Pioneer Day this weekend: Cowley to celebrate ‘Reflections of the Past’

Now it’s Cowley’s turn.

The third of north Big Horn County’s summer festivals will take place in Cowley this weekend, July 19-20, with the annual Pioneer Day festivities.

Reflections of the Past will be the theme of the 2024 celebration, according to Pioneer Day committee member Kary Lewis, with a few new wrinkles thrown into the event this year.

The celebration begins Friday evening with a Cornhole in the Park event along with Pickleball in the Log Gym. Each activity starts at 6 p.m.

Teams may sign up for cornhole on the Scoreholio app for $20 per team, and the pickleball event at the log gym is being run pickup style from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants should bring their own paddles.

Later that evening, a family music and kickoff gathering will be held at the park featuring the Cowley Boys with Division Street closed to vehicle traffic from Main to First Street North. The Family Music event begins at 8 p.m. and continues until 10 p.m. Organizers are requesting that no alcohol be brought to the park.

New to the Friday lineup is a Teen Luau Dance from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at the Cowley Community Center and new town hall, sponsored by GK Construction.

Saturday schedule

The Saturday Pioneer Day schedule begins with the fun run at 7 a.m. featuring both a 5K and a mile run. There is a $10 entry fee, with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. on the church lawn. The race begins and ends on Main Street in front of the church.

Call Charlie Monk for more information at 307-272-3810.

The second-year pancake breakfast will be held at the town park pavilion from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tickets for the Pioneer Day fundraiser are $5 for adults and children. Pancakes, eggs, ham and juice will be offered.

Parades are up next, with the kiddie parade at 9:30 a.m. Participants will line up at town hall at 9:15 a.m. No motorized vehicles will be allowed.

The main Pioneer Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. with lineup at 9 a.m. at the city and county shop buildings on the west edge of town. To enter, call Janeen Blackburn at 307-254-1332.

The annual Pioneer Heritage Program follows the parade at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with word and music honoring the pioneers. Everyone is invited.

In the same vein, a self-guided historic home tour will be offered throughout the day. Pick up a brochure and map at the Cowley Heritage Center (old town hall) to see the homes built between 1900 and 1910.

Fun in the Park

The popular Fun in the Park event begins immediately after the parade featuring food vendors until 5 p.m., craft vendors until 4 p.m. and kids races in the park for ages 3 and up. Inflatables will open at 12:30 p.m. and be offered until 5 p.m.

Interested food vendors may call Mitch Kinser to make arrangements at 909-553-4607. Craft vendors may call Stacey Tippetts at 562-243-9905.

The annual Pioneer Day volleyball tournament begins at noon in the park. The registration fee is $60 per team, and teams may be entered by calling Natalie Collins at 307-760-1557.

A horseshoes tournament follows at 2 p.m. in the park. There is no entry fee, and no experience is required.

Also at 2 p.m. is the Pioneer Day Rodeo. Call Melissa Timpany at 307-254-9616 for more information. The Calcutta will be held Friday, July 19, at the Bull Pub at 8 p.m. The slack events precede the rodeo at noon Saturday.

Tickets for the rodeo are $10 for attendees age 13 and up and $5 for kids 7-12. Kids 6 and under are free.

The evening will bring the annual variety show at the Cowley Community Center at 7 p.m. Call Ray Peterson to enter at 272-9705.

An ice cream social will follow the variety show at 8:30 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Middle/High School back patio. Fireworks will begin at dusk near the Rocky Mountain football field, choreographed by Caleb and Joshua Sanders.