As of Monday, Aug. 3, members of the Heart Butte Society and an assortment of volunteers were on the job at the campgrounds in Heart Butte, busily painting, repairing and preparing the grounds for the 18th annual Heart Butte Society Celebration.

An unusually wet summer is lending its note of mystery to the upcoming events, but cooler temperatures and abundant greenery are no doubt welcome to the beautifully attired dancers, drummers and parade participants.

Events begin early this year, on Wednesday, Aug. 5, with the Heart Butte Society Kids Day being held all day long at Heart Butte School. Races, contests and more can be expected at Kids Day.

The Heart Butte Society Celebration kicks off with the blessing of the celebration grounds at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, followed by a feed for the elders.

Showers will be open at Heart Butte Schools from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, the first full day of the celebration, and every day following. Dancing and drumming registration starts at 5 p.m. that day, with the first Grand Entry slated for 7 p.m. Social dancing is on the menu that evening, with people kicking up their heels from 7:30 to around 9:30 p.m.

The action really gets underway at 8 a.m. on Friday, with the HBSC Fun Run-Walk, sponsored by the Southern Piegan Diabetes and Healthy Heart programs. Showers are again open at Heart Butte Schools from 8 a.m. to noon, and the dancing and drumming registration starts at 12 p.m.

The second HBSC Grand Entry is set for 1 p.m., when the point system starts for the dancers in all categories. Outgoing royalty Jusdee Big Head's giveaway is slated for 1:30, and the tiny tots dance at 2 p.m. Contest dancing in the junior and teen categories begins at 2:30, and parade registration opens at 3 p.m. at the announcer's booth in the dance arbor. The new HBSC royalty will be crowned at 4:30 p.m., and the Tayleigh Calf Boss Ribs Giveaway is set for 5 p.m., followed by a feed.

Supper break is slated for 6 to 6:45 p.m.; then it's the third Grand Entry at 7 p.m., with the point system starting for the drum groups. A name-giving ceremony and honor dance for Rose Vandenberg and family will happen at 7:30, and a giveaway teen girls jingle special for Aimee Running Fisher starts at 8 p.m. Contest dancing in golden age and adult categories rounds out the evening, beginning at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, it's the parade that centers things, with its advent marked for 11 a.m. by the Senior Citizens Center at Government Square. Registration for the stickgame tournament begins at noon in the stickgame arbor, and at 1 p.m. the fourth Grand Entry takes place, followed by a tiny tot special for Justin Goggles, Paula Michell and family. Honor dances for Cheryl Gervais and family and Pat Crossguns and family are slated for 2 and 2:30, respectively, followed by the Marlene Hall family giveaway. Contest dancing in junior and teen categories begins at 4 p.m., followed by the Bullshoe Cross Country Horse Race, with a tentative starting time of 5 p.m.

The stickgame tournament gets underway at 6 p.m. in the stickgame arbor on Saturday evening, followed by the fifth Grand Entry at 7 p.m. The Molly Bullshoe and family giveaway and feed are set for 7:30 p.m., and contest dancing in golden age and adult categories starts at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday opens with the Running Crane Family Memorial Breakfast at 7 a.m. and another Fun Run-Walk sponsored by the Southern Piegan Diabetes Project at 9 a.m. Catholic Mass begins at 11 a.m. in the dance arbor, and the sixth Grand Entry takes place at 1 p.m. Tiny tots dance at 1:30, and contest dancing for junior categories is set for 2, with teen categories competing at 3:30. A warbonnet transfer with Moses Spear Chief is set for 5 p.m., followed by a supper break from 5:45-6:45 p.m. A feed by Peter "Rusty" Tatsey and family is featured, as well as the start of the traditional Crazy Dogs versus Veterans Stickgame.

The seventh Grand Entry starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, with contest dancing in golden age categories at 7:30 p.m. Clown dance categories compete at 8 p.m.; adult contest dancing starts at 9 p.m., and the team dance contest gets underway at 10:30 p.m.

It is planned that all dance and drum contest winners will be announced at 11 p.m. Sunday.