ENTERPRISE Mules and mule-skinners from all over the region will gather at Enterprise this weekend Friday, Sept. 7, through Sunday, Sept. 9 for the 32nd annual Hells Canyon Mule Days celebration.

Three full days of mule show events, a three-day quilt show, a non-motorized parade, vendors, a cowboy poetry gathering, a horse and mule show and a Dutch oven cook-off are all part of the family-oriented fun.

Interest is really high. I had 17 calls for information at 9 this morning, said Mule Days president Sondra Lozier Tuesday. Lozier promotes the event, put on by a dedicated corps of volunteers, throughout the year. We even had a gentleman call from Arizona, whos going to drive here for Mule Days, she said.

At least one competitor is coming from Canada, making Mule Days an international event.

Hells Canyon Mule Days was selected for five consecutive years by American Cowboy Magazine as one of the 101 Great Western Events.

The celebration begins at the Wallowa County Fairgrounds at 8:30 a.m. Friday with the opening of the Mule Show driving classes with mule-drawn wagons, followed in the afternoon with trail classes, team roping, races and other events. The show resumes first thing Saturday morning with halter classes, and then again following the parade all Saturday afternoon. Sunday begins with an outdoor church service, followed by the final day of Mule Show events, including the popular packers scramble and the Jump-Off Challenge.

Just before the grand entry at 1 p.m. Saturday, youngsters ages 4 to 9 are encouraged to enter the kids stick mule and boot scramble races for a chance to win ribbons and other awards. There will also be awards for the oldest spectator and the one who has traveled the farthest during the Saturday afternoon show.

The show admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (60 and older) and $2 for children ages 7 through 12; kids 6 years and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. The souvenir admission button is valid for all three days. (Purchase it Friday to realize this full value.)

Grand marshals Grant and Barbara Warnock of Imnaha will lead the big parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, when many of the Mule Days competitors, joined by other riders, teams and other entries, will give everyone a chance to see them in downtown Enterprise. Honorary grand marshals Duke and Rhee Lathrop of Lostine and many grand marshals of past years will also take part.

One other popular parade participant will be Bushwacking Kass (Sheryl Curtis) with her gentle, giant oxen. Kass and her Old World Oxen Living History Company will set up an 1800s-era camp with her oxen, freight wagon and artifacts at the fairgrounds all three days for school children and others to enjoy a hands-on experience of times gone by.

In Cloverleaf Hall more than 100 quilts will be on display during the three-day Hells Canyon Mule Days Quilt Show. A number of quilt shops will be represented at the Merchants Mall with patterns, material, books and much more for quilters and sewers. The quilt show admission is $3, with return privileges all weekend.

Throughout Mule Days vendors, exhibitors and Western artists, including featured artist Bonnie Shields, will be on hand. This year Video Mike of Napa Valley, Calif., will set up his booth next to Shields in the exhibitors barn, and folks will be able to order DVDs of this years Mule Days.

Another popular Mule Days activity is the Max Walker Memorial Cowboy Poetry Gathering, starting at 6 p.m. Friday in the indoor arena. There is no admission fee, but a $5 donation is encouraged to go to the annual Max Walker Memorial Scholarship. Local poets and musicians always put on a great show.

Saturday evening will feature the Jim Probert Memorial Pit BBQ Dinner at 5 p.m., with western music scheduled to entertain the diners, followed by the annual Mule and Horse Sale at 6 p.m. The auction is managed by Intermountain Livestock Inc.; for sale information call 800-824-5298.

Of special interest to mule-skinners will be the free Bill Holmes mule clinic at 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday for tips on training mules.

Local and visiting teams will take part in the Dutch Oven Cook-Off, sanctioned by the International Dutch Oven Society, starting at 9 a.m. Sunday. To enter, the Dutch Oven Cook-off packet is on the Mule Days website. Spectators are encouraged to visit team members and learn pioneer-style cooking in a Dutch oven. For $20 people can sample each teams dishes, vote on the best dish in each category for Peoples Choice awards and receive a cookbook. For more information about Mule Days, visit www.hellscanyonmuledays.com, visit the Mule Days Facebook page or contact Sondra Lozier, 541-426-3271, cell 541-263-0104, toll-free 888-323-3271.

Hells Canyon Mule Days

Wallowa County Fairgrounds

Friday, Sept. 7

9 a.m.    Driving Events of Mule Show

Old World Oxen Living History

Exhibitors, vendors and Western artists

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  HCMD Quilt Show, Cloverleaf Hall

1:00 – 4:00 pm – Trail Class Warm-up Arena

2 p.m. Log pull, mule races & more!

6 p.m. – Max Walker Memorial Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Saturday, Sept. 8  

8 a.m.  Halter and Showmanship

Old World Oxen Living History

Exhibitors, vendors and Western artists

9 a.m. Bill Holmes Mule Clinic

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. HCMD Quilt Show, Cloverleaf Hall

11 a.m. Non-Motorized Parade, downtown Enterprise

12:31 pm   Spectator Kids Events

1 p.m. Grand entry of Mule Show

2:30 p.m. Cowboy Poetry Gathering,  exhibitors barn (open mic)

5 p.m. Jim Probert Memorial Pit BBQ.

6 p.m. Mule and Horse Sale

Sunday, Sept. 9

8 a.m. Cowboy Church. Trails End Ministries

Exhibitors, vendors and Western artists

8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mule Show

Old World Oxen Living History

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Dutch Oven Cook-Off,

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – HCMD Quilt Show

10 a.m. – Bill Holmes Mule Clinic

4 p.m. Show Awards Presentation