West skits and much more.

The 16th-annual Wild West Day, held in downtown Upper Lake on June 6, is a Western-themed street festival and wearing costume is encouraged. With Old West skits, a parade, pancake breakfast, tri-tip barbecue, wagon rides, and country music, Wild West Day is a family-friendly event and all ages can enter and enjoy the contests for best beard, bonnet, and costume.

Established in 1854, the town of Upper Lake is home to a former stagecoach stop along the route from Sacramento to Mendocino, which now includes the restored Tallman Hotel, which is listed on the California Register of Historic Resources as a Point of Historical Interest, as well as a re-created Blue Wing Saloon & Café next door, and a former livery, is now home to an antique plumbing business.

Also along Upper Lake’s Main Street, visitors will find a local wine tasting bar, antiques and collectibles from all over the world, local crafts, and fine art from throughout Northern California, as well as household necessities, pet care items, gifts, and home décor.

On June 19, 20 and 21, Middletown Days, a nearly half-century tradition for 48 years, returns for three days of family fun and features a ranch rodeo, live music, craft and food booths, children’s activities and more. Saturday begins with a parade at 10 a.m. and ends with a dance, which starts at 8:30 p.m. Sunday features the gymkhana.

Established in 1870, Middletown, midway between Lower Lake and Calistoga, is surrounded by outlying ranches, vineyards, and The Geysers, the largest geothermal energy source in the world. Middletown balances Old West charm and forward-thinking businesses with a vision for a sustainable world, including Harbin Hot Springs, one of the oldest operating hot springs resorts in California, Hardester’s Market and Boar’s Breath Restaurant, and more.

For a blend of Old and New West, a multi-day stay at Cowboy Hideaway Ranch gives visitors a true “horseshoes and corkscrews” experience on the Wine County Trail Ride. Cowboy Hideaway Ranch is a 750-acre ranch studded with woods, vineyards, wildlife, and exceptional views of Clear Lake from a newly built log cabin lodge.

On three- to six-day guided tours, guests ride gaited Rocky Mountain horses through the dramatic scenery of Lake County including vineyards, along shorelines, through back country, much more. Guests enjoy local and regional cuisine, including private tours and tastings of award-winning wines in Lake, Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

Wild West Day in Upper Lake is sponsored by the Upper Lake Community Council for community projects and the Northshore Fire Protection District. Admission is free. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Main Street; 707-275-2000, www.upperlakeca.org .

Middletown Days is held at Middletown Central Park, Central Park Road. Admission is free; small fee for dance on Saturday night. Steer Ropin’ on Friday begins at 5 p.m., parade on Saturday begins at 10 a.m., and gymkhana at 900 a.m. on Sunday; 707-994-1954.

Reservations are required for a three- to six-day stay at Cowboy Hideaway Ranch; 707-295-7110, www.cowboyhideawayranch.com .

For information about guided trail rides, the 80th-annual Lake County Rodeo on July 10 and 11, and other equestrian activities, contact the Lake County Visitor Information Center at 800-525-3743 or www.lakecounty.com .

Cutest cowpoke contestants are being sought for this year's Lake County Rodeo. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – The 80th annual Lake County Rodeo is coming on July 10 and 11 at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

This old time traditional all-professional rodeo will feature many exciting activities for all ages.

A very popular event is the Cutest Cowpoke Contest, open to boys and girls, ages 4 to 8.

The competition will be held on Saturday, June 27. Winners will be introduced on Friday, July 10, at the Lake County Rodeo.

Each winner will receive passes to the Friday night performance and be awarded a silver buckle that evening in the arena.

Deadline for entries is Friday, June 26.

For more information or an application, visit www.lakecountyrodeo.com or contact Melissa Fulton at 707-245 7431.

Applications are available at the office of the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, 875 Lakeport Blvd. In Lakeport at Vista Point Visitor Center.

The rodeo also still has a limited number of openings for the Mutton Bustin' competition on Friday and Saturday nights. This event is sponsored by CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown. Applications for this are also available online and at the chamber office.

Competition is open to boys and girls 8 years old or younger and there is a $10 entry fee.

All riders must be no more than 50 pounds (each child will be weighed as they check in at the rodeo), they must wear a properly fitted helmet, long pants, long-sleeved shirt and sturdy boots or shoes.

This competition fills up quickly; please contact Mutton Bustin' Chair Amanda Kane at 707-245-5320 for further information.

Winners will be awarded a special Belt Buckle and all riders receive a Mutton Bustin t-shirt.

The annual Mutton Bustin' competition is still open for hopeful competitors. Courtesy photo.

“Thanks to our major sponsors, WestAmerica Bank and Piedmont Lumber & Nursery, and to the many volunteers who spent part of their Memorial Day weekend working on the parade lineup, barricade duty and judging,” said chamber Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton on behalf of the board of directors for the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Fulton also thanked the city of Lakeport's Public Works Department and Lakeport Police Department for all their efforts; and the Lake County Fairgrounds for their cooperation in allowing the lineup to take place on the grounds. Although the entries this year were down a little from last year, a great deal of space is still necessary to get everyone in place, Fulton said.

While to the public watching the parade it may seem a simple chore to organize the lineup, Ginny Clinton, the parade's lineup chair for close to 18 years now, puts several hours in to make sure everything goes well, said Fulton. Clinton goes over every entry, determining where best to place each one. Some of the considerations are children’s groups not too close to horses, conflicting music presentations by entries, music or loud sounds which might frighten horses, the list goes on.

A matrix of all entries is made for the fairgrounds and then Clinton, with around six or seven volunteers, makes sure that the entries are placed to the matrix and then as the parade begins, the various entries are blended into the correct lineup order from their various locations on the fairgrounds.

Fulton said they take great pride in this parade always starting at 11 a.m. Lineup volunteers this year were Barry Clinton, Dan Comacho, Dianna Hendrick, Eli Hendrick, Dana Kearney, Lori Coovert, Mary Southard and Jim Magliulo.

A very important volunteer task is placing the barricades into the intersections from First Street to Clear Lake Avenue. (These were put out on the corners Friday afternoon by the Public Works Department.) It’s important to the safety of all the entries and spectators that traffic is kept off of Main Street during the parade, Fulton said.

This year Cindy Parlee of Renee’s Restaurant organized the team of John Whitehead and Richard Bruch who also took them out of the intersections after the parade. The City Public Works Department was working on this as well.

“My personal thanks always to husband John Fulton, who brings all the tables, chairs, umbrellas and cold water for the judges and sound system for our stage. He also helps to put up the 'no parking' signs so the streets are clear for spectators!” Melissa Fulton said.

The official announcer was Paul Reading, who always does an excellent job, being the pro that he is. Parade judges this year were Anna Girod, past president of the Lakeport Regional Chamber and owner of AGM Property Management; Ted Mandrones, marketing director for Piedmont Lumber & Nursery who provided the stage; and Chuck Holder, owner of Holder Ford Mercury. Assisting with tallying the judge’s slips was Brittany Maldonado. The CSHA Equestrian Judge was Kim Cipro of Lower Lake.

The results of Saturday's Memorial Day Parade are as follows:

GRAND SWEEPSTAKES: Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 23 North.

THEME AWARD: Two-way tie, Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 23 North; Operation Tango Mike.

JUDGES CHOICE: Operation Tango Mike.

DIVISION I, FLOATS, Best of Division: Piedmont Lumber & Nursery.

COMMERCIAL: First place – Piedmont Lumber & Nursery.

FRATERNAL/SERVICE ORGANIZATION: First place – Lake County Shrine Club, Lower Lake; Second place – Delta Iota Tau, Lakeport/Kelseyville; Third place – Elks Lodge No. 2704, Lakeport.

MILITARY: First place – Vietnam Veterans of America, L/County Chapter 951; Second place – Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015.

DIVISION II ~ VEHICLES Best of Division: Lake County As, Kelseyville.

CLUBS: First place – Lake County As, Kelseyville; Second place – Lake County Corvettes.

CARS AND TRUCKS: First place – Piedmont Lumber, Lakeport; three-way tie for second place – Allen & Donna Thomas of Lakeport, Jim and Claire Gill of Lakeport, and Bob Lininger of Lakeport; Third place – Cadillac Pat Sperling, Lakeport.

OTHER – First place: Kulture Shock Car Show, Lakeport.

DIVISION III ~ GROUPS, Best of Division: Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 23 North.

ORGANIZATION: First place – Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 23 North; Second place – Operation Tango Mike; two-way tie for third place – People Services Inc., That Other Quarter Quartet, Lakeport.

SENIOR: First place – Lakeport Senior Center; Second place – Red Hot Mommas of the Red Hat Society; two-way tie for third place – Konocti Kuties - Red Hat Society, Whatever Red Hat Society.

DIVISON V ~ JUNIOR Best of Division: Kelseyville Youth Football League.

SCHOOL: First place – Kelseyville Youth Football League.

DIVISION VI ~ MUSIC Best of Division: Clear Lake High School Band.

BANDS: First place – Clear Lake High School Band.

DIVISON VIII ~ EQUESTRIAN Best of Division: Clear Lake Junior Horsemen.

MOUNTED GROUP: First place – Clear Lake Junior Horsemen.

The following equestrian classes had only one entry per class, so all receive first place awards:

• Senior Arabian Costume Mary Ann Reece, Sebastopol;

• Senior Novelty Lonne Sloan, Lower Lake;

• Senior Western Working Beverly Baxter, Santa Rosa.

This is the group's second year participating and they now have two huge trophies on display in the P.A.C.K. Community Arts Academy's community center.

These trophies represent the fact that the group took first place in all categories and this year they were awarded the best youth group award as well.

Congratulations goes to the entire squad including the four flag girls that performed for their first time in their first parade. The squads hard work and dedication shows in their routine and on their faces. Come in and take a look at the new trophy sitting proudly on the shelf.

The majorettes and flag girls will be performing in three more upcoming events, Middletown Days, The Lake County Fair and the Kelseyville Pear Festival. Come out to one of their performances to cheer them on and support the P.A.C.K. Community Arts Center.

The center extended its thanks to those P.A.C.K. families that have supported them thus far.

The P.A.C.K. Community Arts Academy and Middletown Dance Alliance are located at 21055 Bush St., Middletown, telephone 707-987-8230 or visit them online at www.packcaa.org .

The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Lakeport Yacht Club, located next to the Fifth Street launch ramp in Lakeport.

The boating season officially began Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day weekend. On the agenda will be safety patrol assignments, vessel inspection sites, boating safety classes and participation in local activities to promote boating safety.

Flotilla 88 has numerous areas of interest and invites any persons interested in becoming a member of this active group to attend the meeting and learn how they, too, can become one of America's Volunteer Lifesavers.

For more information, please call the Flotilla's information line, 707-513-5122.

Groups statewide are organizing rallies to celebrate or organize Tuesday evening.

Marriage equality supporters will hold a gathering at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, in front of the Lake County Courthouse Museum in the 200 block of Main Street in downtown Lakeport.

For more information call Laurie, 707-413-7167.