GILPIN COUNTY — It was 6 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026. Suzie Murphy and Sara Swanson of the Gilpin County School Booster Club were hard at work in their kitchens preparing scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausages—a pre-parade breakfast for dozens of students, supporters, policemen, firemen, and one hungry photographer from The Mountain-Ear.

This year’s Homecoming theme was Fairy Tales. In the staging area near Central City's Teller House, each of the four high school classes were busy attaching balloons to their floats and making last-minute adjustments.

Girl Scout Troop 68188 was there lending their support.

Photo by Dave Gibson

At 10 a.m. sharp, with lights flashing, emergency vehicles at the front of the parade began inching out of the parking lot. Behind them was senior Neko Cope on his dirt bike and the rest of the high school class riding in style high upon their decorative floats. Their route would start at Eureka Street, turn onto Main Street, then continue down Gregory Street into Black Hawk.

Scores of fans had turned out to show their appreciation. All along the way, fistfuls of candy were tossed to the bystanders. From alumni to the entire student body and their relatives, everyone was proud to be a Gilpin Eagle.