Events

November/December 2011 Events

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

Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Ball

Oklahoma City, OK, December 16: Yuletide dance features Michael Martin Murphey headlining a night of entertainment that includes a buffet and a visit from Santa. Michael and his wife, Karen (above), have been known to lead a dance on the dance floor!
405-478-2250 • NationalCowboyMuseum.org

Adventures

Intro Cowgirl Camp
Gila, NM, November 6-11: Join fellow cowgirls-in-training to improve your riding skills and learn horsemanship at a working cattle ranch.
575-535-2048 • DoubleERanch.com

Death Valley ‘49ers Encampment
Death Valley, CA, November 9-13: Celebrate the spirit of the 1849 Gold Rush with music, an art and craft show, cowboy poetry and parades.
866-683-2948 • DeathValley49ers.org

Empire Ranch Foundation’s Centennial Celebration of the Cowboy
Sonoita, AZ, November 5: Spend a day at Empire Ranch and relive cowboy traditions, such as roping and riding, mule packing and saddle making. Shown here is the Empire Ranch in the 1880s.
888-364-2829 • EmpireRanchFoundation.org

Art Shows & Exhibits

Santa Ynez Valley Vaquero Show & Sale
Santa Ynez, CA, November 11-13: Celebrates the lifestyle and renowned horsemanship of the California Vaquero (cowboy) through art.
805-688-7889 • SantaYnezMuseum.org

America’s Horse in Art
Amarillo, TX, Closes 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

Heard Museum’s Spanish Market
Phoenix, AZ, November 12-13: Strolling mariachis, folklorico dancers and artwork by notable Hispanic artists from Arizona and New Mexico.
602-252-8848 • Heard.org

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

Small Works, Great Wonders
Oklahoma City, OK, November 18: Art collectors can purchase paintings and sculptures by more than 100 invited familiar and new artists.
405-478-2250 • NationalCowboyMuseum.org

The Power of Music
Phoenix, AZ, Closes November 27: Exhibits Mark Gardner’s photographs of musicians and their musical instruments taken during 1860-1915. Shown here is an 1870s tintype of a minstrel troupe posing sans blackface.
480-478-6000 • TheMIM.org

Awards Show

Western Music Association Showcase & Awards Show
Albuquerque, NM, November 16-20: Starts off with a swing dance and includes Western Music workshops, performances, contests and awards.
505-563-0673 • WesternMusic.com

Rodeos

Extreme Cowboy Association World Championship
Guthrie, OK, November 4-6: Watch competitors maneuver through a series of challenging obstacles showing horsemanship and speed.
800-595-7433 • LazyE.com

WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo
Amarillo, TX, November 10-13: Championship ranch rodeo, plus cowboy trade and trappings show, and cowboy poetry and music.
806-374-9722 • WRCA.org

Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping
Guthrie, OK, November 11-12: The top 15 steer ropers in the PRCA compete in go-rounds to earn the title as the new world champion.
800-595-7433 • LazyE.com

Celebrity Cutting
Fort Worth, TX, December 2: Cutting competitions, plus live concerts by Sonny Burgess, Sunny Sweeney and Radney Foster. 
817-882-4100 • CelebrityCutting.org

Stockyards Championship Rodeo
Fort Worth, TX, December 2: World’s only year-round rodeo offers two hours of live action, held every Friday and Saturday. 
817-625-1025 • StockyardsRodeo.com

Frontier Fare

Wine Through Time
Edmond, OK, November 10: Help preserve the community’s history by enjoying a wine and food tasting, along with a silent auction.
405-340-0078 • EdmondHistory.org

Ranch Hand Breakfast
Kingsville, TX, November 19: Cowboy breakfast at the 1853 King Ranch includes team roping, camp cooking and cowboy storytelling.
800-333-5032 • King-Ranch.com

Music & Poetry

Heber City Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Buckaroo Fair
Midway, UT, November 2-6: Forty performers, including Riders in the Sky and Michael Martin Murphey, plus a Western art competition.
435-654-3666 • HeberCityCowboyPoetry.com

Tombstone Western Music Festival
Tombstone, AZ, November 4-6: Features performances by Don Edwards, Way out West, the Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Rusty Richards.
520-457-2295 • TombstoneWesternMusicFestival.org

Bluegrass Festival & Fiddle Championship
Wickenburg, AZ, November 11-13: Featured Bluegrass bands include Thomas Porter & Copper River, the Brombies and Sonoran Dogs.
928-684-5479 • WickenburgChamber.com

Holiday Events

Farolita Lighting
Morrison, CO, November 27: With the backdrop of The Fort restaurant lit up in farolitas, the lantern-lighting ceremony includes seasonal carols, hot spiced apple cider and a pinecone ceremony.
303-839-1671 • TesoroCulturalCenter.org

Polar Express
Durango, CO, Opens November 18: This 1879 railroad offers kids a train ride sharing this Christmas tale on the way to Santa.
877-872-4607 • DurangoTrain.com

Polar Express
Palestine, TX, Opens November 18: This 1881 inmate-built railroad offers hot cocoa and gifts for kids heading to the North Pole.
888-987-2461 • TexasStateRR.com

The Polar Express: The IMAX Experience
Fort Worth, TX, Opens November 18: Watch the 3-D movie of a doubting boy, riding a train on a journey of self-discovery to the North Pole. 
888-255-9300 • FortWorthMuseum.org

Holiday in the Park
Lawton, OK, Opens November 19: Pioneer Christmas parade kicks off the one million Christmas lights illuminating the town park. 
800-872-4540 • LawtonFortSillChamber.com

A Grand Christmas
Deadwood, SD, Opens November 25: Stage show of an 1876 Christmas in Deadwood includes a rowdy saloon and a steam train to the North Pole.
877-907-4726 • DeadwoodMountainGrand.com

Christmas in the Park
Elk City, OK, Opens November 25: Enjoy the romance of old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage rides and check out the centennial carousel.
800-280-0207 • VisitElkCity.com

Glow of Christmas Tour
Duncan, OK, November 25-26: Re-enactors tell about their life in the Foreman home between 1918-41, plus storytelling for children.
580-251-0027 • ThePrairieHouse.com

Denton Holiday Lighting Festival
Denton, TX, December 2: Victorian Christmas celebration includes lighting of the town Christmas Tree at Courthouse Square.
940-382-7895 • DentonHolidayLighting.com

Christmas Open House
Canyon, TX, December 2-3: A pioneer Christmas comes to life with Victorian-era tales, ranch music and Old West holiday crafts.
806-651-2244 • PanhandlePlains.org

Christmas at Old Fort Concho
San Angelo, TX, December 2-4: Enjoy a Victorian Christmas at this Buffalo Soldiers fort, with original and restored structures.
325-481-2646 • FortConcho.com

Wildlife

Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
Haines, AK, November 9-13: The largest gathering of Bald Eagles in the world offers up workshops, tours and entertainment. 
907-766-3094 • BaldEagleFestival.org

Wild Horse and Burro Adoptions
Pauls Valley, OK, December 13: Wild horses and burros from Western states offered for adoption to folks providing long-term care.
866-468-7826 • BLM.gov

Wild West Festivals

Cave Creek Museum Wild West Benefits
Cave Creek, AZ, November 4-5: Two nights of cowboy ballads and stories by Bob Boze Bell, Marshall Trimble, Dolan Ellis and others.
480-488-2764 • CaveCreekMuseum.com

Mesa Old West Days
Mesa, AZ, November 11-12: Showcases pioneer and territorial history of the city, with Western merchants and artisans, and re-enactments.
480-898-3878 • MesaOldWestDays.com

Dr. Curall’s Medicine Show & Old West Extravaganza
Yuma, AZ, November 11-13: The 1800s comes to life in Old West stage shows, period music performances and Quechan native village.
928-580-6704 • DrCurall.com