Memorial Day weekend kicks off a season of festivities in Dayton with the annual Dayton Days festivities, followed closely by Mule Mania and All Wheels Weekend.

Dayton Days, May 25

The annual Main Street Dayton Days Parade, sponsored by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, takes place at 10 a.m. on Sat., May 25 and features regional fair court royalty, glitter-speckled horses and decorated floats from across the region. The Dayton Memorial Library is hosting bike decorating sessions for young patrons wishing to participate in the parade. Pick up a permission slip and show up on May 20-24 from 3 p.m. – closing to decorate.

Parade registrations forms are available at the Dayton Chamber office at 166 E.Main or online at https://www.historicdayton.com/dayton-days

Experience the daily life of a Dayton family from the early 1900s. On Sat., May 25 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., the Boldman House Museum at 410 N. First St. in Dayton will demonstrate both old-fashioned chores and old-fashioned fun. Children can plant flowers in the Boldman Garden, do laundry with a tub and washboard, and make rope. They can also make butter, learn about old-time tools, try a reel mower and grind coffee.

Visitors will discover how to cook with cast iron Dutch ovens and, starting around 11:30, there will be peach cobbler to sample. Other museums will also be open to the public on Saturday.

Blue Mountain Station will host its Summer Market Opening, featuring organic vegetables, meats, and now flowers. A chuck wagon lunch will be served from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Station will be open all weekend from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Revelers can rest their feet at the Liberty Theater where Avengers: Endgame will play at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The Dayton Memorial Library will host a variety of events. Stop by the library between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to sign up for the Summer Reading Program and experience Virtual Reality Space Exploration. A Pacific Science Center exhibit will be on display in the Delany Room from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Wenaha Gallery will have artisan treats available and there will be a drawing for a limited-edition print.

Saturday evening wraps up back at the fairgrounds where gates open at 5 p.m. and an action-packed Bar X Rodeo, emceed by Tucker Cool, begins at 7 p.m. Spectators will enjoy bull riding, steer wrestling, bucking broncs, team roping, barrel racing and more. Admission is $10/adults, $8/ages 8-12 and seniors, and 7 and under are free. A beer garden will be available, and the Dayton Kiwanis and Lions clubs will provide concessions.

Rodeo entries opened May 1 and the entry fee is $60. Call (509) 679-1243 or email Barxranches@gmail.com

Following the rodeo, folks 21 and over are invited to the Dayton Eagles to enjoy live music and dancing to Feedback.

Mule Mania

The Mules come to town on June 1-2 for the annual Mule Mania, a family-friendly riding and driving competition featuring free admission and a catered BBQ dinner at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.  

All Wheels Weekend

 Father›s Day Weekend, June 14-16, features Dayton's annual All Wheels Weekend car show.  Hundreds of classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds and new in 2019 - antique tractors – line Dayton's Main Street. Celebrate 25 years of All Wheels Weekend with hot air balloon rides, KidZone, rock climbing wall, live music, classic cruise, demolition derby, outlaw lawn mower drag races, and Classic Show n' Shine with hundreds of trophies.  Finally, enter to win a 1974 International 100 1/2 Ton 4x4 Pickup Truck on June 15th. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, 166 E Main Street Dayton for $10.00.