Temple’s biggest family reunion will return June 28 with the 77th annual Pioneer Day at the Frank W. Mayborn Convention and Civic Center.

The Temple Daily Telegram has sponsored the event since 1931 to honor area pioneers, meaning anyone who has lived in the area for more than 50 years.

The Rev. Roscoe Harrison of 8th Street Baptist Church will open the festivities with an invocation and Sam Farrow will once again emcee the event as he has for close to 30 years.

“It’s always a lot of fun,” Farrow said. “You get to reminisce and talk with old friends. A lot of those people you only get to see once a year.”

Tommy Ross and Still Country of Troy have been performing at the celebration for more than 20 years and will take the stage with fiddler Jesse Hamilton of Georgetown.

“We look forward to it every year,” Ross said. “We’re going to have a good time and just play some good old country music.”

Ross and his band are a “family affair” and this year he plans on bringing a few new musicians to the stage.

“I hope to have a few of the grandchildren up there with us,” Ross said.

Local entertainers Madlyon Oppermann and the Texas Rose Band, Shorty Grisham, Fred Fuller and the BellJam Band, Cody Culp and Bruce Mercer will all perform for dancing masses.

Doors open at 8 a.m. with registration for oldest woman and man in attendance, oldest married couple in combined years and person traveling the farthest to attend Pioneer Day.

The dancing kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with Farrow taking the stage and introducing the bands for the day’s events.

In 1931, Temple celebrated its Golden Jubilee with an all-out extravaganza centered on the town square. Since that time, Pioneer Day - the direct descendant of the jubilee - has made its way from the downtown area to the Temple College campus and finally the Mayborn Center. Traditionally, Pioneer Day is celebrated on the Saturday before the anniversary of the founding of the city of Temple - June 29.

The Mayborn Center is at 3303 N. Third St. in Temple. Admission is free and although Pioneer Day honors 50-year residents of the area, everyone is invited to attend.

rrenfrow@temple-telegram.com