Lilac Days coming this weekend

Music, food, games, babies and ribbon cutting slated in Basin

The Friday night events for the annual Lilac Days will be rocking with a free concert featuring the Man in Tan, food, a ribbon cutting and the sealing of a time capsule. Food will be available for purchase starting at 5:30 p.m. from Up in Smoke BBQ & Smokin Good Cream Cheese. Dirty sodas from EJD’s Creative Sips, too.  

One of the highlights of the event is the ribbon cutting of the Basin mural. That will happen at 6 p.m. at the future home of Basin Heritage Commons (southeast corner of Fourth and C streets) The mural features historic and current elements including school mascots, the Riverside Rebel and the Basin Bobcat, art from local petroglyphs, wagon trains, crops and wildlife and a combine.  Basin Town Council and Basin Beautification member Linda Weeks believes the mural is a great anchor for the downtown and is yet another project the beautification committee has done including the clean-up of Russell Park and Welcome to Basin sign. She also noted that the mural was a collaboration with the Basin Area Chamber and the South Big Horn County Water District. Weeks said it couldn’t have happened with the financial supporters: Wyoming Community Foundation, Big Horn REA, Basin Area Chamber, Town of Basin, TCT, UW Extension, Gottsche, CJ Duncan, Ellison/Greene Family, and Diana Burch. Weeks donated as well. 

Following the ribbon cutting is the sealing of the time capsule holding letters/gifts from LIE students, a current newspaper, State Parks stickers, Big Horn County Citizens for Economic Conservation book, paper maps and a few other items.  It will be buried when construction is done on the commons. A paver on top of it will read not to open until June 2126. 

The Basin Heritage Initiative will have a table with more information about the commons and how people may purchase a brick or paver for the commemorative walkways. 

SATURDAY/WASHINGTON PARK 

The public is encouraged to wear red, white and blue as the Saturday events are paying tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States.  The second day of Lilac Days kicks off at 9 a.m. in Washington Park with the Gottsche Performance & Longevity Centers Fun Run/Walk. Sign up for the run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m. 

Basin First Baptist Church will serve a free breakfast at 9:30 a.m.  At 10 a.m. there is a welcome by Mayor CJ Duncan, followed by the singing of the national anthem by Merrita Powell.  At 10:15 a.m. children in grades K-5 are invited to come to the microphone and share why they love America. Bret Savage is providing the music for the day. 

Parents who want to enter their babies, ages 0-2, should be at the park by 10 a.m. to make sure their baby is registered. There will be forms available at the chamber table that day, but it is recommended to sign up beforehand. Forms are available at the Basin Area Chamber on West C Street. The baby contest is at 10:45 a.m. 

Middle and high school girls can compete for Lilac Princess. The rehearsal and final sign-up are Friday, June 5 at 5 p.m. at the Basin Commons. The contest is June 6 at 11:15 a.m. at Washington Park. 

Also starting at 10 a.m. is the Basin PD bike rodeo, American Legion Post 29 car show, vendors, kids’ games, a water bucket dump, and sidewalk art contest for kids.  Haley’s Concessions will have their famous lemonade and mini donuts for sale. Up in Smoke BBQ will be there too. 

The 2026 Lilac Queen will be crowned at 11:45. a.m. by last year’s queen Jan Gammill. To end the ceremonial portion of the day, the American Legion will read the preamble to the Constitution and give a 21-gun salute to the flag. Dakota Butcher will play “America the Beautiful” on her trumpet. 

The last event of the day, the Hope Reigns Community Cornhole Tournament, starts at noon. Contestants may sign up that morning. 

The Lilac Days celebration is sponsored by the Basin Area Chamber, Big Horn REA, TCT, Security State Bank, Three Rivers Health and Queen Bee Gardens.