California Cowboy Festivals & Events

Day of the Cowboy July 22, 2023

Celebrate Western Heritage! From Western movies & shows filmed among the great landscapes of the Golden State and celebrated each year at the Lone Pine Film Festival -- to the roots of ranching before the Gold Rush -- California's authentic Western lifestyle can be felt at festivals, rodeos and fairs. Important heritage events grew out of the Rancho era, a time when Mexicans were deeded large swaths of Alta California following Spain's abandonment of mission holdings in the early 1800's. Enjoy the Best of the West right here in California.

California cowboys don't get quite the attention that likes of wealthy moguls such as Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg receive, but they work hard, get their hands blistered and do an honest day's work out on the farm or range, bringing home the bacon so we all can eat. April is one of the biggest months to celebrate California's cowboys and cowgirls — and even dress like them, if you want. This week the big Cowboy Festival in Santa Clarita pays homage to the region's rich Western heritage.

California Country

California Rodeos are community events with arena sports competitions for cowboys & and cowgirls. They often include dances, parades and BBQs in a festival atmosphere. Events such as professional bull riding are large draws appearing in urban area venues. Rodeos, however, may be signature events in areas with ranches and farms not usually found in California's major city centers.

VINTON: Sierra Valley Grange Cowboy Poetry and Music Show April 28-29, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
$30, sierravalleygrange.org
Sierra Valley Grange Hall 
92202 Highway 70
Vinton, CA
Cowboy Poetry and Music Show sponsored by the Sierra Valley Grange. Friday features optional Lasagne Dinner $20; Saturday serving optional Country Style Pork Ribs $20. This is a benefit for Sierra Valley Grange #466
Line Up:  Gary Allegretto, Richard Elloyan with Steve Wade, Larry Maurice

OAKDALE: Cowboy Museum Cowgirl Luncheon April 10, 2019
oakdalecowboymuseum.org
he Cowgirl Luncheon is an annual Museum event to promote cowgirl camaraderie and kick off Rodeo week in Oakdale. The event starts with with a glass of champagne, as 450 cowgirl make their way into the hall for an afternoon of fun.

SANTA CLARITA: Cowboy Festival April 22-23, 2023 in Old Town Newhall
Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival cowboyfestival.org
$11.54-up
Los Angeles County's premier Western music festival.

 

RED BLUFF: Red Bluff Round-Up April 19-21, 2019
$15-up for most events, redbluffroundup.com
A rodeo, skydiver, wild pony race, concert, chili cook-off and more

NORCO: Horse Week April 12-21, 2019
norcohorseweek.com

PLYMOUTH: Days of 49 Wagon Train  Thursday- Sunday April 24-28, 2019
The colorful Kit Carson Mountain Men Days of 49 Wagon Train re-enactment through the Gold Country features an authentic wagon train of 16 horse-drawn covered wagons. Start: Amador County Fairgrounds | through Plymouth | Drytown | Amador City | Sutter Creek | Jackson. Ends in Jackson with a celebration of California pioneer heritage. The public is invited to join the wagon train nightly for barbecue dinners and casual entertainment, such as singing by the campfire. On Saturday enjoy music, Gold Rush-era activities and fun at Kennedy Mine. Jackson hosts Days of 49 Wagon Train Parade | touramador.com

PARADISE: Gold Nugget Days TBA

INDIO: Stagecoach (Music) Festival  April 26-28, 2019

LOS ANGELES: Western Music Association Showcase Ongoing 3rd Sunday every month, Noon-3 p.m.
Autry Museum of the American West
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
(323) 667-2000
theautry.org
Join musicians and cowboy poets as they perform stories and songs of the West and the American cowboy!

ELK GROVE: Elk Grove Western Festival May 3-5, 2019
Elk Grove Regional Park
Elk Grove, CA
elkgrovewesternfestival.org

• Parade Saturday  at 10 a.m. on Elk Grove Blvd at the corner of Emerald Oak Drive proceeding to Elk Grove High School back parking lot. Entries celebrate the history of the Elk Grove Western Festival. 
• Annual Elk Grove Western Festival & BBQ Championship, a Kansas City BBQ Society event. May 3-4, 2019 elkgrovebbqchampionship.com
• Carnival Friday night
• Weekend entertainment, food, classic cars, art exhibition showing the talents of you local High School Students, the Kid's Zone, Crafter's and carnival throughout.

BANNING: Wild West Festival May 18-19, 2019, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Gilman Historic Ranch & Wagon Museum
1901 W. Wilson St.
Banning, CA 92223
artofthepass.com
$ car
Old West reenactments, Western music, living history, gold planning, blacksmith, apple peeling, flint knapping, ice cream making, art show and more. Past performers have included Foothill Ramblers and Border Renegades

BISHOP: Bishop Mule Days May 21-26, 2019
Tri-County Fairgrounds
Sierra St. & Fair Drive
Bishop, CA
(760) 872-4263 Tickets
muledays.org

VACAVILLE: Fiesta Day May 23-25, 2019
Town Square
Vacaville, CA
downtownvacaville.com
Kick up your heels for a weekend of music, vendors and Old West style.

VALLEY CENTER: Western Days May 25, 2019
Valley Center Elementary School
28751 Cole Grade Road, Valley Center
Western Days Carnival VC Library, 29200 Cole Rd.
Chili Cookoff usually at VC Fire Station, 28234 Lilac Rd.
Parade  10 a.m.-12 p.m. Route is reversed from this traditional route: Valley Center Road, Cole Grade to Old Road
Pancake Breakfast 7 a.m.
westerndays.org

McKINLEYVILLE: McKinleyville Pony Express Days  May 29-June 1, 2019 + Gymkhana June 1-2, 2019
mckinleyvillechamber
Annual festival includes a Western barn dance, cook-off, rodeo and more.

YREKA: Gold Rush Days June 15, 2019, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
 yrekachamber.com

MIDDLETOWN: Middletown Days Festival June 14-16, 2019
Midddletown Central Park
15299 Central Park Road
21410 N. Santa Clara Ave.
Middletown, California
middletowndays.org
Includes a heritage parade with Western, Old West theme.  June - 3rd week

PLACERVILLE: The Wagon Train June 1-8, 2019
Wagon Train from Zephyr Cove, Nevada to Placerville, California makes it trek over Hwy 50
hwy50wagontrain.com
Wagon Train - 69th Annual. Apply to ride!
 Stateline, Nevada to Placerville, California

WRIGHTWOOD: Wrightwood Mountaineer Days July 6-7, 2019, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. A free, two-day family oriented festival. Free admission, wrightwoodchamber.org

NORCO: Day of the Cowboy July 28, 2019 tentative
George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center
3737 Crestview
Norco, CA, 92860
(951) 377-7040
Free admission, $5 parking, norco.ca.us

YUCAIPA: Old West Days August 2-4, 2019
Los Rios Rancho A Riley Family Operation
39611 Oak Glen Road
Oak Glen, CA, 92399
Free daytime admission, losriosrancho.com
Experience 19th century American West with historical demonstrations, frontier crafts, old time music jam sessions, and cowboy encampments. Daytime admission is FREE, evening events fee
Chuck Wagon Super Show August 3, 2019, 6-9:30 p.m. ticket required for dinner event, pre-purchase, losriosrancho.com
As the sun sets over Wilshire peak the campfire is lit -- strike up the band to usher in a Summer evening cowboy style. Enjoy classic trail ballads and cowboy poetry while our farm crew serves up a hearty Chuck-wagon dinner served straight from  Dutch ovens.

BANNING: Stagecoach Days September 5-8, 2019
 Parade on Saturday
Grand Canyon Rodeo The Stagecoach Days Association is bringing back Friday and Saturday Grand Canyon Rodeo. Carnival presented by Christianson Amusements, live entertainment on Friday & Saturday evening.
A.C. Dysart Park
2107 W. Victory
Banning CA
stagecoachdays.net
Events include: Carnival | Contests | Cowboy Church | Entertainment | Grand Marshall | Kid Zone | Miss Stagecoach Days Rodeo Queen | Parade | Rodeo Arena | Vendors | Western Saloon Whiskerino Contest | Wild West Events. Stagecoach Days includes the popular Wild West Gunfighter, encampment, and costume competition hosted by the Border Renegades. This years event will include a prize money pool for gunfighter and encampment competitors. Stagecoach Days also has a parade that goes through downtown Banning.

WILLITS: Emandal Cowboy Poetry September 28, 2019
emandal.com
Cowboy Poetry event are $25 per person, $30 gate approx.
Tickets can be purchased via e-mail through 
Annual Concert on the Lawn features Western Music and Poetry with Doris Daley and Doc Mehl Poems and Music from the Million Dollar Resort! Also enjoy the  Apple Pie Throwdown. Many people like to go for swim in the Eel River, take a walk through the garden, or have a picnic lunch on the lawn.

SUTTER CREEK: Sutter Creek Heritage Days September 22, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Presented By: Sutter Creek Community Benefit Foundation All donations from the event will be put towards the restoration of Sutter Creek's Historic assets. Take a stroll through Sutter Creek's colorful past and celebrate its' historic legacy and experience  Sutter Creek during the Gold Rush! Try your hand at Gold Panning, take a ride on a real Stage Coach, hear historians tell stories of the past and visit Sutter Creeks' amazing historical sites, some that are rarely open to the public. Free, suttercreek.org

NORCO: Norco Horse Affair October 4-6, 2019
3737 Crestview Dr
Norco, CA 92860
norcohorseaffair.com

OAKLAND: Oakland Black Cowboy Parade & Festival Saturday, October 5, 2019
Parade 10 a.m. | Festival 12 p.m.

LONE PINE: Lone Pine Film Festival October 10-13, 2019
lonepinefilmfestival.org
Lone Pine Film Festival pays tribute to the Eastern Sierras and Alabama Hills west of Lone Pine. Since the early 1920s, these rugged rock formations and meandering gullies have played a starring role as Hollywood's Western backdrop for cowboy action thrillers featuring Hopalong Cassidy, Randolph Scott, Gene Autry, Tim Holt and Roy Rogers. William Shatner, Kevin Bacon and Robert Downey Jr. have all filmed in the shadow of Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States, in such films as Star Trek, Tremors, and Ironman.

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA: Living History Days  October 5, 2019, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Meet mountain men, Civil War soldiers, Victorian ladies,  horse-drawn vehicles inside the Plaza Stables and soda in the historic Plaza Hotel Saloon, Location: SJB State Historic Park. On December 1, enjoy the festive, holiday atmosphere with Cowboy Christmas Songs. sanjuanbautistaca.com

POWAY: Rendezvous in Poway October 6, 2019, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Old Poway Park
14134 Midland Road
Poway, CA
Free
poway.org
History comes to life as you walk back in time to the 1820-1890's at Rendezvous in Poway
The City of Poway, along with the living history groups Shadow River Regulators, and the Apache Canyon Gang, present the annual event. Experience history first hand, interact with period correct historical encampments, meet Mountain Men, Cowboys, Pioneers, and much more. Experience gun fighting reenactments and mock train robberies, Ride the steam locomotive train for a nominal fee, Walk through the Boardwalk, Craft Market and see beautiful hand crafted arts. Visit the Nelson House and Heritage Museum

LOOMIS: Annual Cowpoke Fall Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering November 7-10, 2019
Loomis, California

LOS ANGELES: American Indian Arts Marketplace November 9-10, 2019, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Autry National Center
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA

SONORA: Sonora Craft & Music Festival November 29-December 1, 2019
Mother Lode Fairgrounds
Sonora, CA
fireonthemountain.com

More Cowboys

BUENA PARK: Buena Park Silverado Days October 18-20, 2019
silveradodays.com

TEMECULA: Western Days September

 Western Days is back celebrating Temecula's heritage from a ranch town. Enjoy pony rides, street vendors, entertainers and the Old Town Temecula Gunfighters high noon shoot-out. Come out and help us showcase our community pride. Town Square Park. temeculaca.gov

OAKDALE: Oakdale Cowboy Museum Annual Dinner October 5, 2019
oakdalecowboymuseum.org

YERMO: Calico Days  September 28-29, 2019, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
36600 Ghost Town Road
I-15 at Ghost Town Road Exit
Yermo, CA 92398
1-800-86-CALICO
Festival admission approx. $10 , $5 age 4-11 years. Free age 3 & under, sbcountyparks.com

VISALIA: Cowboy Roundup October
$, visaliamightyoakchorus.org
All our hard work comes together right here at the annual Fall Roundup. Western Heritage! Clarence Ritchies Barn -16338 Avenue 308, Visalia, California

ANGELS CAMP: Mark Twain Wild West Fest October 19, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Main Street Angels Camp, CA
Free admission, marktwainwildwestfest.com

MOORPARK:  Western Weekend October 19-20, 2019, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
3370 Sunset Valley Rd.
Moorpark, CA
$22, underwoodfamilyfarms.com
Billhillyz | Banjo  Cowpoke | Jumbo Shrimp Circus | Western Sidewalk Swindles | Pig Races | Heide on Horse

TWENTYNINE PALMS: Pioneer Days October 17-20, 2019
 visit29.org
 Little Miss & Master's Pageant: At the Elks Lodge #2134.   Carnival Luckie Park
Saturday: Parade 10 a.m.
Chili Dinner 6 p.m.
Old Timers Gathering: 1-4 p.m. Old Schoolhouse Museum.
​Sunday 12-4 p.m. Carnival
Lego Tournament
Pancake Breakfast
Pet Parade
Pioneer Days began in 1937 with a community May Day affair in which all school children participated. The grammar school furnished a rhythm band, and a queen and her court were chosen from the high school. The hit of the day was the comedy provided by a group of townsmen who dressed up as girls and clowned through a May Day dance of their own. Their May Pole was a crooked tree branch stuck in a nail keg with dangling carpet rags for streamers. Today, Pioneer Days activities have grown with its population, and the celebration has become an annual four-day event.

MONTEREY: Monterey Cowboy & Music Festival No festival in 2019
November 3, 2018 montereycowboy.org
Fairgrounds

DEATH VALLEY:  Death Valley 49ers Encampment November 4-10, 2019
Death Valley, CA deathvalley49ers.org/encampment/

OAKDALE: Annual Cowboy Christmas  November 29-30, 2019 
 Cowboy Santa arrives on horseback at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
oakdalecowboymuseum.org
 The Oakdale Cowboy Museum will be celebrating the Annual Cowboy Christmas Gift and Craft Show  at the Gene Bianchi Community Center in Oakdale. Cowboy Santa arrives on horseback.

COWBOY MUSEUMS
The Oakdale Cowboy Museum is dedicated to preserving our local western history. Become a member and make a difference. oakdalecowboymuseum.org

COWBOY SINGER, POET

Dave Stamey Lemon Cove, CA
davestamey.com

RAMONA: Old West & Bluegrass Fest
ramonabluegrassfest.com

HELENDALE Mojave River Trail Days 
Helendale Community Park
15425 Wild Road • Helendale (Helendale Rd & Wild Rd)
Extreme Cowboy Race Civil War Encampments & Re-Enactments 

PETALUMA: Wiskerino Contest  An annual tribute to facial hair, Whiskerino no info 2018
petalumawhiskerino.com

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.