They're baaaaack for the 16th year.
With sheep moving through Bayfield this morning, the 16th annual Heritage Day events are underway, starting with the 5K fun run and walk at 8 a.m., sponsored by Bayfield Boy Scout Troop 506.
After the fun run, the sheep herd, owned by the J. Paul Brown family, will come down County Road 501 and head south on the Buck Highway (CR 521) at about 8:30 or 9 a.m. The sheep sometimes have other plans, so these are approximate times. Please stay to the west side of CR 521 and don't bring dogs along the parade route.
Members of the Pine River Valley Rotary Club are selling "Blue Ewe" tickets this year for $5 each or three for $10. One ewe out of the herd will be colored blue, and the winner's ticket will match the number of the ewe for a prize of $500.
The parade on Mill Street will follow the sheep trailing. The Bayfield High School Marching Wolverines, classic cars, antique tractors and lots of local groups and kids are set to participate.
Activities in the park include live music by Coyote Circus and Callie Young and contests for pie-eating, making a toilet paper mummy, corn hole and gummy-worm eating. Southwest Ag will provide pedal cars for kids, and Upper Pine Fire will have a bounce house. Bayfield Realty is sponsoring face painting for kids. The La Plata County Farm Bureau will have an activity creating farm animal masks, and Valley Ranch and Feed is sponsoring a tractor decorating contest. Judging is at 11:30 and the winner will be announced at noon.
Activities in the park will wrap up between 2 and 3 p.m.
Vendor registrations are still available. Spaces cost $35 for a single space or $40 for a double. Forms for vendors, the 5K run and parade entries are available online at www.bayfieldcoheritagedays.org. Heritage Days is organized by volunteers from the the Heritage Society, Bayfield Lions Club and Pine River Centennial Rotary.
