BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival canceled

WORLAND — While Ten Sleep continues to finalize plans for their Fourth of July celebration, other events this summer have been canceled due to concerns and the impact of COVID-19.

The latest cancellation was the 2020 Wyoming BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival originally scheduled for Aug. 13-15 at the Washakie County fairgrounds.

Committee member Val Busch said, “We are all pretty sad that it came to this, but the safety of our state and community was our major concern.” 

Other events in Washakie County that have been canceled include CultureFest and the Eagles Demolition Derby this month.

FOURTH AND FAIR STILL ON

The Ten Sleep Fourth of July festivities are moving forward with a rodeo at 5 p.m. on July 3 and the main rodeo at 1:30 p.m. July 4. The parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4 with craft show afterward in the park.

The Washakie County Fair will be held as scheduled with events starting July 25 and continuing July 27-Aug. 1.

Nowoodstock organizer Pat O’Brien said he would be making a determination on the 20th annual music festival after the Fourth of July.

In Thermopolis, the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors have made the difficult decision late last week to cancel the annual Thermopolis Demolition Derby scheduled for Aug. 8.  

“We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our drivers and spectators.  But we know it is the right decision based on the information we have today.  We look forward to making the next year’s Thermopolis Demolition Derby stronger so mark your calendars for Saturday, August 14, 2021,” Chamber Executive Director Meri Ann Rush said in a prepared statement.

Other events that have been cancelled this summer in Thermopolis are the Thermopolis Brewfest, Sounds of Summer, Hot Spot Car Rally, Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo, the Hot Springs County School District All-Class Reunion, the Annual Chamber Banquet, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Banquet and Friends of the NRA Banquet.

The Hot Springs County Fair is still moving forward in Thermopolis as scheduled with the horse show July 25 and the rest of fair events, July 27-31.