The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—It’ll be ropes and rawhide again when the Dayton Days-Columbia County Fair Association Rodeo kicks off the summer season and comes to town for two days of rip-roarin’ cowboy and cowgirl action Memorial Day weekend, May 26 and 27 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.

The show starts Friday evening at 6 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Outdoor Arena in front of the covered grandstand, with gates opening two hours ahead of each show giving rodeo goers ample opportunity to visit any of the six food vendors or three merchandise vendors.

Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and youth, and youngsters seven and under are free. Tickets will be sold at the gate or advance purchase at daytondays.net or Eventbrite.com.

On Saturday, gather downtown along Main Street for the Dayton Days Parade, sponsored by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. The beautiful procession comes down Main Street beginning at 10 a.m. It features royal courts from area fairs and rodeos, floats, clowns, police cars, fire trucks, and other colorful entries showcasing the Dayton, Columbia County community and environs.

There promises to be plenty of rodeo action, with 24 bronc riders signed up and more on a waiting list from stock contractors Bar X Ranches, LLC and Shamrock Rodeo, LLC. There’ll be plenty of ridin’ and ropin’ action with crowd-favorite events such as breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding, tie-down roping, chute dogging, and steer riding.

Two drill teams will perform, the Walla Walla Wagonettes and the Walla Walla Cowboy Church Drill Team. Planning to stay for two days? Full-service RV spots are available. Call 509-382-2221 for a reservation.