They might as well pass a city ordinance demanding that everyone wear a cowboy hat during Cheyenne Frontier Days. It’s doubtful anyone would protest.
For 10 full days, the Wyoming city of about 55,000 is overtaken by the massive rodeo, carnival and concert series. The event is so big that more than 2,000 locals volunteer to help run the hoedown every year.
Frontier Days chairman Bill Cole says he can’t wait for “the electricity the whole town has. Whether you’re at Frontier Park or downtown, there’s a buzz all around town.”
Cheyenne loves Frontier Days, and that love is what’s kept the festival going for the last 111 years. When “The Daddy of ‘Em All” starts its 10-day run on July 18, visitors from all over the United States will trek across the plains to join the celebration.
Frontier Days isn’t just a rodeo, after all. There’s a lot more to enjoy at this Western tradition, whether you’re a seasoned cowboy or a goggle-eyed greenhorn.
Here are five things we love about Wyoming’s biggest party.
The concerts
Every year, Frontier Days builds a schedule of crowd-pleasing shows in Frontier Park. And it’s not just country cover bands who provide background music. The roster features big names that draw people up from Denver.
The music’s always heavy on the twang — this ain’t New York, y’all — and this year’s lineup includes country superstars like Rascal Flatts (July 19-20), Blake Shelton (July 23) and Sugarland (July 25).
It’s not all slide guitars and fiddles, though. Classic rockers The Guess Who headline the July 18 opening night, and comedian Bill Engvall brings his blue-collar comedy to the stadium July 26.
The rodeo
It’s Frontier Days’ heart and soul.
“It’s kind of the signature event of Wyoming,” says Cole. “It’s still pretty special to us.”
The rodeo runs for nine days at Frontier Park, with more than 10 events at each contest. Bull riding, bucking broncos and barrel racing all get their day in the dirt.
Cole recommends the steer wrestling — burly cowboys chasing and grabbing horned, speedy bovines — and the wild horse race.
“You get three guys who decide to be a cowboy, who try to saddle a wild horse out on the track and ride it around,” says Cole.
Sounds like rough work, but that’s what the rodeo’s about.
The pancake breakfasts
The Cheyenne Kiwanis Club served up its first free Frontier Days pancakes in 1952, and they’ve been flipping flapjacks ever since.
On July 21, 23 and 25, Depot Plaza in downtown Cheyenne will turn into a gigantic House of Pancakes. It’s all no charge: pancakes, ham, coffee and milk to get your belly ready for the Frontier day to come.
Just make sure to get out of bed early — the breakfasts start at 7 a.m. It’s not that they’re worried about running short on food: One 1996 breakfast served a record 16,897 hungry cowpokes. They’ve got 5,000 pounds of pancake mix at the ready just in case.
The shopping
Vendors come “from all over the country with different things you only see at Cheyenne Frontier Days,” says Jerry Ciz, Frontier Days’ public relations chairman. “That’s a huge attraction for us.”
Whether you’re in dire need of a fringed leather jacket, a Navajo blanket or a shiny new belt buckle, vendors are set up throughout Frontier Park. Wander around Wild Horse Gulch, Indian Village or the Exhibit Hall and you’re bound to find something to take home.
For aficionados of Western art, Frontier Days has an outsized gallery all its own.
The Western Art Show and Sale features paintings, sculptures, wood carving and fiber art by 66 contemporary artists. Held at the Old West Museum in Frontier Park, it’s a must for collectors.
The free stuff
It’ll take some gas to get to Wyoming, so save a little cash by checking out free activities around Frontier Park and beyond. “Those are my favorites, the ones that have no admission charge,” says Cix.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds perform a free air show at Laramie County Community College (1400 E. College Drive) at 10 a.m. July 23. See how Western pioneers crafted their cuisine and learned to live on the road at the Chuckwagon Cookoff July 23-26. The Indian Village is open daily, with Native American dancing, music, crafts and educational presentations.
You can even take a free “Behind the Chutes” tour at the rodeo — the tours meet up at least twice a day in front of the Old West Museum.
The best free event of all, though, may be the parades that tromp through downtown Cheyenne. Marching bands, horse-drawn carriages, clowns and mobile attractions of all kinds. They step off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, Tuesday, July 22, Thursday, July 24 and Saturday, July 26.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and Festival
Most events at Frontier Park, 4610 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, Wyo. July 18-27. Rodeos start at 1 p.m. daily, concerts begin at 8 p.m. Professional Bull Riders shows start at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Rodeo tickets are $12.50-$23; Professional Bull Riding tickets are $30.50- $40.50; concert tickets range from $18-$75 depending on seats and artists performing. Package deals are available. Call 800-227-6336 to purchase by phone. See the full schedule of events, purchase tickets and learn more about Frontier Days history at
