The Northwoods Triple Crown - a one-of-a-kind celebration of bulls, barrels and barbecue - returns to the Langlade County Fairgrounds for its third year next month.
And this year, it will offer a salute to the logging camps that once dotted the northwoods.
The three-day event runs July 12 to 14. The weekend's highlight is sure to be the return of Bulls & Barrels, with professional cowboys riding the toughest bucking bulls on the circuit in front of the grandstand.
Along with the bulls comes barrels, with the horses and riders from across the Midwest completing the cloverleaf barrel-pattern. Horsemanship, speed and finesses all combine for the fastest times.
Action kicks off at 7 p.m. in front of the grandstand.
Along with Saturday night's racing, riders will return to the arena on Sunday, July 14 at 10 a.m. for the Menominee Casino Resort Cowgirl Challenge. They will compete in three events - barrel racing, pole bending and an obstacle course - for a chance to be named the 2019 Cowgirl Challenge Champion and earn a trophy saddle.
The third B in the Triple Crown is Barbecue, the Northwoods Grill Masters challenge presented by Lakeside Market and Fleet Farm.
Competitors, many of them local teams, will showcase their skills in an afternoon of grilling and judging. Sticks of ribs will be available for sale and diners are encourage to participate in Peoples Choice Tasting beginning at 1 p.m. Cost is $5 for five sticks and $7 for eight sticks, with proceeds to benefit youth organizations.
There's much more on the docket as well, including a Buffalo Bill re-enactment, mounting shooting, and a salute to the days of the logging camps
Action kicks off Friday, July 12 with a horsemanship/dressage exhibition at 5 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m. “Meet the Legends” with the Wisconsin Historical Society program on Buffalo Bill, voted best program winner by the board of curators.
A logging camp picnic supper is slated for 6 p.m., along with an opportunity to meet the Triple Crown queen contestants. The menu include stews, flapjacks and pies. Adult tickets are $11, and youth, $8 at the door. Youth tickets are available for free when accompanied by an adult buy but be reserved in advance
After dinner, explore legacy logging with the big draft horses from Jason Julian farms.
Saturday, July 13 kicks off with a mounted shooting competition from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come down and watch one of the hottest events in horsemanship, with cowboys and cowgirls on horseback competing to shoot out balloon targets with black powder pistols while running a course.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. see history come to life with Buffalo Bill's Best of the Wild West boomtown camp. There will also be a performance at 4 p.m.
Saturday will also include queen contestant judging at 11 a.m. and a horsemanship demonstration at 2 p.m. The queen ceremony is slated for 6:30 p.m.
The day will wrap up following Bulls & Barrels with a band and barn dance beginning at 8:30 p.m.
There will be vendor shopping and displays throughout the weekend.
Advance tickets are $10, and free for those eight and under, and include Bulls & Barrels, demonstrations and all Friday and Saturday performances. They do not include the Friday night picnic, food, parking and tastings. To purchase tickets, visit NorthwoodsTripleCrown.com or call 715-610-1065.
Tickets at the gate are $14. Parking on the grounds is $5.