Plenty to do during Fourth of July holiday
By Leslie Stratmoen
Staff Writer

“To be or not to be?” — clamoring to see classic cars, watching wild west cowboys, dancing until dawn or feasting your eyes on fireworks.
That is the question befalling the folks of Fremont County as Independence Day approaches.
The night skies will be resplendent with fireworks shows, all presented at dusk, with the first launching Wednesday night, July 2, at the Ron Saban baseball complex off Smith Road in Riverton as part of the Riverton Little League season finale. Admission is free.
Coming up next are fireworks shows in both Pavillion and Lander, scheduled for Thursday night, July 3.
Pavillion’s fireworks show is part of the town’s old fashioned Fourth of July celebration which includes a barbecue, auction and dance. Events begin at 5 p.m. at the Pavilion Recreation Center. The dinner is $4 for adults and $3 for children. The Black Canyon Band will start playing at 9 p.m. The event is presented by the Pavillion Fire Department, Wind River Recreation Board and Town of Pavillion.
Two fireworks shows are planned for Lander. Thursday night’s show will be presented by local doctor Brent Bills, whose fireworks display choreographed to music launched from his home along Sinks Canyon Road has gained countywide attention. The event is open to the public at no charge, with the simple request that visitors pick up their trash.
Refreshments will be served across Sinks Canyon Road from the fireworks display and include hot dogs, nachos and drinks sold by volunteers from the Care and Share Food Bank of Faith Lutheran Church.
Lander’s second fireworks show, scheduled for July 4 at the Lander Rodeo Grounds is presented as part of the Lander Pioneer Days celebration.
Billed as the “granddaddy” of all Wyoming rodeos as it marks its 114th year of existence, the event begins each night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 3-4, at the rodeo grounds on Buena Vista Drive. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children at the gate. Also on July 4 in Lander, there will be a Lander Half Marathon run/walk beginning at 6 a.m. in Centennial Park, a pancake breakfast served from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Lander Senior Center on South 10th Street, a Pageant of the Old West Parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street and the Rotary Club Buffalo Barbecue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Park. Cost of the pancake breakfast is $5 for adults and $4 for children, and $7 will be charged for the barbecue.
Fireworks also can be seen on the Fourth of July over the mountains of Dubois along the Scenic Overlook on Highway 26.
The Dubois fireworks display will be the culmination of a full day of events that include the following: 10 a.m., Kiwanis Kids Day in Town Park; 1 p.m., parade on Ramshorn Street; 3 p.m., rubber ducky races at Horse Creek Bridge; and 4 p.m., rodeo at the Clarence Allison Arena on Highway 26. Additionally, live entertainment will be presented by country singer Bob Stevens at the Rustic Pine, also on Highway 26, starting at 9 p.m.
All the Dubois Fourth of July events are free, with the exception of the music event at the Rustic Pine.
Another event also has been planned in Dubois prior to the July 4. A 15th birthday party featuring a free bratwurst luncheon will be at noon on Thursday, July 3, at the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center at 907 W. Ramshorn.
Answering the age-old question “To be or not to be?” will be the Wyoming Shakespeare Co. as the group presents “King John” as a precursor to the Lander Pioneer Days events. The performance is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at Lander City Park. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
Also, prior to Independence Day, a community business celebration will be in Lander on Thursday, July 3, that features a car show, dancing, children’s games, and refreshments. The event will be from 5 p.m. to midnight at the Wildflour Bakery parking lot at Fifth and Main streets.
Another celebration happening over the Fourth of July weekend involves a gathering of mountain men and their cohorts for the 1838 Rendezvous along the Wind River in Riverton. Opening ceremony, to which the public is welcome, will be the evening of Wednesday, July 2. Campers will be in the area throughout the weekend participating in frontier games and events, much of which is open to the public. Typically, an events sign is posted at the entrance of the campgrounds.