July 2012 Events

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

ADVENTURE

Kit Carson Wagon Train
Monte Vista, CO, July 25-28: Named after region’s famous frontiersman, this horseback ride with covered wagons joins parade for Ski Hi Stampede.
719-850-1757 • ColoradoCowgirls.Net

ANIMAL ADOPTIONS

Wild Horse And Burro Adoptions
Cheyenne, WY, July 20-29: 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

Calgary Stampede Western Art Show
Calgary, AB, July 5-15: A collection of juried Western art by artists whose works were selected for display for Calgary Stampede’s centennial.
800-661-1260 • WesternShowcase.com

Prescott Indian Art Market
Prescott, AZ, July 14-15: Displays of American Indian weavings, pottery, jewelry and paintings, plus enjoy cultural art and craft presentations.
928-445-3122 • Sharlot.org

COMPETITION

Sass Utah State Championship
Price, UT, July 18-21: The cowboy action state shooting championship named after Butch Cassidy’s legendary 1897 Castle Gate Robbery.
435-636-3705 • TheCastleGatePosse.net

HERITAGE FESTIVALS

Ogden Pioneer Days
Ogden, UT, July 6-24: Western heritage festival offers up a PRCA rodeo, barrel races, stagecoach rides and a downtown hoedown.
801-621-1696 • OgdenPioneerDays.com

Laramie Jubilee Days
Laramie, WY, July 7-15: Hometown celebration with a ranch rodeo, kid’s horse show, plus junior bull riding, parade, chili cook-off and brew fest.
800-445-5303 • LaramieJubileeDays.com

John C. Fremont Days
Fremont, NE, July 13-15: Celebration of the American pathfinder offers a rodeo, historical tours, a parade and antique and collectors show.
402-727-9428 • JohnCFremontDays.com

Moorcroft Jubilee
Moorcroft, WY, July 13-15: Celebration not too far from Devils Tower that includes street dancing, chuckwagon breakfast, parade and free barbecue.
307-756-3647 • MoorcroftChamber.com

Cheyenne Frontier Days
Cheyenne, WY, July 20-29: Enjoy the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, an Indian village, a chuckwagon cook-off, concerts, art and more.
800-227-6336 • CFDRodeo.com

Buffalo Bill Days
Golden, CO, July 25-29: A trail ride up to Lookout Mountain to visit Buffalo Bill Cody’s grave, plus a Wild West show, parade and classic car show.
303-279-3342 • BuffaloBillDays.com

Dodge City Days
Dodge City, KS, July 27:  Celebration that includes a PRCA rodeo, indoor craft show, professional barbecue contest, parade and Western art.
620-227-3119 • DodgeCityDays.com

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Willie Nelson’s Fourth Of July Picnic
Fort Worth, TX, July 4: Legendary indoor and outdoor concert event filled with entertaining music of all genres performed on three stages.
817-624-7117 • BillyBobsTexas.com

Fourth Of July Celebration In The Park
Weatherford, OK, July 4: This 1892 Route 66 town offers a family-oriented celebration of live music and evening fireworks at Rader Park.
405-524-6600  • CityofWeatherford.com

MUSIC & POETRY

Big Horn Mountain Music Festival
Buffalo, WY, July 6-8: Fiddle, guitar, mandolin and banjo competitions, performances by Michael Martin Murphey and more, and a Bluegrass camp.
307-684-5544 • BigHornMountainFestival.com

Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering
Encampment, WY, July 20-22: Cowboy poetry and music by Jon Chandler, Dave Stamey, Chuck Larsen, plus historic building tours. 
307-326-8855 • GrandEncampmentGathering.org

POWWOWS

Tamkaliks Celebration
Wallowa, OR, July 20-22: Traditional Wallowa Band of Nez Perce powwow and friendship feast to celebrate their culture with songs and dances.
541-886-3101 • WallowaNezPerce.org

SACRED VISIONS POWWOW
Wadsworth, NV, July 20-22: Community of elders and youth gather to promote and preserve the traditions and cultures of the northern Paiute.
775-560-1551 • Plpt.Nsn.us

July amsh Powwow
Post Falls, ID, July 20-22: The Coeur d’Alene tribe gathers at an encampment for powwow dances, horse memorial ride, art show and auction.
800-523-2464 • Julyamsh.com

RE-ENACTMENTS

1838 Rendezvous
Riverton, WY, July 4-8: Held at 1838 campsite, this Mountain Man re-enactment offers seminars on frontier cooking, tomahawk throwing and more.
307-856-7306 • 1838Rendezvous.com

Oregon State Wagon Train
Milton-Freewater, OR, July 8-22: Wagon train journey follows Oregon Trail from Baker City to the Whitman Mission historic site in Walla Walla.
541-558-3827 • OregonStateWagonTrain.com

Fort Stanton Live!
Fort Stanton, NM, July 13-15: Chautauqua storytellers, Buffalo Soldiers and re-enactors bring 1855 fort’s history to life, plus a candlelight walk.
575-258-5702 • FortStanton.org

Shootout On Whiskey Row
Prescott, AZ, July 28-29: Southwest re-enactment competition hosted by Prescott Regulators & Their Shady Ladies, plus 1800s costume contest.
928-445-1754 • PrescottRegulators.org

RODEOS

Buffalo Bill Cody Stampede Rodeo
Cody, WY, July 1-4: Professional rodeo includes bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.
800-207-0744 • CodyStampedeRodeo.com

Mandan Rodeo Days
Mandan, ND, July 2-4: Ranch rodeo, plus chuckwagon races, Western music concert and a Fourth of July parade and fireworks display.
701-751-2983 • MandanRodeo.com

Grangeville Border Days
Grangeville, ID, July 2-4: Idaho’s oldest rodeo offers local team roping, barrel and steer riding, and a wild horse race, plus Western art show.
208-983-1372 • GrangevilleBorderDays.org

Cattlemen’s Days
Gunnison, CO, July 5-15: This PRCA rodeo offers horse and livestock shows, animal exhibits, evening carnival and cowboy poetry.
800-852-3956 • CattlemensDays.com

Sheridan Wyo Rodeo Week
Sheridan, WY, July 7-15: A PRCA rodeo, Indian relay races, rodeo parade, carnival and Indian powwow and dance, plus nightly performances.
307-672-9715 • SheridanWyoRodeo.com

Snake River Stampede Rodeo
Nampa, ID, July 17-21: PRCA rodeo features bull and saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bareback bronc riding and tie-down roping.
208-466-8497 • SnakeRiverStampede.com

Fort Dalles Days Pro Rodeo
The Dalles, OR, July 19-21: This NPRA rodeo and parade celebrates the town’s history with donkey races, dances and a street fair.
541-980-8171 • TheFortDallesRodeo.com

Tobacco Valley Rodeo
Eureka, MT, July 20-21: Canadian and U.S. contestants compete in NRA/NWRA rodeo, also mutton bustin’ and ladies breakaway roping.
406-253-4858 • Welcome2Eureka.com

Chief Joseph Days Rodeo
Joseph, OR, July 24-28: PRCA rodeo with bucking horse stampede, traditional Indian Dance, parade and a friendship feast.
541-432-1015 • ChiefJosephDays.com

Nebraska’s Big Rodeo
Burwell, NE, July 25-28: This outdoor rodeo features bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding events, plus calf and team roping contests.
308-346-4092 • NebraskasBigRodeo.com

Platte River Rodeo
Saratoga, WY, July 27-28: Amateur rodeo features barrel racing, bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, bull riding and kids mutton bustin’.
307-326-8825 • SaratogaChamber.info