Events

September 2011 Events

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

Arizona Best Fest

Prescott, AZ, September 16-18: Kick off the statewide centennial celebration in Arizona’s territorial capital. The party is sure to be just as lively as the above July 4 celebration held on Whiskey Row in 1907.
928-777-1100 • PrescottArizonaCentennial.org

RUN WITH THE BUFFALO
Texas State Bison Restoration Celebration
Quitaque, TX, September 17: A celebration of rancher Charles Goodnight’s dream as herds of buffalo once again roam freely at Caprock Canyons. 
806-455-1492 • TPWD.State.TX.us

ADVENTURES
Intro Cowgirl Camp
Gila, NM, Sept. 4-9 & Oct. 23-28: Join fellow cowgirls-in-training to improve your riding skills and learn horsemanship at a working cattle ranch.
575-535-2048 • DoubleERanch.com

Range Creek Archaeology Tour
Price, UT,  Sept. 17-18 & Oct. 8-9: Tour Fremont rock art at Book Cliffs and the Range Creek ranch house, with option to stay at the 1879 Tavaputs Ranch.
800-860-5262 • CanyonlandsFieldInst.org

Tex’s Wild West Ride
Edgewood, NM, September 21-24: Ride to the ranch where Oliver Loving (Goodnight-Loving Trail) was fatally attacked by Indians in 1867. 
505-550-9508 • BillyTheKidTrailRides.com

Cowgirl Up at the Bar W
Whitefish, MT, Sept. 25-Oct. 1 & Oct. 9-15: Days of cattle work and fly-fishing, plus spa treatments, Montana home cooking and Country dancing.
866-828-2900 • BarWGuestRanch.com

Adults Only Week
Whitefish, MT, October 2-8: Days of cattle work, fly-fishing and trail rides, plus wagon rides, square dancing and campfire cookouts.
866-828-2900 • BarWGuestRanch.com

Billy the Kid’s Regulator Ride
Lincoln, NM, October 9-14: Follow the Kid’s bloody hoofprints during the 1878-81 Lincoln County War to the Kid’s escape at Fort Sumner. 
505-286-4585 • Great-American-Adventures.com

Advanced Cowgirl Camp
Gila, NM, October 9-14: Take lessons in horsemanship, round up cattle, ride to Indian ruins and compete in a mini rodeo.
575-535-2048 • DoubleERanch.com

Wyatt Earp’s Vendetta Ride
Tombstone, AZ, October 16-21: Shadow Wyatt Earp and his posse’s 1882 trail of retribution, joined by historian Bob Boze Bell; end at Helldorado Days.
505-286-4585 • Great-American-Adventures.com

The Tunstall Ride
Edgewood, NM, October 19-22:  Enjoy a ride-by tour of the Tunstall home and one of Billy the Kid’s hideouts, or opt for the historical trail ride.
505-550-9508 • BillyTheKidTrailRides.com

ART SHOWS
Buckaroo Heritage Western Art Roundup
Winnemucca, NV, September 2-4: First organized by artist Carl F. Hammond, show offers buckaroo art and gear, and Buckaroo Hall of Fame auction.
541-573-2921 • BuckarooArtist.com

Heart of the West
Lander, WY, September 11-18: Invitational contemporary Western art show and cowboy gear exhibition, plus a quick-draw contest. 
800-433-0662 • HeartOfTheWest.com

Rendezvous Royale
Cody, WY, September 20-24: Western arts celebration with art show and auction, fashion show, furniture exhibits and an elegant ball. 
888-598-8119 • RendezvousRoyale.org

Scottsdale Western Art Walk
Scottsdale, AZ, October 20: Tour classic and contemporary Western and American Indian art at Old Town galleries (our favorite is Abe Hays’s).
480-990-3939 • ScottsdaleGalleries.com

America’s Horse in Art
Amarillo, TX, Through November 12: Steve Devenyns is the signature artist for this year’s showing of art that honors America’s horses.
806-376-5181 • AQHA.com

AUCTIONS
American Indian & Western Art
Cincinnati, OH, September 9: Artifacts and art, including an 1869 Indian bison hunt painting, an 1873 Western landscape by William Davis.
513-871-1670 • Cowans.com

Past & Present Master Artists of the American West
Jackson, WY, September 17: Bid on artworks by Maynard Dixon, Frank Tenney Johnson, Edgar Payne, Frederic Remington and C.M. Russell.
866-549-9278 • JacksonHoleArtAuction.com

American Indian Art
Ganado, AZ, September 17: Contemporary art ranges from Hopi katsina dolls to Navajo rugs, and includes pottery, jewelry and cradle boards.
928-755-3475 • FriendsOfHubbell.org

Collectible Firearms
Dallas, TX, September 18: Featuring the Alfred Cali Colt collection, including cased models of Colt’s 1851 Navy and an 1849 Pocket Model.
415-777-4867 • GregMartinAuctions.com

John Wayne Collection
Los Angeles, CA, October 3-6: An iconic eyepatch is one item up for bid out of more than 750 of the Duke’s costumes, scripts and awards.
800-872-6467 • HA.com

CATTLE DRIVES
Fall Cattle Drive
Whitefish, MT, September 17-24: Cover 50,000 acres in this cattle drive to the Blackfoot reservation and ride to the Canadian border.
866-828-2900 • BarWGuestRanch.com

COMPETITIONS
Miss New Mexico Saloon Girl Contest
Eagle Nest, NM, September 3-5: Compete in a saloon girl costume contest, dance the hoedown and win door prizes at the 1898 saloon.
800-821-2093 • LagunaVistaLodge.com

Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials
Meeker, CO, September 7-11: Watch or compete in the sheepdog herding, and chow down on pancake breakfasts and lamb barbecue
970-878-0111 • MeekerSheepdog.com

Texas State Gold Panning Championship
Llano, TX, September 23-25: Both adults and kids can compete in this timed gold panning contest to see who gets the nuggets cleared first.
325-247-5354 • LlanoExpo.com

National Cavalry Competition
El Reno, OK, September 28-October 1: Horsemanship competition includes Indian Wars, Mexican-American War and Civil War.
405-262-3987 • USCavalry.org

Cowboy Mounted Shooting on the Western Trail
Vernon, TX, October 14-16: A combination of horsemanship and shooting accuracy in competition along the cattle trail blazed in 1874.
940-553-1848 • RedRiverValleyMuseum.org

HERITAGE FESTIVALS
Santa-cali-gon days
Independence, MO, September 2-5: Celebrate this starting point of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails at Independence Square.
816-252-4745 • SantaCaliGon.com

Fiesta de Septiembre
Wickenburg, AZ, September 3: Celebrates Hispanic heritage with folklorico dancers, mariachi music and arts and crafts.
800-942-5242 • OutWickenburgWay.com

National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration
Lubbock, TX, September 8-11: Chuckwagon cook-off, trick roping, horse-handling demonstrations, cowboy poetry, art exhibits and film seminars.
806-798-7825 • Cowboy.org

Hells Canyon Mule Days
Enterprise, OR, September 9-11: Pay tribute to the tough pack animal at the mule clinic, sale and races, and the Old World Oxen living history.
888-323-3271 • HellsCanyonMuleDays.com

Chokecherry Festival
Lewistown, MT, September 10: Meriwether Lewis drank chokecherry in tea; you can stomp the wild cherry or take part in pit-spitting contests.
866-912-3980 • LewistownChokecherry.com

Walnut Valley festival
Winfield, KS, September 14-18: Western music concerts by Bill Barwick, Prairie Rose Rangers, Bluestem and about 30 other performers.
620-221-3250 • WVFest.com

Fort Bayard Days
Silver City, NM, September 16-17: Celebrates Buffalo Soldiers history with guided tours of the 1866 fort and its museum, and a military ball.
575-956-3294 • FortBayard.org

Western Fall Fest
Duncan, OK, September 16-18: Heritage celebration of nation’s largest cattle migration is held at the Chisholm Trail center.
800-782-7167 • OnTheChisholmTrail.com

Standing on the Corner Festival
Winslow, AZ, September 23-24: The Eagles made this corner famous; now live bands gather to share their own stories and traditions in song. 
928-298-3434 • WinslowArizona.org

Standing Bear Powwow
Ponca City, OK, September 23-24: Powwow held in honor of Ponca chief who successfully argued in 1879 that Indians had right to return home.
580-762-1514 • PoncaCityTourism.com

Western Heritage Weekend
Bartlesville/Dewey, OK, September 24-25: Enjoy the Wild West show in Bartlesville and a festival in Dewey paying tribute to actor Tom Mix.
877-273-2007 • Bartlesville.com

Wild West Show
Olathe, KS, September 24-25: The Santa Fe Trail’s 1865 stagecoach stop hosts re-enactors, chuckwagon cook-off and trick performers.
913-971-5111 • Mahaffie.org

Rex Allen Days
Willcox, AZ, Sept. 29-Oct. 2: The singing cowboy’s hometown rodeo, with a parade
and concert by Rex Allen Jr. and sons.
800-200-2272 • RexAllenDays.org

Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium
Ruidoso Downs, NM, October 7-9: Try out True West’s “Best Chuckwagon Contest,” plus enjoy Western art and stories, and a Mel Tillis concert.
575-378-4431 • CowboySymposium.org

Agua Fria Festival
Dewey/Humboldt, AZ, October 8-9: Celebrates American Indian heritage with an Indian village, and native dancing and storytelling,.
928-632-0802 • DHMatters.com/Festival

Wild Western Festival
Glendale, AZ, October 14-16: Old West gunfight and stunt shows, Indian dancing, trick horses and period costume and shooting contests.
623-521-3856 • WildWesternFestival.com

Llano River Chuckwagon Cook-off
Llano, TX,  October 14-16: Chuckwagon cook-off on the banks of the Llano River, plus a ranch rodeo, live music and cowboy church.
325-247-5354 • LlanoChuckwagonCookoff.com

Southeastern Cowboy Festival Symposium
Cartersville, GA, October 20-23: Western art history lectures, plus children activities, cowboy church and period demonstrations.
770-387-1300 • BoothMuseum.org

Helldorado Days
Tombstone, AZ, October 21-23: Tombstone’s oldest festival venerates the 1880s lifestyle with gunfight re-enactments and a parade.
888-457-3939 • HelldoradoDays.com

Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering
Fort Worth, TX, October 21-23: Western swing and cowboy poetry, chuckwagon cook-off and rodeo at Fort Worth Stockyards.
888-269-8696 • RedSteagallCowboyGathering.com

Nevada Day
Carson City, NV, October 29: Celebrates 1864 statehood with heritage parade and activities sharing theme of Nevada’s Great Outdoors.
866-683-2948 • NevadaDay.com

HISTORY LECTURES
Fort Reno Tombstone Tales
El Reno, OK, September 17: Shares the stories of Buffalo Soldiers, outlaws and cavalry men who lost their lives at 1874-75 Fort Reno.
405-262-3987 • FortReno.org

Tom Horn & Ed Cantrell Symposium
Buffalo, WY, September 23-24: Wyoming lawmen history talks on Horn’s 1901 murder conviction and Cantrell’s 1978 shooting of his own deputy.
307-684-2218 • MansionHouseInn.com

Walk Through History
El Paso, TX, October 15: Learn the history of some of the 60,000 permanent residents on a walk through an 1872 Texas cemetery.
915-842-8200 • ConcordiaCemetery.org

MUSEUM EXHIBITS
Home Lands
Santa Fe, NM, Through September 11: Homemakers, cowgirls, artists, doctors and politicians at the heart of Western enterprise.
505-476-5200 • NMHistoryMuseum.org

Cowboy Crossings
Oklahoma City, OK, Oct. 14-15: Artworks by Cowboy Artists of America (through Nov. 27) and showcases of cowboy gear (through Jan 8).
405-478-2250 • NationalCowboyMuseum.org

Living the Western Legend
Kerrville, TX, October 22: Works by more
than 20 artists will be featured at this exhibit and sale of Western paintings and bronzes.
830-896-2553 • MuseumOfWesternArt.org

Western Horizons
Denver, CO, Through October 23: Contemporary Realism depictions of wide open spaces and landscapes of the American West.
720-865-5000 • DenverArtMuseum.org

Ranch Women of New Mexico
Santa Fe, NM, Through October 30: Ann Bromberg’s black-and-white photographs of 11 cowgirls and ranchwomen in New Mexico.
505-476-5200 • NMHistoryMuseum.org

Native Roots Modern Form
Denver, CO, Through November 13: Outdoor sculptures connected to native ancestry made by Apache artist Allan Houser (1914-94).
720-865-3500 • BotanicGardens.org

MUSIC & POETRY
Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering
Prescott, AZ, September 15-17: More than 50 cowboy poets and balladeers will perform at this Arizona State Centennial event.
800-322-1927 • AZCowboyPoets.org

Badger Clark Hometown Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering
Hot Springs, SD, September 23-24: Cowboy poetry performers keep up the custom forged by “A Cowboy’s Prayer” poet, state’s first poet laureate.
800-325-6991 • HotSprings-SD.com

Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Durango, CO, Sept. 29-Oct. 2: Hear cowboy poetry and mingle with the cowboy poets on a poet train trip and a trail ride.
970-749-2995 • DurangoCowboyPoetryGathering.org

RE-ENACTMENTS
Fort Bridger Rendezvous
Fort Bridger, WY, September 2-4: The 1842 fort hosts a living history celebration of Rocky Mountain fur trade rendezvous held from 1825-40.
435-793-4570 • FortBridgerRendezvous.net

Gold Rush Days
Sacramento, CA, September 2-5: The 1850s comes to life with a period dance, gunfight re-enactments and Gold Rush artifact displays.
916-808-7777 • SacramentoGoldRushDays.com

Defeat of Jesse James Days
Northfield, MN, September 7-11: Re-enacts the foiled 1876 bank raid in the last town terrorized by the James-Younger Gang.
800-658-2548 • DJJD.org

Younger Brothers Capture
Madelia, MN, September 17: Re-enactment of the 1876 capture of Younger Brothers and Charlie Pitts honors Madelia’s Magnificent Seven.
888-941-7283 • YoungerBrothersCapture.com

Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty
Medicine Lodge, KS, September 23-25: Commemorates the 1867 Treaty of Medicine Lodge for the five Plains tribes.
620-886-9815 •  PeaceTreaty.org

Grand Duke Alexis Rendezvous
Hayes Center, NE, September 24-25: Trail rides and blackpowder contests honor duke’s 1872 buffalo hunt with Gen. Custer and Buffalo Bill.
308-286-3463 • GrandDukeAlexis.com

Fall Traders Encampment
Bartlesville, OK, Sept. 30-Oct. 1: An 1820s-40s mountain man camp features fur trade demonstrations and period wares.
918-336-0307 • Woolaroc.org

Fall Encampment
Fort Gibson, OK, October 8-9: Re-enactors stroll around 1824 military post to interpret the fort’s history up to 1890; plus a period trade show.
918-478-4088 • OKHistory.org

Cactus Jack Walking Tour
Enid, OK, Through October 15: Re-enactments, including the fatal gunfight of Marshal Williams; plus, see historical sites of Old West pioneers.
580-242-2233 • ChisholmTrailCoalition.org

RODEOS
Rodeo of Champions
Elk City, OK, September 2-4: This PRCA rodeo includes calf roping, steer wrestling and bullfighting, plus Old West re-enactments.
800-280-0207 • VisitElkCity.com

Celebrate Bandera
Bandera, TX, September 2-4: Enjoy the cowboy mounted shoot, rodeo, cattle drive, intertribal powwow and gunfight re-enactments. 
830-796-4447 • CelebrateBandera.com

Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Rodeo
Amarillo, TX, September 3-4: Celebrates nearly 70 years of tradition with a rodeo for youth, ages 3 to 18; plus, a free BBQ lunch.
800-687-3722 • CalFarley.org

Oregon Trail Rodeo
Hastings, NE, September 3-5: This PRCA rodeo and rodeo parade commemorates the 1841-69 overland route and its pioneers.
402-462-3247 • AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com

Pendleton Round-up
Pendleton, OR, September 14-17: This PRCA rodeo, held since 1910, includes Indian relay races and Happy Canyon’s Wild West show.
800-457-6336 • PendletonRoundUp.com

Friday Night Rodeo
Kaycee, WY, Through September 16: The Kaycee Lions Club hosts this nightly summer rodeo at the Harold Jarrard Park.
307-738-2444

Ak-sar-ben’s River City Rodeo & Stock Show
Omaha, NE, September 22-25: This PRCA rodeo and stock show features a Buckaroo Bash, rodeo parade, trail rides and concerts.
402-554-9600 • RiverCityRodeo.com

Kansas Championship Ranch Rodeo
Medicine Lodge, KS, September 23-24: Teams compete in WRCA ranch rodeo events like wild cow milking, calf branding and cattle doctoring.
620-886-9815 • PeaceTreaty.org

Western Heritage Roundup
Bowie, TX, September 24-25: This WRCA ranch rodeo also features a chuckwagon cookout, Old West stories and music, and cowboy church.
940-872-1173 • BowieTXChamber.org

TRADE SHOWS

All American Gun & Western Collectible Show
Ruidoso, NM, September 3-4: Nearly 200 tables of guns, knives, saddles, spurs, coins, jewelry, hunting equipment and cowboy gear.
575-257-6171 • TrekWest.com/GunShow

Texas Gun Collectors Show
Fort Worth, TX, October 14-16: A showcase of historical and modern firearms and edged weapons at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
210-323-9519 • TexasGunCollectorsShow.com

WESTERN AWARDS
Rodeo Historical Society Weekend
Oklahoma City, OK, September 23-24: Rodeo Hall of Fame inductions, plus lectures on the sport and a benefit auction to preserve rodeo history.
405-478-2250 • NationalCowboyMuseum.org

Silver Spur Awards
Glendora, CA, October 14: Reel Cowboys organization presents awards that honor modern-day Western films, TV shows and music.
ReelCowboys.org