The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival is gearing up to deliver a hefty dose of the Wild West at William S. Hart Park on April 20-21. According to an announcement from the City of Santa Clarita, this year's 28th edition is serving up a pile of attractions for the whole family. From the heat of the blacksmith's forge to trick roping and panning for gold, the festival offers a multitude of activities for attendees from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.
Festival goers can step back in time with a variety of living history exhibits. "Gather ‘round the forge with Wishbone McCray and Manflo Jones at the Blacksmith’s Shop," where tales of the West and the clanging of metal come to life, according to the City of Santa Clarita. You can even snag a personalized horseshoe to take home. The festival also features The New Buffalo Soldiers, who share stories of black men in the frontier, and a slew of hands-on activities via Gilchrist Farm’s Pioneer Corner, including wool spinning and candle making.
Thrill-seekers can test their cowboy skills, taking a whirl on a mechanical bull or trying their luck at archery and hatchet throwing. For the competitive crowd, the Goldrush Games offer a western-themed carnival experience. Not to be outdone, the Bootscoot Bosses Line Dance Crew will be do-si-doing with dance lessons from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., "with lessons beginning every hour."
Admission to the festival is free but hold your horses—it's not just all ropes and rides. An array of live music can be heard across three stages throughout the park. And for those looking for a more exclusive experience, special ticketed performances, and VIP packages are now available. The little ones can marvel at Barnyard animal presentations and for anyone needing to cool their spurs, there's a Chill Zone courtesy of the Include Everyone Project. For the full rundown on tickets for these extra adventures, folks can visit CowboyFestival.org.
