2023 Diamond Daze brings in huge crowd

Crowds of people flocked into town Saturday as Sallisaw hosted its 2023 Diamond Daze under hot sunny skies.

The event drew hundreds of vendors, car show participants, BBQ taste testers and many other food fanatics, entertainment by the Cherokee Choir and other performers, and much more.

Events included a Sing Sallisaw Talent Contest and an Indian Taco and Strawberry Funnel Cake sale by Main Street volunteers in downtown Sallisaw, Friday.

Saturday’s events began early with the 5K Run, and car show registration which resulted in car enthusiasts bringing their cars, trucks and other automobiles to show. The corn hole tournament also began around 10 a.m. Oak Street was lined up with bounce arounds for the Children’s Zone of activities.

The Cherokee National Choir entertained the crowd at 11 a.m. and Main Street BBQ Taster Kits went on sale.

First-place winners for the corn hole tournament’s main event were Cameron and Kaleb

The Coach’s Choice Appetizer Contest 1st place winner is Cuz’s BBQ – Terry Nichols

Best of Show Truck for the Diamond Daze car show: Jan Ingram with a 1948 Chevy pickup

The Coach’s Choice Appetizer Contest 1st place winner is Cuz’s BBQ – Terry Nichols

First-place winner for Sing Sallisaw competition at Diamond Daze is Brittany Hollis

First-place winners of the Hot Pickin Finger Lickin’ BBQ contest was Whiskey Bent BBQ of Sallisaw with Jimmy Quakenbush, Larry Webb, Zach Webb and Tyler Webb preparing the meal. O-Boys with Steven Ostrander was chosen for second place, Cuz’s BBQ with Terry Nichols received third place and also the Coaches Choice appetizer award. J&D’s Cowtown with Joe and Nicole Conte received fourth place in the contest. They were also chosen as second place winners from the Coaches Choice Appetizers. The BBQ event lived up to its name this year with the cooks running out of food shortly after the taste testing kits went on sale.

A popular event was the dunking machine in which kids had the opportunity to dunk Sen. Tom Woods for State Senate a few times, organizers reported. Your TIMES hosted the third annual Diamond Daze Treasure Hunt with several taking part. Prizes between $23 to $200 were awarded to the winners.

Other events included musical performances by Brittany Morse and Friends at the Pocket Park, and the Johnny Mullenax Band held at the Stage Park.

Cruise Night was held on Cherokee Avenue later in the evening and Diamond Daze ended with the main attraction, The Klocks, who performed on the Stage Park drawing a crowd of listeners inside the park and others with lawn chairs around the block.

“It was another successful downtown Diamond Daze festival. We thank everyone who came and took part,” members of Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce, Sallisaw’s Main Street and others who took part in organizing this year’s event, said.

A list of available winners and pictures are included on other pages in this edition of Your TIMES.