Tuesday, 29th April 2008 (1151 views)

A parade celebrating the discovery of the largest gold nugget ever found in North America has marked its 50th year with the biggest-ever event in its history, according to reports.

The 50th Gold Nugget Days celebration parade in Paradise, California, featured 105 entries and more than 200 participants, the Paradise Post states.

The parade is the culmination of a series of annual events to mark the anniversary of the discovery of a 54-pound gold nugget by miner Chauncey Wright in 1859.

Floats for this year's procession were designed using the theme "Coming Up Gold!", according to the site, with entries including a Goldilocks and the Three Bears-style float and a giant safe with a gold nugget inside.

In keeping with tradition, this year's Gold Nugget Queen, Kaitlyn Smith travelled on a float with her escort, while Gold Nugget Queens from past events were also in attendance. The site says Diana Smith, who was Gold Nugget Queen in 1962, travelled from Washington to attend the parade.

For next year's 150th anniversary of Mr Wright's discovery, the event's organisers plan to include all 51 Gold Nugget Queens to date in the procession.

The first Gold Nugget Days festival was held on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the gold nugget in 1959.

 

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