August 2012 Events

A Western roundup of events where you can experience the Old West.

ADVENTURE

Cowgirl Camp

Gila, NM, August 12-17: Lessons in advanced horsemanship techniques, cattle roundup, ride along the creek and a mini rodeo competition.
575-535-2048 • DoubleERanch.com

ANIMAL ADOPTIONS

Wild Horse And Burro Adoptions

Riverton, WY, August 24-25: Wild horses and burros from Western states are offered up for adoption to folks who will provide long-term care.
866-468-7826 • BLM.gov

ART SHOWS & EXHIBITS

America’s Horse In Art

Amarillo, TX, August 11: Benefit sale of horses depicted in pencil, paintings and sculptures, with signature piece by artist Mary Ross Buchholz.
806-376-5181 • AQHAHallOfFame.com

Toppenish Western Art Show

Toppenish, WA, August 17-19: American Indian, Western and wildlife art in the mural town of Toppenish, with Fred Oldfield as featured artist.
800-863-6375  • ToppenishWesternArt.org

Buckaroo Heritage Western Art Roundup

Winnemucca, NV, Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Buckaroo paintings, sculptures and cowboy gear at Buckaroo Hall of Fame founded by artist Carl F. Hammond. 
541-573-2921 • BuckarooArtist.com

Arizona-New Mexico Centennial Art Show

Santa Fe, NM, August 11: Features original centennial art by Thom Ross, Bob Boze Bell (above), Amy Watts, Tara Roberts and Maurice Turetsky, plus guest speakers Paul Hutton, Johnny D. Boggs and Ollie Reed Jr. who reported on the New Mexico centennial for True West Magazine’s May 2012 issue. 
505-988-1001 • DueWestGallery.com

AUCTIONS

Auction In Santa Fe

Santa Fe, NM, August 11-12: Auction by Manitou Galleries features over 250 fine art paintings and 300 items from the American Indian collection. 
307-635-0019 • AuctionInSantaFe.com

Best Of Santa Fe Auction

Santa Fe, NM, August 11-12: Bid on American Indian artifacts, art and related collectibles at the historic Scottish Rite Hall.
888-314-0343 • AllardAuctions.com

COMPETITION

Miss New Mexico Saloon Girl Contest

Eagle Nest, NM, Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Compete in a saloon girl costume contest, with a dance and prizes held at Laguna Vista Lodge’s 1898 saloon.
800-821-2093  • LagunaVistaLodge.com

FUNDRAISER

Hawaii Horse Expo

Waimea, HI, August 11-12: Attend equine training clinics to benefit Hawaii Island Humane Society’s Horse Rescue Fund for abused, abandoned horses.
808-371-4803 • HawaiiHorseExpo.com

HERITAGE FESTIVALS

Leadville Boom Days

Leadville, CO, August 3-5:  This 1880s Old West mining town festival includes burro races, mining skill contests, gunslingers and a street fair.
719-486-1182 • LeadvilleBoomDays.com

True West Rail Fest

Durango, CO, August 16-20: Meet Bob Boze Bell, attend history presentations and cultural events, and enjoy special railroad excursions where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed (see p. 45 for the map).
888-872-4607 • DurangoTrain.com

Umatilla, OR, August 7-11: Celebrates a 1912 tradition with livestock auction and a parade themed “From Wagon Wheels to Ferris Wheels.”
541-567-6121 • Co.Umatilla.OR.US

Astoria Regatta

Astoria, OR, August 8-12: This home of the Lewis and Clark Expedition monument celebrates an 1894 tradition with boat races and parades.
503-861-2288 • AstoriaRegatta.com

Shoshone-Bannock Festival

Fort Hall, ID, August 10-12: Powwow competition, hand games, parade and feast hosted at reservation established by 1868 Fort Bridger treaty.
208-238-0680 • ShoshoneBannockTribes.com

Montana Wild West Fest

Helena, MT, August 11-12: Frontier military re-enactments, history exhibits, equine events and chuckwagon cook-off at historic Kleffner Ranch.
406-458-3700 • MontanaLivingHistory.org

Fort Bayard’s Birthday

Silver City, NM, August 18: Celebrate the national landmark’s 146 years of history with a Wild West medicine show, fort tours and a birthday cake.
575-956-3294 • FortBayard.org

Nebraska State Fair

Grand Island, NE, August 24: Began in 1859 as a territorial fair, this year’s fair offers a draft horse pull, lineworkers rodeo and barn tours.
308-382-1620 • StateFair.org

Stiftungsfest

Norwood Young America, MN, August 24-26: Since 1861, honors the legacy of the all-male German singing group, Pioneer Maennerchor, with music and food.
952-467-1812 • Stiftungsfest.org

Klamath Tribe Restoration Celebration

Chiloquin, OR, August 24 -26: Commemorates the anniversary of the federal recognition of the Klamath tribe with a rodeo, powwow and food.
800-524- 9787 • KlamathTribes.org

Celebrate Bandera

Bandera, TX, Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Rodeo, cowboy mounted shooting, longhorn cattle drive, inter-tribal powwow and professional bull rider’s match.
830-796-4447 • CelebrateBandera.com

Gold Rush Days

Sacramento, CA, Aug. 31-Sept. 3: The 1850s spirit comes alive with period dance, music, gunfights, wagon rides, gold panning and artifact displays.
916-808-7059 • SacramentoGoldRushDays.com

FILM, MUSIC & POETRY

Rocky Mountain Express

Various Locations: View the IMAX film that documents the construction of Canada’s first transcontinental railway through the Rockies.
514-633-6036 • RockyMountainExpressFilm.com

Northern Arapaho Experience

Riverton, WY, August: Northern Arapaho’s heritage music and storytelling will be shared with the public every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
866-657-1604 • WindRiverHotelCasino.com

Western Legends Roundup

Kanab, UT, August 16-18: Pays tribute to The Virginian and other Western classics, plus meet movie stars Clint Walker, James Drury and more.
435-644-3444 • WesternLegendsRoundup.com

Big Bear Cowboy Gathering

Big Bear Lake, CA, August 16-19: Cowboy poetry and music performances by entertainers such as the Tumbling Tumble Weeds and Duke Michaels.
909-380-1871 • BigBearCowboyGathering.net

Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering & Western Music Rendezvous

Lewistown, MT, August 16-19: Poetry and music, plus headliner Baxter Black, workshops and a Western art and gear show.
406-538-4575 • MontanaCowboyPoetryGathering.com

RE-ENACTMENTS

John Wesley Hardin Secret Society

El Paso, TX, August 19: John Wesley Hardin’s 1895 death is re-enacted by the Six Guns and Shady Ladies group at the historic Concordia Cemetery where the gunfighter is buried.
915-581-7920 • ConcordiaCemetery.org

Lincoln, NM, August 3: Watch the “Last Escape of Billy the Kid” in an 1881 jailbreak and other re-enactments of historic Lincoln events.
575-653-4372 • NMMonuments.org

Old West Day

Monmouth, IL, August 4: Wyatt Earp’s 1841 birthplace hosts an open house and O.K. Corral re-enactments by the Shady Creek Shootists.
309-734-3181 • EarpMorgan.com/wyattearpbirthplacewebsite

RODEOS

Cody Nite Rodeo

Cody, WY, August: Rodeo stars entertain with nightly displays of bronc riding, bull riding and team roping at Cody Stampede rodeo grounds.
800-207-0744 • CodyStampedeRodeo.com

Dodge City Roundup Rodeo

Dodge City, KS, August 1-5: PRCA rodeo with saddle bronc, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, bareback, roping and barrel racing.
620-225-2244 • DodgeCityRoundup.org

Lea County Fair & Rodeo

Lovington, NM, August 3-11: A PRCA rodeo and carnival with mutton bustin’, team roping, barrel races, livestock shows and fiddler’s contest.
575-396-8686 • LeaCounty.net

Wyoming State Fair & Rodeo

Douglas, WY, August 11-18: Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the fair, plus PRCA rodeo, pig wrestling, longhorn show and concerts.
307-358-2398 • WYStateFair.com

World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo

Payson, AZ, August 17-19: Since 1884, features steer wrestling, barrel racing and bronc riding with proceeds benefitting Rim Country charities.
928-474-9440 • PaysonProRodeo.com

Elk City’s Rodeo Of Champions

Elk City, OK, Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Cowboys and cowgirls compete in a PRCA rodeo, plus a rodeo parade and Old West historical re-enactments.
800-280-0207 • VisitElkCity.com

Ellensburg Rodeo

Ellensburg, WA, Aug. 31-Sept. 3: Rodeo hosts the World Finale of PRCA’s Extreme Bulls Tour and a Western parade at the city’s rodeo fairgrounds.
800-637-2444 •  EllensburgRodeo.com