Western roundup of events where you can experience the Old West!
ART SHOW
The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore
Oklahoma City, OK, May 1-8: An intimate view of the cowboy over two generations in a collection of more than 100 black-and-white and color photographs, such as T Lazy S – Battle Mountain, Nevada, 2012 by John Langmore (shown here).
405-478-2250 • NationalCowboyMuseum.org
FUNDRAISER
Friends of Happy Trails Banquet
Victorville, CA, May 21: This fundraiser benefits the children’s foundation formed by classic Western actors Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
760-240-3330 • HappyTrails.org
HERITAGE FESTIVALS
Genoa Cowboy Festival
Genoa, NV, April 28-May 1: Cowboys from across the country gather to enjoy live music, poetry, historical demonstrations and workshops.
775-782-0326 • CowboyPoetryGenoa.com
Bishop Mule Days Celebration
Bishop, CA, May 24-29: Start off packing season by watching mule trainers, riders and packers compete on about 700 mules in 181 shows.
760-872-4263 • MuleDays.org
Narrow Gauge Day
Durango, CO, May 6: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad celebrates continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882.
888-872-4607 • DurangoTrain.com
Palo Alto Battlefield Living History
Brownsville, TX, May 7: Celebrate Texas history with demonstrations of U.S.-Mexican War-era weapons, tactics and soldier life.
956-541-2785 • NPS.gov
Fort Kearny Outdoor Expo
Kearney, NE, May 7: Showcases Nebraska’s vast outdoor activities, such as shooting, archery and fishing through demonstrations and contests.
888-444-1867 • VisitKearney.org
Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival
Cortez, CO, May 11-15: Observe the local bird population with regional wildlife specialists volunteering as tour guides and guest lecturers.
970-565-1151 • CortezCulturalCenter.org
Pendleton Cattle Barons Weekend
Pendleton, OR, May 12-14: Honors the region’s cattlemen and ranchers with bronc riding, a cowboy collectibles auction and barbecue.
541-377-6834 • CattleBarons.net
Frontier Forts Days
Fort Worth, TX, May 13-14: Experience life at a frontier fort through infantry, artillery and cavalry demonstrations, and military parades.
817-625-9715 • FortWorthStockyards.org
Elks Helldorado Days
Las Vegas, NV, May 13-14: Held since 1934, this festival celebrates Old West history with a pro rodeo, parade and Western art show and auction.
702-870-1221 • ElksHelldorado.com
General Sam Houston Folk Festival
Huntsville, TX, May 13-15: The Sam Houston Memorial Museum’s grounds are transformed into a bustling frontier settlement.
936-294-1832 • GSHFF.com
Wild Wild WEst Festival
Pueblo, CO, May 15-17: Celebrate Western
history with carnival rides, Western entertainers, live music, magic shows and parades.
800-233-3446 • WildWildWestFestival.com
Pioneer Family Festival
Oregon City, OR, May 20-22: A celebration of pioneer history and heritage with a parade, street vendors and live entertainment.
503-875-4756 • PioneerFamilyFestival.com
Riverfest
Farmington, NM, May 27:
Area rivers are celebrated with a festival of music, food, activities and entertainment.
505-326-7602 • FarmingtonNM.org
Santa Rosa Days
Santa Rosa, NM, May 27-30: Observe the
history of this 1865 “city of natural lakes” with
a parade that honors veterans and live music.
575-472-3763 • SantaRosaNM.org
Wyatt Earp Days
Tombstone, AZ, May 28-30: Gunfights and hangings are re-enacted in the streets of Tombstone, plus a Wyatt Earp look-alike contest.
520-457-3511 • TombstoneChamber.com
MUSIC & POETRY
Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival
Pigeon Forge, TN, May 13-22: Dollywood’s master chefs will be serving new barbeque recipes while local Bluegrass musicians, such as the Smoky Mountain String Band (shown below), perform.
800-365-5996 • Dollywood.com
Ribs and Bluegrass Festival
Medora, ND, May 14: Local businesses
serve up their own specialty ribs all
day while Bluegrass musicians perform.
701-320-4570 • MedoraND.com
Kerrville Folk Festival
Kerrville, TX, Opens May 26: Singers and songwriters perform at one of the largest folk music festivals in North America.
830-257-3600 • Kerrville-Music.com
John Wayne Birthday Celebration
Winterset, IA, May 27-28: Join musical headliner Carin Mari (below) for a benefit dinner at John Wayne Birthplace Museum to celebrate the Duke’s life.
877-462-1044 • JohnWayneBirthplace.Museum
Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Medora, ND, May 28-29: Since 1986, cowboys
and cowgirls from all over North Dakota
gather to share their stories of the West.
701-872-4746 • NDTourism.com
POWWOWS
United Tribes Spring Powwow
Riverton, WY, May 7: Dressed in colorful regalia, American Indian drummers and dancers gather in central Wyoming to celebrate their heritage.
307-855-2285 • WyomingTourism.org
FM Crossroads Contest Powwow
Fargo, ND, May 13-15: Enjoy American Indian dancers, singers and vendors at this first powwow that organizers plan to host every year.
701-356-7656 • NDTourism.com
RODEO
Bandera Pro Rodeo
Bandera, TX, May 27-29: This rodeo features PRCA-sanctioned bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping and bull riding.
830-522-0054 • BanderaProRodeo.org
Western Heritage Classic
Abilene, TX, May 12-15: This working ranch rodeo also offers cowboy music and poetry, a fiddler’s contest, a parade and a trade show.
325-677-4376 WesternHeritageClassic.com
TRADE SHOW
Colorado Gun Collectors Association Gun Show
Denver, CO, May 21-22: The show offers more than 1,500 tables of antique and modern firearms, and cowboy artifacts.
720-482-0167 • CGCA.com
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