Willcox will "Lasso Our Future" during the 56th Annual Rex Allen Days, held every year on the first weekend of October.

"The annual Rex Allen Days celebration is a 56-year tradition that people come from far and near enjoy. It is our hope that you will plan to come to Willcox in October and help us celebrate," said Delcie Schultz, manager of the Rex Allen Museum, who hosts the main musical performance of the weekend.

New additions to this year's concert event are led by the appearance of Lacy J. Dalton, who will open for Rex Allen Jr. at the live concert stage shows in the Willcox High School Auditorium. The concert will also include Cody and Logan Allen (Rex Jr.'s twin sons), Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales Jr., Clifton Collins (Pedro's grandson) and Rex Jr.'s original band.

The stage shows, sponsored by the Rex Allen Museum, will take place at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Tickets are $20 for reserved seating and $15 for general seating. For tickets and information, contact the Rex Allen Museum at (520) 384-4583 or (877) 234-4111, or via the website at www.rexallenmuseum.org.

Also new to Rex Allen Days this year are appearances by the Rex Allen Museum celebrity guests. Those scheduled to appear include Dan Haggerty, William Smith, Robert Horton, L.Q. Jones, Don Collier, Peter Brown, Mary Ellen Kay, Bob Hoy, Donna Martell, and Clifton Collins, Jr.

They will be in historic downtown (along Railroad Avenue) and at the Rex Allen Museum during the four days of festivities, Schultz said.

The Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame activities kick off this year's Rex Allen Days celebration.

The Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture will hold the 26th Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame Annual Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m., at the Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart St.

Bill Winkler has been selected as the 2007 inductee into the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame. Posthumous inductees will be Roy Boss and Fred Darnell. The Favorite Son/Daughter awards, in honor of Rex Allen, will also be part of the evening program. These awards are presented to someone who has moved and made his/her mark elsewhere, but never forgotten Willcox and to someone who is a local resident of Willcox.

The Rex Allen Days Rodeo, presented by EuroFresh Farms, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-7 at the Quail Park Rodeo Grounds at 2 p.m. each day.

Grand Canyon Rodeo Association estimates the Willcox Rodeo may be their largest rodeo this year, with more than 600 competitors. It is a designated "6 Pak Rodeo," which is a series rodeo with prizes awarded for the top competitors over a six rodeo series during the year.

A new award this year will be the Rex Allen Days Rodeo Top Hand Award, to be awarded during Sunday's grand entry, to a local hometown contestant who best represents the town of Willcox, and Rex Allen Days Rodeo in the sport of rodeo and the western life style Rex Allen loved.

Books for local entries for the Rex Allen Days Rodeo are open this week until Friday, Sept. 28.

For more information or tickets, contact Rodeo Chairman Dennis Williams at (928) 651-6605.

Beaudry Motor Company Chevrolet/Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge of Benson is presenting the Rex Allen Days Pre-Rodeo at 12:30 p.m. each day during the Rex Allen Days Rodeo.

Mutton Bustin', Dummy Roping and Stick Horse events are on Saturday and Sunday, and Steer Riding will be added on Sunday. New face helmets for Mutton Bustin' and Steer Riding and belt buckles for prizes were purchased with the sponsorship funds.

For more information or to sign up, call Tony or Jeanie Albright at (520) 384-3315.

Have you ever gone to a rodeo and watched the beautiful queens riding around the arena? If you are between the ages of 17 and 24 residing in Cochise or Graham County, you can be that young woman.

Entry deadline is Saturday, Sept. 29. Contact Marion Tenney at (520) 384-6304 or 253-0336.

Rex Allen Days Park Chairman Kit Judd has planned some new excitement for everyone on Friday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 7 in Keiller Park.

"Enjoy dancing, singing, shopping, great food, free rock climbing wall, mime, car show, turtle race, fun kids' relays, old-time cowboy show, youth softball tournament, magnificent Aztec dancers, old time fiddlers and much more," said RAD Treasurer Peggy Judd.

The Keiller Park Country Fair schedule is as follows:

Friday

5-9 p.m. - Country Fair

5-7 p.m. - Nowhere Man and a Whisky Girl - Amy Ross sings through a smile and conducts the keys of her piano while Derrick Ross plays wistful, classically inspired guitar.

Saturday

11:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. - Country Fair

Noon- 26th Annual Orlando B. Willcox International Turtle Race at the basketball courts.

12:30 p.m.- Encore Dance Academy

1p.m.- Danza Mexica Cuauhtémoc fabulous drums, dancing and message that will change your heart and bring you to your feet.

"Don't miss this experience. Also look for them in the 10 a.m. parade," Judd said.

1:30 p.m.- Parade Awards

1:30-3p.m.- Rex Allen Kids Roundup (Fremont Street Arena). Stick Horse Races/Water Relays/Sack Races/Egg Races. Lots of fun and prizes.

2 p.m.- Old Time Fiddlers

3 p.m.- Female Vocalists: Cindy Rea and Lori T Reunion

3p.m.- Lee Anderson - Fun Old-time Cowboy/Historian Show (Fremont Street Arena).

4 p.m.- 1st Annual Karaoke Contest - Celebrity Judges, Great New Songs, Cash Prizes! There is a $5 entry fee. Please pre-register from 1 to 4 p.m. The host will be George Duran.

6 p.m.- George Duran shares his vocal talent for our enjoyment.

6:30 p.m.- Willcox High School Show Band

Sunday

11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. - Country Fair

Noon - 1 p.m.- Fun country swing dancing in Ramada - "Last chance to dance."

1 - 2 p.m.- Lee Anderson - Authentic Cowboy/Historian visit to the park.

The Ninth Annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival at Windmill Park and Rex Allen Theater will be held all three days in historic downtown.

The festival runs from Noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5.

Western music and cowboy poetry present the people, lifestyle and magnificent terrain of the American west in melody and verse, said Jim Sober, who coordinates the event.

"Real and reel cowboys are sung and talked about as well as other Western characters," he said. "The presentations by about twenty acts on two stages by regional and local performers may be serious, humorous or just plain silly, but always fun."

There will be a Rex Allen Jr. celebrity panel discussion from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

There will be a Concert and Street Dance on Railroad Avenue from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, starring Stardust Recording Artist Beau Renfro and his Alistar Band.

For more information, call the Rex Allen Museum at (520) 384-4583 or 1-877-234-4111, or Jim Sober at (520) 384-2945.