Cheyenne Frontier Days facts for kids
Cheyenne Frontier Days is a huge outdoor rodeo and festival celebrating the Old West. It has been held every summer since 1897 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The event calls itself the "World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration."
It is one of the biggest events of its kind in the world, attracting nearly 200,000 visitors each year. The celebration lasts for ten days at the end of July. Because of its long and exciting history, Cheyenne Frontier Days was added to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008.
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What is Cheyenne Frontier Days?
Cheyenne Frontier Days is a mix of thrilling rodeo action, fun concerts, and a journey back in time to the days of cowboys and the Old West. People come from all over the United States and other countries to experience it. The weather is usually warm and sunny, perfect for all the outdoor activities.
A special event before the festival officially begins is the Cattle Drive. Hundreds of steers (a type of cattle) are herded by cowboys on horseback. They travel right through the city streets to Frontier Park, just like in the old days. It's an amazing sight that kicks off the celebration.
The whole festival is run by a small full-time team and about 3,000 volunteers who help make the event happen every year.
The Main Event: The Rodeo
The rodeo is the heart of Cheyenne Frontier Days. It has won the award for "Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year" from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) many times.
PRCA ProRodeo
The rodeo runs for nine days and features more events than most other rodeos. Top cowboys and cowgirls come to compete for over $1 million in cash and prizes.
Some of the exciting events you can see every day include:
- Roughstock Events: These are events where riders try to stay on a bucking animal. They include bull riding, bareback bronc riding (no saddle), and saddle bronc riding (with a saddle).
- Timed Events: These events are a race against the clock. They include steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, women's breakaway roping, and women's barrel racing.
After all the competitions, the cowboy or cowgirl who did the best across multiple events is named the All-Around Champion. There are also other fun events like trick riding and the wild horse race.
PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Since 2001, Frontier Days has hosted a special event just for bull riding. As of 2025, this event is part of the PRCA's Xtreme Bulls tour. It features some of the best bull riders in the world competing against the toughest bulls.
Fun Things to Do and See
Besides the rodeo, there are many other attractions for the whole family.
Free Pancake Breakfasts
Three times during the festival, the local Kiwanis club hosts a huge free pancake breakfast for everyone. They serve over 100,000 pancakes cooked on special army stoves. It's a tradition that started in 1952.
The Grand Parade
On several mornings, the Grand Parade travels through downtown Cheyenne. You can see beautiful floats, antique horse-drawn carriages, and marching bands. Many of the floats are historic and have been used in the parade since 1926.
Indian Village
The Indian Village is a special area where you can learn about Native American culture. It is free to visit and has been part of Frontier Days since 1898. You can watch traditional dancing, listen to music and stories, and see cultural exhibits.
Behind the Chutes Tours
You can take a free tour to see what happens behind the scenes at the rodeo. The tour follows the path the bulls and bucking horses take to get to the arena. You'll see the pens where the animals are kept and walk across the main arena.
Old Frontier Town
Step back in time at the Old Frontier Town. This area looks like a town from the Old West. You can visit shops, see craftspeople at work, and meet characters dressed in historical clothing.
Carnival Midway
For those who love thrills, the Carnival Midway has plenty of rides, games, and tasty food. The carnival is open every day of the festival.
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Show
A highlight of the week is the air show featuring the Thunderbirds. This famous jet team has been performing at Frontier Days since their first public show in 1953. They perform amazing tricks in the sky over the nearby F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
Other Nearby Attractions
Old West Museum
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is open all year. It has a large collection of horse-drawn carriages and exhibits about the history of the festival. A famous statue of the legendary bull rider Lane Frost is located near the entrance. The museum also has a Hall of Fame for rodeo legends and music stars.
Fort D.A. Russell Days
F.E. Warren Air Force Base has a long history with Cheyenne. During Frontier Days, the base hosts special tours where visitors can see historic homes and learn about the base's role in the nation's defense.
History of the Festival
- 1897: The first Cheyenne Frontier Days was held. It started as a small, one-day cowboy roundup.
- 1908: A special train began bringing visitors from Denver to the festival. This tradition continued for many years.
- 1926: The parade became more organized with beautiful floats that are still used today.
- 1996: A book called Let's Go! Let's Show! Let's Rodeo! was written by Shirley E. Flynn, telling the complete history of the event.
- 2020: For the first time in its history, the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned the following year.
See also
- Union Pacific 844
- Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
- National Finals Rodeo
- Rodeo bareback rigging
- Wyoming Transportation Museum
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Arena
- Livestock
- Dan Collins Taylor
