Several years back in the 1980’s there was a small town as far west in Texas as a person could travel that decided they wanted to do some sort of community event. There was also a town in New Mexico that just happened to be as far east in New Mexico as a person could travel that was looking to do the same thing, have an event. The fact is the town is located in both Texas and New Mexico and has the name of Anthony. What is even funnier is that if you happen to visit this town and stop by the Chamber of Commerce you will find a line painted right down the middle of the floor in a north / south direction, it is in fact the state line dividing the two states.
I’m not sure of how the town politics works, if there are two mayors, police, city councils etc. It has been several years since I have been out there and when I was there I didn’t think to even ask. I was too busy being a celebrity. So how does the sultnpapper become a celebrity anyway, is what I’m sure you are asking yourself right now?
It all has to be being born on Leap Year day. Those years back 80’s when the cities of Anthony were looking for a event to hold there it happened to be two ladies who were also born on Leap Year lived there. Those women suggested to the town council to hold a birthday party for 29ers, those of us born on leap year day. It was a great selling point to the council as the cities could hold an event every four years instead of getting roped into an annual event. The council approved the plan and things moved forward.
Anthony TX, NM. became the self proclaimed Leap Year capital of the world. I attended the event in 1992 and 1996 and it was a great time. The city went all out to make the 29ers feel like we were special. The World Wide Leap Year festival isn’t just a one day event. Usually it is at least four days of activities which include golf tournaments, dominoes tournaments, hot air balloon rides, and a carnival. There are several lunches and dinners leading up to a big parade on the 29th and the Grand Leap Year Birthday party at the local high school that evening.
The last year I attended there were close to 100 people who were born on Leap Year in attendance. I remember folks being there from Germany, England, Spain, France, Australia and Brazil and the USA. We had media coverage from all over the world covering the parade and birthday party. That year the 29th was on a Thursday and some of us were even on the national news and Good Morning America since it was a weekday, I was the good looking fellow in the grey Stetson hat if you happen to find the tape in some archive.
The people in the town made you feel real special, most every place that I stopped in to have a bite to eat or catch a beer in the evenings, I was always told my money was no good there, and it was on the house. It was like that for all of us 29ers, not just me. The town was truly glad that we had made the effort to come to the event, the only thing I remember paying for was the hotel room for our stay, as my wife was with me for my second trip out to the event. The prior time I was single, and I made the mistake of telling my wife just how good a time I had on that trip, so there was no going alone, not that I wanted too.
Any ride or game at the carnival was also free to 29ers, golf tourney was free, dominoes tourney free , birthday party free, did I mention gifts? Yes, plenty of businesses and town’s people also made sure we had gifts to open as well. All of this came about because two ladies who happened to live in Anthony were born on the 29th. If you happen to know anyone born on the 29th of February you might want to mention the leap year festival to them. I think I might just try and make it out there for my sixteenth birthday since it has been it has been four birthdays since I’ve attended the leap year festival.
So, how many of you have a birthday that has been turned into a World Wide Event or Festival? I didn’t think so, or else you happen to be born on the 29th like me. Being born on the 29th is the only criteria for joining the membership of the Leap year club, February 29th that is, not just any old 29th. People think that those born on leap year some how get ripped off when it comes to birthdays, it might just be everybody but those of us born on Leap Year are the ones getting ripped off.
Until next time,
And for 
