Legends and Legacy - Mustang Days ramps up for big weekend

The 2025 Lovell Mustang Days celebration is shifting into high gear with the completion of four events but many more to come.

The Drag Main kickoff car cruise drew many vehicles Friday night on Main Street, and both the Lovell Rod and Gun Club Trap Shoot and Top Gun shoot Monday and Tuesday featured a large number of participants, as did the Mustang Days Cornhole Tournament Tuesday evening.

Legends and Legacy is the theme of the ’25 celebration, based on the Follies theme of the same name, celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the Dollies of the Follies.

The first of two performances of the Mustang Follies was staged Wednesday night, and the second performance is set for Thursday night. With the time having moved up in recent years, the show is beginning another half hour earlier this year with the curtain opening at 7 p.m. at the Hyart Theatre. The Dollies of the Follies and the Mustang Band will play at 6 p.m. in front of the theater. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketor.com/LovellMustangDays if any are left.

The annual car show sponsored by CARS Street Machines will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday on Oregon Avenue from Main to Fifth Street. Contact Les Files at 272-9354 to reserve a spot.

The annual Mustang Breakfast sponsored by North Big Horn Hospital will be held as usual Friday and Saturday morning at the Lovell Fire Hall from 6-10 a.m. Friday and 6-9 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children.

Family Fun Night

The annual Family Fun Night is moving to Armory Park this year, running from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, with check-in at 5 p.m. Games and booths will line the new walking path, and inflatables will be set up in the softball field outfield. Live entertainment will be featured throughout the evening at the new amphitheater.

Unlimited activity wristbands will cost $5 each, and individual game tickets are 25 cents each. There will be no food tickets sold this year, but food trucks will be on site.

Friday also includes the rodeo Calcutta at 8 p.m. at the Diamond J Bar and the teen dance from 9 to midnight at the Lovell Middle School gym.

There will be no street dance and ice cream social this year.

Saturday fun

 Most Saturday events are business as usual. The fun run, sponsored by Club Dauntless, begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Bank of Lovell ($10 entry fee) with registration beginning at 7 a.m. Both a 5K run and a mile run/walk will be held.

The Rose Parade, sponsored by Lovell Rec., begins at 10 a.m. with lineup in the high school parking lot starting at 9. Call or text Henley at 307-250-0892 to register.

This year’s grand marshals are all of the Dollies of the Follies, past and present, and anyone who danced with the group is encouraged to ride in the parade. Contact Jody Lynne Bassett at 307-921-8222 or Kristine Henley at 307-250-0892 to confirm.

Tri-Mountain View Masonic Lodge No. 35 will serve a hamburger/hot dog lunch at the chamber of commerce building starting at 11 a.m., with funds raised going to purchase bicycles for top readers at Lovell and Rocky Mountain elementary schools.

Afternoon activities include the co-ed volleyball tournament sponsored by Lovell Rec at 1 p.m. at the Armory Park softball field. There is a $60 entry fee for each team, and registration can be completed online at www.lovellrecandboces.com. Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m.

Also starting at 1 p.m. is the Mustang Days Golf Tournament, sponsored by Midway Construction and Dirt Work, at the Foster Gulch Golf Course. Register any time at the clubhouse.

The slack rodeo starts action at the Lovell Rodeo Grounds at 2 p.m., followed by the main event at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids, and a concert featuring Justin Baxter follows the rodeo and is included in the price of admission.

The Pyro Music Fireworks display begins at dusk at the Lovell Middle School grass field. Box seats may be reserved at www.ticketor.com/LovellMustangDays.

Queen Bee will hold taste testing all week, and the Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a Mustang Days Downtown Roundup event from June 20-30 with three shoppers winning $100 each in chamber bucks. Register via cans placed in participating stores.