Cheyenne Frontier Days...2012 The Daddy of 'Em All!
By: Mell Rose
Cheyenne Frontier Days
An outdoor rodeo - a Western celebration - and one helluva party held annually since 1897 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) has so much to offer... EVERYONE! From Championship Bull Riding shows to outdoor concerts. It's ten fun filled days. There is a Behind the Chutes Tour, kettle corn, Native American dancing, hand made saddles and leather goods, root beer on tap, cotton candy, chuckwagon cookoff, USAF Thunderbirds air show, acrobatic horse riders, turquoise jewelry, vintage clothing, pancake breakfasts and even steerbucks coffee. There's also a Midway Carnival where they offer tons of rides and Carnival games and the Old West Museum and the Indian Village will thrill and fascinate all ages.
Frontier Days and it's top-notch rodeo is a Wyoming tradition. There is a reason it's called "The Daddy of 'Em All"! With world class competitors you get superstar entertainment. With some of the most skilled cowboys in America competing in bronco and bull riding, steer wrestling and roping the excitement is non-stop. If you've never been to a rodeo, I highly recommend it. It's fun, thrilling and far more exciting than you think.
The Grandstand Arena is featured in the center of the fairgrounds. It is packed with entertainment day and night. From the daytime rodeo's to the night time concerts there was something for every taste. This years performers were:
Zac Brown Band w/Marshall Tucker Band, Sonia Leigh & Nic Cowan
Brad Paisley w/ The Band Perry
Merle Haggard w/ Chancey Williams & the Younger Brothers Band
Reba McEntire w/Rodney Atkins & Hunter Hays
Journey w/ Pat Benatar & Neil Geraldo and Loverboy
Hank Williams Jr w/ guest Chris Young
Blake Shelton w/ David Nail
With so many class acts the Grandstand Arena was always rockin'!
Like most fairs and fair-like events, Cheyenne Frontier Days is crowded with the usual assortment of funnel cake stands, ice cream booths, and kettle corn venders. And like most fairs and events Cheyenne has so much to do. From parades, rodeos, concerts, shopping, fair rides and more, CFD is a great family event. These guys get it right! There are many activities for kids that are free like the Indian Village and the Wild Horse Gulch. There's music and dancing for adults and even a Cowboy Church Service. Cheyenne, Wyoming is a great place to vacation and Frontier Days is a great place to have fun. The party here lasts 10 days every July. Check Cheyenne Frontier Days Website for all the latest information. The 117th Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration is July 19-28, 2013 so be sure to mark your calendars.
I was lucky enough to spend 3 days covering this event. From the rodeo's to the concerts it was all great. On my last night I saw the Blake Shelton show and Oh What a Show it was. He is a huge crowd pleaser and it was the perfect ending for a perfect trip. Many thanks to Blake Shelton, all the cowboys, all the workers and volunteers for letting my inner cowboy loose!!! The Daddy of 'Em All did not disappoint! In fact... They all did a fantastic job!
As for me - I'm already looking forward to next year!