A three day weekend of fun and relaxation is in store for those who come to Ruthven and Lost Island Lake for their annual BullyBullhead Weekend celebration, Friday through Sunday, July 11-13.

Billed as one of the largest annual community celebrations in the area, BBW has something that all ages can enjoy. This year's event has a very appropriate slogan, "Come Join Our Parade!"

From big tractors to pedal tractors; from the smell of burning rubber being released from horsepower under that 409 or from the horse 'power' at the team sorting competition on the rodeo grounds there will be plenty to do at Bully Bullhead.

Sporting events, food, dances, teen and kids events, and the annual parade on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

This year's event kicks off on Friday morning with the BBW 2008 tractor ride which will take a scenic southerly route towards Mallard and Laurens. The registration for this event starts at 7 a.m., at the Ruthven Community Care Center grounds, and the ride leaves town about 8 a.m. with a return time of approximately 3:30 p.m. The $20 cost includes a morning and afternoon snack, as well as a Special Edition BBW tractor ride cap.

The 12 p.m. meal, being held in Mallard, will be at the rider's expense. At 1:30 p.m., there will be a horse drawn wagon ride that will leave Ruthven and go out around Lost Island Lake. For more information on this ride, call Jim at 837-4661.

As Friday continues, there will be a special event at the Iowa State Bank parking lot starting at 4 p.m. This will consist of a community free hotdog feed, with musical entertainment by the "Happy Two" starting at 4:30 p.m. The Citizens of the Year; Pastor Luther Thoresen, Father Peter Nguyen, and Pastor Jim Gochenouer will be honored and recognized at 5:40 p.m., also at the bank location.

Centennial Park and the Pool will host the 4-8 grade Coed 3-on-3 basketball tournament beginning at 5 p.m. with Teen Swim Night at the pool from 7-10 p.m. for 13-18 year olds.

The Iowa Sanctioned Kids Pedal Tractor Pull will be held on Friday evening also, just east of the Iowa State Bank, starting at 6 p.m.

Come Saturday morning there will be a full days worth of fun with over 30 events on the schedule. The day will start out at 7 a.m. with the annual BBW Fishing Contest on Lost Island Lake. Four tagged bullheads are released into the lake, with a $500 bounty on them for those who register at Murphy's Bait Shop north of Ruthven. There are also other prizes to go fishing for in this event.

Also from 7 a.m.-12 p.m., the City Wide Garage Sales will be held in Ruthven, and the United Methodist Men will host their annual Yard Sale while the UMW host's a bake sale and coffee.

The 5K, 10K, and Fun Run will be held at 7:30 a.m. out at Huston Park at Lost Island Lake. At 8 a.m., the BBW Slow Pitch Softball tournament begins at the Ruthven ball diamonds.

The ATV Rodeo, a popular yearly event that gets larger every year, will start at 8 a.m. at the Rodeo Grounds just southwest of Ruthven.

A History Slide Show will be held at the library from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with the Friends of the Library used book sale starting at 10 a.m. The Lost Island Nature Center will be hosting a special BBW program at Lost Island Lake.

Other Saturday morning activities include the Antique Tractor and Machinery show at the care center, mini doughnuts and snow cones along with business open houses downtown starting as early as 7:30 a.m. at the Picket Fence Gifts.

To round out the morning, the UMW will be having an ice cream and pie social, serving 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Ruthven Social Center downtown, with the Masons serving up turkey fillets and brats under the big tent downtown starting at 11 a.m.

Just across the street, kids will enjoy riding the Ruthven-Lost Island Express train, free of charge, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Afternoon events start at noon with the Classic Car Show located at Gowrie and RR streets.

Children will enjoy the Kids Coin Carnival after the parade. This fun event will be held inside the American Legion starting at 2:30 p.m., while just down the street to the east, at 3:30 p.m., will be a Mule Jumping Exhibition and Pony and Wagon Rides sponsored by the Pony Express for your family enjoyment.

At 4 p.m., the high school 3-on-3 coed basketball tournament will be held.

The rubber really starts to burn at 4:30 p.m., as the Burn Out Car Show will take place on RailRoad Street by the classic car show.

The 2009 Quasquicentennial Committee will sponsor a maidrite supper from 5-8 p.m. at the American Legion, and the night cap will include the Ruthven Fireman's Street Dance, featuring "BB & the Bullfrogs" starting at 9 p.m. on Gowrie Street in front of Bullys Bar & Grill.

Sunday enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast before or after as serving will be at the American Legion from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The Auxiliary will also be holding a bake sale during this time. At 11 a.m., just southwest of Ruthven at Rodeo Grounds, the BBW Jackpot Team Sorting competition will begin. This will consist of three person teams, with a seven head sort. There is a 60 percent payback plus added money to both divisions. There will also be kids contests planned throughout the event and an excellent meal, catered by Ken Rubel's, Juno's Smokehouse Catering of Ruthven. This meal and other concessions will be served by the Ruthven 4-H club starting at 10 a.m. on the Rodeo Grounds.

At high noon over at Centennial Park and Pool, the coed volleyball tournament will start.

For the younger kids and high school kids, there will be Fun and Games at the Ruthven Swimming Pool starting at 2 p.m.

Another event that grows in popularity each year, will be the Progressive Organ Recital starting at 1:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church. This recital will travel to each Ruthven church, and will end at the Lost Island Lutheran Church northeast of Ruthven where an ice cream social and maidrite supper will be served starting at 4 p.m.

* For more information on the event, call 837-3760, 260-3212, or 837-5588.