Cowley to celebrate Pioneer Day next weekend, July 18-19

Following on the heels of Byron Days, the third of North Big Horn County’s summer festivals will take place in Cowley next weekend, July 18-19.

Our Heritage Through Sacrifice will be the theme of the 2025 Pioneer Day celebration, according to Pioneer Day board member Ray Peterson, with most events returning after some changes last year.

According to Peterson, 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. Food trucks will begin to gather Friday, he said, and will be on hand throughout Saturday.

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 may just show up and should bring their own paddles.

Later that evening, a family music and kickoff gathering will be held at the park featuring the Cowley Boys. 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.

A Teen Decades Dance will take place from 9 to 11:30 p.m. at the Cowley Community Center, sponsored by GK Construction. The dance is for teens age 14-18. There is a $2 entry fee.

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

The Cowley Heritage Center and Museum will open at 9 a.m. and remain open until 4 p.m. Visitors can see new acquisitions, and a scavenger hunt activity will be offered. The former Cowley lockup cell will be offered as a photo op.

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

Parades are up next, with the kiddie parade at 9:30 a.m. Participants will line up at the heritage center 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.

Fun in the Park

The popular Fun in the Park event begins immediately after the parade featuring food and craft vendors until 5 p.m. and kids races in the park for ages 3 and up. Inflatables will open at noon and be offered until 5 p.m. with a $5 wristband for each child. A dunk tank will be in place at $1 for three throws.

Interested food vendors may call Mitch Kinser to make arrangements at 307-388-9871. 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.

The Cowley pool will offer free swimming from 1 to 4 p.m.

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 to enter. Entries will be accepted Friday, July 11, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Calcutta will be held Friday, July 18, 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 and their hobbyist group Pyro Up Wyoming.