John Warner
The Real Bird family’s re-enactment of the Battle of the Little Bighorn nears its climax. This photo was taken about 10 years ago during the popular event.
The Custer’s Last Stand Re-enactment and the 21st annual Battle of the Little Bighorn Re-enactment will be featured during the Little Bighorn Days events this Wednesday through Sunday.
Crow Native Days events will be held concurrently at the Crow Agency.
The Custer’s Last Stand Re-enactment, sponsored by the Hardin Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
That event is held just south of Crow Agency and six miles west of Hardin on Old U.S. 87. Tickets are $20 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 6. To order tickets, visit www.custerslaststand.org/tickets.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn Re-enactment was started nearly 20 years ago by the Crow Tribe’s Real Bird family to share more of the Native American story of the Indian Wars. That re-enactment is held on the ground where the tepees of the Indian village were located, between Custer’s Last Stand Hill and Reno-Benteen Battlefield. It will be held at 1 p.m. on June 27-29.
This year marks the 138th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which was fought by 600 U.S. cavalrymen and more than 1,800 warriors of the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahoe nations on June 25, 1876.
The re-enactment is just one of many events that are part of the Little Bighorn Days.
The events begin on Wednesday with a Quilt Show from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Big Horn County Library.
The main event of Thursday’s festivities will be the Grand Ball March starting at 7:30 p.m. and featuring all participants in 1876 attire. The march will end at the Big Horn County fairgrounds where the ball will take place until 10 p.m. Participants in the ball must pay $20 in advance. A light dinner is included.
Special events on Friday include an Old West Youth Parade starting at Hardin’s downtown center at 11 a.m. From 5 to 7 p.m., there will be a pork dinner benefit for the Hardin AAU Wrestling Club. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 6. The location for the dinner will be announced at a later date. There will also be a talent show at 6 p.m. at the Hardin High School Auditorium. Tickets are $6 at the door.
Events on Saturday begin with the Patriots Cancer Challenge 5K Walk. Registration for the event begins at 6 a.m. at the Hardin High School Track. The walk begins at 7 a.m. and the registration fee is $20. The Custer Historic Field Trip takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $55. Call Ted Heath at 329-1315 for more information.
The Little Big Horn Days parade will begins at 10 a.m. on Center Avenue. The John Harder Memorial Firemen’s Fun Day, featuring many family games and free food, will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at Wilson Park. A demolition derby will take place at the fairgrounds at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 6. A Family Fun Night will take place at the 300 block of Center Avenue from 4 to 6 p.m. It will be followed by a street dance at 8 p.m. Bucky Beaver and the Ground Grippers will provide music. Tickets are $5.
Sunday will feature a non-denominational church service at Hardin’s First Congregational Church at 11 a.m.
An Arts and Crafts Fair, a Historic Book Fair and a Quilt Show will be held throughout the Little Bighorn Days.
Crow Native Days will also be taking place June 25-29. A powwow celebration will take place at 7 p.m. June 26-28. More than $10,000 in prize money will be split between the best singers and dancers in various categories. Darrin Old Coyote and Corky Old Horn will be the masters of ceremonies for the events.
The 2014 Crow Native Days Parade will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, June 27. The parade will begin at Gas Cap Hill in Crow Agency. More than $4,000 in prize money will be split between participants with the best costumes and floats in the parade. Call parade manager Destiny Bear Claw at 679-0743 for information.
