The Bisbee 1000 Great Stair Climb, October 18th, 2025

Now executed by Wick Communications, the Bisbee 1000 is actually 1034 stairs of climbing (or running. There are all different ranges of age and ability winning their own medals) totaling 4.5 miles with connecting streets factored in. And Bisbee being an art town, you will soon learn how the arts have come to play a role in the Great Climb, too. The stair race features 9 of Old Bisbee’s historic WPA stairways, often connected by some of Old Bisbee’s narrow old-world like streets. These stairs follow downward paths first carved by mules traversed by miners, their families, and the builders of homes, gardens and firefighting on the Mule Mountain hillsides. Later, in the mid-1930’s, the Work Projects Administration (WPA) put men back to work during the Great Depression building these stairs, and oversaw the building of the them over those same hollowed mule paths. You can still often see the WPA stamp imprinted into the extremely well made concrete as if not too many years ago. Still, since that was 1936 in most cases (staircases and more — see if you can find the old reservoir,) any monies raised from The 1000 put to renovation, are appreciated.

Other local causes are also funded, originally begun by The 1000’s colonial force Cynthia Conroy, (who I hear soon will be opening a new venture in Warren.) The first 1000 was held in October 1990, and by virtue of word of mouth it drew around 200 people. Each year it grew at a rate that took everyone by surprise, and so it was eventually limited to 1,500 participants. In 2012, The 1000 was officially designated as an Arizona Centennial Event, “joining the other featured listings in the Arizona Highways Centennial Edition. In that same year, the Bisbee 1000 received the prestigious Governor’s Tourism Award for Special Events in a Rural Area.”

But like I said, Bisbee is an art town, so The 1000’s homeostatic system was always bound to resound with creative happenings from beginning to end, with one flourish after another. OVER 11 INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS WILL PERFORM LIVE THROUGHOUT THE BISBEE 1000.  Nine of those musicians will perform at the entry to each stairway, 1-9. Also at the base of each stair way is a numerical mural painted by Bisbee artist Judy Perry, letting you know which one you’re at, and how high. Along the way you will also see murals by everyone from internationally know Muck Rock or Carolyn Toronto, who along with Judy Perry also painted murals in the parking lot by the “Bisbee Convention Center” where The 1000 also holds court at the Bisbee Coffee Company.

Nancy Weaver’s Swing Quartet will be playing there later on because you must stroll through Old Bisbee from high to low, exploring the contemporary art galleries, the imaginative drinking and dining venues where you will experience more unique live music, and be sure to explore the many very unique retailers of often locally designed clothing, apparel, and other boutique, and sometimes up-cycled vintage, visionary delights. See my Strange Beauty blogs on this website to learn more about some of them, and why Bisbee is such a value driven market for original art and design clothing.

As to The 1000 show at the Bisbee Coffee Company, the Nancy Weaver Quartet includes Nancy Weaver on guitar and voice, Holly Whitman on flute,  Evan Hubbard on both bass and saxophone, and Brian Mullins on mandolin (you must also see his exotic museum of musical instruments at the 40 Main Street Gallery just up the street.) The other musicians along The 1000 are at stairway #1 Darrell Thompson; Christa Leigh at the top of #2; Todd Inglass at the bottom of #3; and Chuck Andrews performs at the bottom of #4; Holly Whitman will perform at the top of #5; with John Hidalgo at the bottom of #6; and no other than the great Melissa Reeves at the top of #7, and then flamenco guitarist Robert Longley(unless he plugs in electric, look out!) at the bottom of #8,  and finally Kurt Legnon performs at the bottom of #9. But that’s not all, Lamont Arthur plays at the Finish Line in Higgins Park while Pepsi hands out water to the racers.

As challenging as the course is, the Bisbee 1000 attracts a most diverse group of participants, from children age 7 up to adults in their 80s, and people of many fitness and ability levels. Some are serious competitors out for a win, some for a brisk jaunt, and still others simply want to stroll and enjoy the spectacular views. In Bisbee style, many dress in outrageous or original clothing, normatively decadent costumes, as well as the uniforms of our age, such as firefighters dressed in full firefighting turnout gear (despite temperatures that often hit 80+ degrees F). Although the Bisbee 1000 is its own cause célèbre, it has also been the setting for family reunions, school reunions, company team competitions, birthdays, and, perhaps on the sly, a few win/win wedding proposals.

A new event this year will be a special art show at the new art gallery Chimera27 themed to the Stair Climb. In one of the coolest spaces in Bisbee, the gallery will be hosting “The Shoe Must Go On,” a themed art exhibition in honor of The 1000, and there will be an opportunity for story telling to go along with the artworks, a reception with refreshments from 5-7, with a performance from 7-8pm by The Bisbee Poetry Normalization Project featuring artist Dylan Morgan on cello (while he plays keyboard with his feet,) David Alexander McDonald on electronic music, and myself Ken Boe on poetry. We also will be featuring a surprise collaborator in our performance on one of the balconies. Contact them if interested in contributing an artwork and short short story to this show.

The list of participants, sponsors, and things going on directly or indirectly is too long to list, but some I am able to mention are the Cochise College Men’s Basketball Team who will be setting up the start line, and handing out water at the water stations on the course. Cochise College Nurses will be throughout the course to help assist, and call 911 if anyone who needs help during the race. Bisbee Cheer will be at the finish line in Higgins Park handing out medals and Bisbee Cross Country will be at the finish line handing out bags, ‘cause you’ve got to have swag! B Active will be helping with their golf cart with anything access we need around the course. St Patrick Church will be selling breakfast burritos by the start line beginning at 7am. Old Bisbee Brewing Company will be serving beer at the finish line, also in Higgins Park, and they will have a Bisbee 1000 store at the finish line.

Here is the schedule, and keep this article open on a tab to access maps:

 Saturday 7:00 – 8:45 am

CHECK-IN BIB NUMBER & T-SHIRT PICKUP Only registrants may pick up their own packet in person. Be an early bird and arrive by 6:30 am for easy parking and short lines. Breakfast available at St. Patrick’s Parish Church Hall 100 Quality Hill Rd. Eat a burrito and relax before the run!

 7:00 am

FOOD! at St. Patricks Parish Hall next to check-in and porta-potties.

 7:00 am – 1:00 pm

Shop the Bisbee 1000 Souvenir Store at Higgins Hill Park, the official finish line venue (see maps).

 7:00 am – 9:00 am

OFFICIAL 2025 SHIRT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE at check-in.

 8:50 am

CALL TO CORRALS Must be in numbered corrals by 8:55 am.

 9:00 am

BISBEE 1000 EVENT START Staggered Wave Starts (1 min.). The event is chip timed. Results based on your personal net time, not on horn time! (i.e. when you cross the electronic sensor mat). Each wave released with gun 9am-9:20am.

 9:30 am-11:30 am

DEMONSTRATIONS Pickleball and Fitness Court will be open with instructors present. Please come and enjoy!

 9:30 am – 1:00 pm

FOOD & BEVERAGES Food and beverages available for purchase, beer available for purchase for 21 years and older.

 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

AWARDS CEREMONY at Higgins Hill Park Venue. Sponsor Trophies and Awards, Costume Contest, Overall and Age Group Awards.

 1:00 pm Onward: Head on down Tombstone Canyon/Main Street to parking behind the Bisbee Coffee Company/Convention Center areas and EXPLORE BISBEE! Or head up to the Artimezia Foundation contemporary art museum above Garfield Park, just over from the WPA Pump Station and stairs to the WPA Reservoir, two beautiful and outstanding Bisbee attractions

Thank you for reading another installment of Ken Boe’s arts and creativity blog Strange Beauty.

Ken Boe is a Bisbee artist, writer, teacher and community arts activist. Support his work at

patreon.com/kenboe including his Poem At Night series, his new blogs and videos, and his soon to be relaunched Bisbee Poetry Normalization Project (#BPNP) infamously normalizing a presence of poetry all over Bisbee, and beyond. Find a poem on an old telegraph or telephone pole, in a shop window, or on a bulletin board. You may see where to get his artwork locally at kenboe.com, or buy directly by scrolling down at the online artfarmiowa.com/store where he held a residency summer of 2024. He also has a large exhibition of his large “whip paintings” at The Lyric Soda Fountain and Gallery in Miami AZ where he was a founder of the Miami Loco Arts Festival in 2009. See his work there at the Miami Art Works Gallery, as well, also in the 500 block of W. Sullivan Street. (Please note, they have been devastated by a flash flood and storms. Please find them on GoFundMe if you are able to help them out.)