Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
A group of local celebreties, including State Representative Terry Nealey, County Commissioner Dwight Robanske and Dayton Mayor Craig George took a ride in a mule wagon during opening ceremonies for last year's Mule Mania.
DAYTON - The Longears return to town this year with an expanded schedule over two weekends. The third annual Mule Mania event starts this weekend with workshops for mule and donkey owners Saturday and Sunday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.
More than 150 mules and their owners - and sev- eral hundred visitors - are expected in town for the nine-day event. All events at Mule Mania are free and open to the public. Except for the downtown parade, all activities will be held at the Columbia County Fair- grounds.
Workshops this weekend include how to show horses and mules, buying and sell- ing equines and cattle herding. They are being offered by Barney and Bobbi Jo Chambers, owners of Coy- ote Mule Company, and co- sponsors of Mule Mania.
On Wednesday, July 17, mule owners are invited to participate in a trail ride in the Blue Mountains, starting at 9 a.m. The third annual Ryder Cup golf tournament will tee off at the Touchet Valley Golf Course at 5:30 p.m.
A huge Western Trapping and Collectible Show will run July 17 - 21 in the Fairgrounds' pavilion and midway area. Vendors will include saddle makers, pack outfitters and metal artists.
A variety of mule and donkey riding and driv- ing competitions will be held in the main arena Wednesday through Saturday.
Friday and Saturday nights, one of the alltime Mule Mania favorites is the Chuck Wagon Dinners. Tickets are $15. For information on the seven chuck wagons that will be serving this year, see the entertainment column on page 11.
On Saturday Morning, July 20, mules and wagons will move to Dayton's Main Street for the annual mule and alumni parade. Dozens of mules, of many sizes and colors, will walk down Main Street, with riders, or pulling carts or wag- ons. Following the Mules, floats created by sev- eral Dayton alumni classes will join the parade. The parade starts at 10 a.m.
On Friday through Sunday Mornings, the Breakfast of Champions - Chuckwagon Break- fast will be held from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
The Cowboy Church service starts at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at the Fairgrounds. On Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., the Mule Mania Old Cowboy Auction and Antique sale will be held in the indoor arena.
Major sponsors of Mule Mania are Columbia REA and Coyote Mule Company, and its owners Barney and Bobbi Jo Chambers.
For a complete schedule and more informa- tion about Mule Mania, see Page 6 or go to www.mulemaniadayton.com.
Reader Comments(0)