Excellent weather has been the highlight of the Mustang Days celebration so far, with balmy and mostly calm weather greeting boaters and swimmers at Horseshoe Bend Saturday and even the Music in the Park event Monday night enjoying a calm, beautiful evening.


The “New Look” Mustang Days celebration for 2008 began Saturday with the Big Horn Lake celebration and will wrap up Saturday with a whirlwind of activity.


The slimmed-down Big Horn Lake Celebration Saturday saw a steady stream of people throughout the day as hundreds turned out for the free boat rides and also enjoyed good food, the company of family and friends and playing at the Horseshoe Bend swimming beach.


“We gave more than 900 rides – almost double last year – and we had 15 boats participating,” Friends of Bighorn Lake Board President Bob Croft said. “The cost of fuel in their volunteer effort was a big item. Some of those boats cost more than $200 to fill.


“We had more than 50 helpers involved during the day. Our shuttle drivers were going all day long as fast as they could go.”


Croft said he would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped, as well as the government agencies who participated including the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the National Park Service, the Sheriff’s Office, Big Horn County Search and Rescue and the North Big Horn Hospital Ambulance Service.


“It was great to have acting superintendent (of Bighorn Canyon NRA) Sande McDermott and John Keck there almost all day mingling with folks,” Croft said.


Croft said Friends volunteers counted more than 560 vehicles at Horseshoe Bend Saturday, not counting volunteers and those who were participating in a bass tournament at Barry’s Landing.


“The beach was busy with more than 200 adults and children continuously playing as visitors changed throughout the day,” Croft said. “There was a constant flow of folks coming. They just kept coming. The number of private boats actually out on the lake was many more times than last year.


“We were very pleased with how it went. To see the excitement on people’s faces as they came back from the boat rides… They were pumped up, especially the younger kids. Thanks to all the people for coming and for all the volunteers seen and unseen who did things for the event.”


Lisa Dickerson, the new operator of the Horseshoe Bend Marina, agreed the Big Horn Lake Celebration was well attended, saying the marina had a steady flow of customers throughout the day.


“Everybody had a good time,” she said. “I think they enjoyed the free boat rides and everything we had to offer. It was a beautiful day, and I’m glad to see people come out and enjoy the lake.”


The marina offered free tube rentals and free use of the water trampoline during the festivities.


“I love it,” Dickerson said of working at the lake. “It’s good to be out at the lake. It’s good to see water. I like to see people using and enjoying the lake.”


Dickerson said credit cards will be able to be used at the marina starting this weekend. As long as the weather and the business holds, the marina will be open every day from about 11 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m.


“We’re still playing it by ear,” she said.

Also enjoying calm, balmy weather Monday night was the Music in the Park event. Bret Savage and The Rewinders played to a good crowd of music lovers relaxing in the park. Some danced, and some even barbecued during the event at Constitution Park.


The first show of the Mustang Follies also took place Tuesday night witgh the many attendees enjoying the singing, dancing and comedy acts.


As the celebration kicks into high gear this week, people are reminded of the several changes in the schedule this year.


The biggest change for this year is that the Mustang Days fireworks show at Horseshoe Bend, traditionally the event that caps the big week on Sunday night, has been moved to Saturday night as the culmination of a “Saturday at the Lake” event that will include a volleyball tournament at 1 p.m., live music by the Rewinders at 6 p.m. and the fireworks at dusk.


Moving the fireworks to Saturday night has meant the end of the all-class reunion, and the Friday night Family Fun Night has also been dropped from the lineup.


“We want to encourage families to enjoy the lake Saturday so they can be there for the fireworks,” Mustang Days Co-Chairman Linda Morrison said. “We want to give our volunteers a break.”


Also dropped from the schedule for 2008 was the kiddie parade. The Strong Tree Clinic Stretcher Run and the Lovell Chronicle Ugly Truck Contest also took a hiatus this year, but could return in the future.


The Mustang Days Golf Tournament has been moved to Friday, June 27, with a check-in time of 10:30 a.m. and a tee-off time of 11 a.m. Also moving to Friday is the Teen Roundup at Constitution Park, which had been a Saturday night event.


Minor changes include cutting the Saturday Mustang Breakfast off at 9 a.m. so law enforcement officials can get ready for the parade and moving the rodeo up two hours to 2 p.m. on Saturday.


Here is the remaining lineup for Mustang Days 2008:
Thursday, June 26: Artists’ Market, Lovell Recreation Building on Main Street, 4-9 p.m. Artist workshop at 1 p.m.


--Annual Pindroppers Quilt Show, Lovell Elementary School cafeteria, 5-9 p.m.


--Mustang Follies at the Hyart, 8 p.m. Dollies of the Follies and Mustang Band on Main Street, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 27: Mustang Breakfast, Lovell Fire Hall, 6-10 a.m.


-- Artists’ Market, Lovell Recreation Building on Main Street, 4-9 p.m. Artist workshop at 1 p.m.


--Pindroppers Quilt Show, Lovell Elementary School cafeteria, 12-9 p.m.


--Golf Tournament, Foster Gulch, 11 a.m., check in at 10:30.


--Rodeo Calcutta, Diamond J Bar, 8 p.m.


--Ice cream social featuring the Cowley Boys, Minchow’s Food Court, 8:30 p.m.


--Teen Roundup, Constitution Park, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.


Saturday, June 28: Mustang Breakfast, Fire Hall, 6-9 a.m.


--Ralph Robertson Memorial Fun Run, Lane 13 in front of the cemetery, 7 a.m., check in 6-6:30 a.m.


--Rose Parade, Main Street, 11 a.m.


--Mustang Barbecue, Walker’s Service Center, after the parade.


--Pindroppers Quilt Show, Lovell Elementary School cafeteria, 12-4 p.m. Raffle at 3 p.m.


--Lions Club Duck Race, behind Karen for Plants, 2 p.m.


--Mustang Rodeo, Lovell Rodeo Grounds, 2 p.m.


--Saturday at the Lake, Horseshoe Bend:


    • Volleyball tournament, 1 p.m.
    • Music by the Rewinders, 6-9:30 p.m.
    • Fireworks sponsored by the Lovell Volunteer Fire Dept., dusk.


Sunday, June 29: Demolition Derby sponsored by the North Big Horn County Search and Rescue Squad, Lovell Rodeo Grounds, 1 p.m.