(Shoshoni, WY) – The third annual Shoshoni Senior Center Street Fair fundraiser held on September 6 once again raised funds for the center, while also providing fun, food, and entertainment for the whole family.
Delicious food (donated/discounted by Shamrock Foods), foam parties, vendors, games, prizes, and live music were just some of the things folks got to enjoy at the Fair.
Volunteers serving up some grub at the 2025 Shoshoni Street Fair. Folks try their luck with some of the games to win various prizes, all of which were donated by vendors and locals. Folks try their luck with some of the games to win various prizes, all of which were donated by vendors and locals. Prizes. Folks check out a vendor booth. Dancing in the sun. Cooper wasn’t so sure about this reporter guy taking his pic… Foam party. Foam Party. Rhiannon Neale, daughter of Senior Center Director Rykki Neale, kept folks entertained with her beautiful voice while singing covers of pop/rock hits.
One of the most popular activities was the Senior Advice Tent, which had a sign that read “Advice from Seniors: It might not be good advice, but it is FREE!”
The Shoshoni Senior Cener sure has a good sense of humor! Shoshoni icon Lois Herbst was one of the seniors giving out advice at the 2025 Shoshoni Street Fair. “We should be more aware of everything that’s happening in our top level of government,” Herbst shared after talking about the importance of staying informed, but while also not soaking up too much news. “There’s too much news in a sense, and not enough good news for people who don’t want to spend a full day finding out what the most important news is.” Herbst thanked her daughter for helping her sift through all of the news that comes her way. She also noted how refreshing it was to see how “confident” all of the “nice, busy kids” were at the fair.
Jeannie Kroenke, the Center’s Assistant Director, spoke with County 10 and shared that the Senior Center used to do a prime rib dinner as its main fundraiser, but they switched to the Street Fair so it could be something the whole family would enjoy.
“We want to have good events for everybody. I mean, we’re the Senior Center, but honestly, we’re more of a community center, so we want this to be a positive experience for the entire community,” Kroenke commented. “It’s not just for the Senior Center, it’s for the community of Shoshoni.”
Kroenke added that they hope fun events like the Street Fair will lead to more participation from the younger seniors who tend to shy away because they perceive the Center as a “nursing home,” which Kroenke stated is “not the case.”
“We want to get awareness of the services we do provide because, unfortunately, a lot of (seniors), by the time they come to us, they’re already beyond our scope of services. That’s where we want our younger seniors to come in and have fun.”
The communal spirit was infectious, and spread to volunteers like Debra Williams, who beamed when she got to share that the crafts for sale on the table in front of her were all handmade by the seniors at the Center.
“I absolutely love this center and I love the atmosphere, I love the people,” Williams told County 10. “I love how they incorporate the entire community. It’s just not seniors. I love it. They’re just incredibly warm and welcoming.”
She also gave big shoutout to her son, Leonard, who helped give out water from his wagon during the Fair.
Williams added that she spoke with visitors from Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, and North Dakota, as well as Wyoming out-of-towners from Thermopolis, Casper, Lander, Pavillion, and Kinnear, all of whom stopped by to see what was happening in good old Shoshoni.
Folks who missed out fret not; Kroenke said that the Street Fair will return next year. Until then, you can stay up-to-date with happenings at the Senior Center on its Facebook page.