By Ernie Over, WyoToday
It’s that time of year again when a few “Tip of the Hat” recognitions are in order. As we’ve transitioned from winter and springs sports to summer, there are quite a few folks behind the scenes that make our summer events possible.
With the just concluded Wyoming State Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament in Lander, hats off to Kelly Rees of Lander for her work organizing and running the tournament. The games went off as planned with nary a glitch and she was a great help to our Travis Gupton, who called every game of the tournament on WyoTodayYouTube’s channel. That was 16 games in four days! And it could not have worked out any better. The Lander Lobos scored a walk-off win over Casper to advance to the State Championship game, which they then won over defending champ Cheyenne’s Coyotes. Good job boys! It was Lander’s second state title in the past three years, and to have it happen in front of the home fans was a bonus.
Hats Off today to Pavillion Mayor Matt Pattison and to Christine Pattison, who serves on the town’s Events Committee. Mayor Matt worked hard in Fremont County’s smallest municipality to breathe some new life into P-ville’s Third of July Celebration. This year there will be a parade through town at 1 p.m., games in the town park from 2-4 p.m. including horseshoes, free ice-cream and pie a classic car show and kid games. At 5 pm the event moves to the Recreation center building where a BBQ, live music and more activities are planned prior to the big fireworks show at dusk. All proceeds from the day will go to the Pavillion Fire Battalion to help fund next year’s fireworks and such.
Hudson already had “Hudson Daze” with a car show and its big celebration in its downtown park with vendors, music, food, and crafts. Congrats to Mayor Jim Anderson and his crew who put it all together.
Again, this year, Shoshoni Days was a fun time with a pancake breakfast, bake sales, a BBQ dinner, 3-on-3 basketball, and music. It’s held in connection with the Wind River Flywheelers Antique Engine and Tractor Show, which always enjoys a big crowd. There was a craft show at the Rec District Building to boot.
The Eastern Shoshoni Tribe’s 62nd annual Indian Days was a spectacular success with some 700 participants at the Fort Washakie event from around the West. The event also included a hand game tournament, Indian Relay Races, the huge Powwow, and lots of music from the drums and singers.
Starting this week is the 1838 Rendezvous Mountain Man Rendezvous at the Rendezvous site near the Big Bend Ponds in Riverton with musket shoots, tomahawk throws, a nightly council fire, historical programs, a trader’s row and more.
Coming up now are the big holiday celebrations in Dubois and Lander with parades, BBQs, Fireworks, and rodeos.
After the 4th weekend, there’s the South Pass City State Historic Site’s Gold Rush Days with gold panning, live music, Pony Express and Stagecoach Rides, Vintage Base Ball tournament, mine tours, the hourly anvil blast, and other fun things to do in the cool higher elevation town.
Riverton’s Happy Days, the Riverton Rendezvous Hot Air Balloon Rally and Rocky Mountain Rebels car show up at CWC follow that. A balloon glow and fireworks from Sunset Park, The Friday Night Cruise, downtown food vendors, live music and, of course, classic cars.
And coming up in July, the Fremont County Fair and Rodeo.
Ongoing events include the Hot Notes Cool Nights alternating at the Riverton and Lander City Parks, the Northern Arapaho Experience at the Wind River Casino, Weekly Indian Dancing at the Pioneer Museum and Museum of the American West in Lander, and much more.
Clip our events listing from the papers and enjoy what the community has to offer this summer.
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Ernie Over is an employee owner and the news director of the five-station Wind River Radio Network in Fremont and Hot Springs counties, the editor of Wyotoday.com’s local news Internet site, and a staff member of The Ranger, Lander Journal and Wind River News