury Company. Birthday ages range from four year olds celebrating their first birthday to 88 year old Bette Dave who was celebrating her 22nd. The world's extra day ended with the public enjoying a big fireworks salute. A few thousand residents and tourists enjoyed the four day celebration which ensued with hot air balloon rides, chuck wagon breakfasts, a carnival, racing pigs, big-band swing dance, Road Rally type tours of the Mesilla Valley and more.
Another new interest was added in January 1996 when the Anthony, New Mexico Post Office was designated "Leap Year Station" and granted a commemorative postal cancellation which is available to the public at the Anthony, New Mexico/Texas, Leap Year Capital of the World. Membership in the Worldwide Leap Year birthday Club continues to gow as people from far and near learn about the club and the worldwide celebration of this special day. Members hail from almost every state in the Union, also from German, Korea, England, Norway, Mexico, Canada and Italy. It has been estimated that 200,000 'Leapers' are now living the United States and perhaps 4,000,000 world over.
The Anthony Chamber continues to seek out people born on February 29. Potential for membership in the "Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club" is exciting and families and friends of 29er's are excited when they learn about the Leap Year Birthday Club and the Worldwide Festival. Dues are $20 renewable by leap Year Day every four years. Paid members will receive a membership certificate, a T-shirt and occasional newsletters.
Reservations are already coming in and the Anthony Chamber of Commerce is promising a great celebration for Leap Year 2000 with more time for members to visit and get acquainted with each other. Festivities will begin with Hot Air Balloon lift off on Saturday, February 26 and culminate with a big Leap Year day Parade, Tuesday, February 29, 2000, and a great 'once in 400 years' Leap Year Birthday party in Anthony, New Mexico/Texas, Leap Year Capital of the World. Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young will provide entertainment. Leap Year babies of all ages are invited to ride in the parade.
Thanks to Susan Nash, famed artist Peter Max has designed a Leap Year 2000 T-shirt for the occasion and special U.S. Post Office approved commemorative envelope, which will be sold at the festival. The Worldwide Leap Year Festival and Worldwide Leap Year birthday Club are for people from all over the world born on February 29 in any Leap Year. (P.O. Box 1086, Anthony, NM 88021. Phone (505) 882-5677 or fax (915) 886-2815. Visit them on the web at www.leapyearcapital.com )