Tradition Started

The Colorado River Fall Festival was inspired by two members of the Kingman York Rite Bodies in Kingman, Arizona in 1991.

Reed Anderson and Peter Stronge were driving to a Regius York Rite College meeting in February of 1991, discussing the problems surrounding the Kingman York Rite Bodies.

In 1989 Kingman had a brief influx of membership and funds from the consolidation of Parker Chapter #19 RAM with King Solomon Chapter #22 RAM and the removal from Parker of Agaman Council #12 CM and Mohave Commandery #13 KT to Kingman.

King Solomon Chapter, chartered in 1985, had a net increase of membership every year through 1990, then began to slip. Both Agaman Council and Mohave Commandery had been losing membership for years which accelerated with the move to Kingman - though we could at least gather enough members to open each meeting which, at times, took some last minute telephone calls.

The finances were bad with expenses exceeding revenues precluding our charities and it was beginning to look that in two or three years we would be giving up our Charters through lack of participation, dropping membership and finances. Something, we agreed, had to be done.

The membership, at the time, was pretty evenly divided throughout Mohave County and Parker. This was nothing new, the membership has been divided throughout the history of the Bodies to this day. Our policy in the past had been to bring the Degrees to the Candidates - if there were three or more. On a number of occasions we conferred Degrees in Needles, California for Candidates and we were willing to continue this - although expensive and difficult, the Candidate fees would break us even. Unfortunately, getting the Candidates together with a Degree team was very difficult and because of our small membership, the Degree team could only confer two Degrees at a time with 6 to 8 weeks between conferrals. The Candidates we did obtain were losing the thread of continuity and because so few of us were ritualists, they were not truly appreciating or benefiting from the work. We took most of our Candidates to Phoenix for the Commandery Orders, particularly Order of the Temple.

Reed and Peter concluded we would be able to attract more Candidates, and in a cost effective manner, if we had a Festival which would communicate all the Degrees and Orders at one time. But we would need help as we could not do all this ourselves at one time.

At the meeting of Regius, they talked to many Companions about the idea and received many expressions of encouragement and help. This was a real boost and the start of the Colorado River Fall Festival. We never heard "Oh, you can't do that" or "It won't work". Rather, we heard "It's a good idea" and "How can I help". This has been the success of the Festival - no one ever said "It can't be done!" Had we been discouraged at this seminal stage, the Festival would probably never occurred.

A month or so later we heard the Phoenix Bodies held a Spring Festival which had attracted only four Candidates, three of which were courtesies for other Bodies. We also heard they were not happy with the results.

Kingman then contacted the Phoenix Bodies, proposed they bring their Fall Festival to Bullhead City and, with us, hold a Festival. The initial idea was a traveling Festival, one that would be in different parts of the State on an annual basis, Bullhead City being the first. Phoenix, however, declined but did agree to assist us if we did hold one. We then went to the Yuma Bodies, requested their assistance, received assurances; to Regius York Rite College, the same; and to Oasis Chapter #15 RAM in Wickenburg, the same. Yuma was so enthusiastic about the Festival, there was some talk at the time to hold the second one in Yuma.

In short, all through this process of putting the idea into fruition, we heard nothing in the way of discouragement or that it couldn't be done, but we did receive a lot of encouragement and help.

The date, the week before Thanksgiving, was chosen for several reasons. It would give the membership sufficient time after the summer break to solicit Candidates - September was too soon - October had too many conflicts including the Grand Sessions - December had conflicts and the Christmas season. So November was selected, although not Thanksgiving as it was felt there would be too many family commitments (and no discount for housing). This was also immediately preceding the Yuma Ceremonial of El Zaribah Shrine Temple, so that those desiring to join that organization would be able to do so after attending our Festival.

Bullhead City has one of the strongest and most active Shrine Clubs in El Zaribah Temple. Their assistance has been invaluable, not only to promote our Festival to prospective Candidates, but also for providing the facilities and Banquet for the first Festival.

Once these facilities were secured, housing and dining arrangements made, the next step was to request the heads of the various Grand Bodies to attend, which would not only attract Candidates, but sideliners. The head of each Grand Body and the Grand Master F&AM attended. This absolutely proved itself. We notified the Grand York Rite Bodies of California and Nevada of our festival and those attending and invited their participation. Several of their Grand Officers attended with many observers from their jurisdictions.

Kingman obtained lists from the Masonic Lodges in the area and sent a mailing to over 500 Master Masons in Mohave County, inviting them to become Candidates or, if already York Rite Masons, to join us. As a result, we received applications for 25 Candidates. Very few Candidates were obtained directly from this mailing, rather it served to reinforce the solicitation of our membership.

About the CRFF

The Colorado River Fall Festival (CRFF) is a York Rite Festival that confers all the Degrees and Orders of the York Rite except for Super Excellent Master.

The Festival is held over three consecutive days in October by the Companions and Sir Knights from Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah and currently meet at the Riverside Hotel in Laughlin, Nevada….about an hour south of Las Vegas, Nevada.

It is supported, but not financed or specifically operated, by any of the Grand York Rite Bodies. It is guided by a committee of individual Companions and Sir Knights from each of the five jurisdictions who meet once each year at the CRFF to finalize details for the current year and devise plans for ensuing years. The CRFF Committee also confers by telephone and Email during the year. The Committee from each jurisdiction is responsible for the ritualistic work assigned to them, coordinating with their Grand Bodies as well as the general publicity surrounding the event.

The first CRFF was held in 1991 in Bullhead City, Arizona and was strictly an Arizona festival. A number of Companions from California and Nevada were present and, after conferring the Degrees and Orders on 42 Candidates, expressed a desire to participate the following year.

In 1992 it was again held in Bullhead City with about 40 Candidates and ritualistic participation from Arizona, California and Nevada. It was no longer an Arizona event.

As it had quickly outgrown the facilities available, it was moved across the Colorado River to Laughlin, Nevada and has been there ever since. In later years, New Mexico and Utah joined in with the CRFF.
The Colorado River Fall Festival has met every year since 1991 with the exception of 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 restrictions. It has received excellent cooperation from not only the individual Grand Bodies but also the General Grand Bodies and Grand Encampment.

CRFF has conferred the Degrees and Orders on over 1300 Candidates from 10 jurisdictions. There are normally between 35 and 50 Candidates per class with between 100 and 150 Companions, Sir Knights and Ladies attending. In addition to the conferrals there is a Banquet and a Ladies program.

In the past there has been a “Survivor’s Party” on our last day. If there are any Ladies present who are eligible for the Royal Arch Widow’s Degree – King Solomon makes an appearance.

Meeting in Nevada, the CRFF is governed by their rules. Fortunately, the CRFF has a very good working relationship with the Grand York Rite of Nevada and the waters are seldom troubled.

Constituent Bodies in Las Vegas, Henderson and/or Boulder City move their Charters to Laughlin for the Festival. All Candidates must be “courtesied” by the Constituent Bodies who have elected them.

The Colorado River Fall Festival is not a constituent body, has no membership and cannot elect nor confer Degrees and Orders. The conferrals are done by the Nevada Bodies who invite Bodies from Arizona, California, New Mexico and Utah to do additional ritualistic work.

The Mohave York Rite Bodies, based in Kingman, Arizona, handles all the administrative and financial aspects of the CRFF.

Be sure to bring your lady - she will have the opportunity to make new friends, visit fun and interesting locales, do some shopping, take in a movie or two, eat a fine meal at a very reasonable price, and you both can enjoy some "Nevada Style Entertainment"! Be sure to register her for the Ladies Tea on Tuesday at 12:30 PM.