Cheyenne Frontier Days facts for kids

Frontier Park, where the fun happens!

"Buffalo" Vernon showing off his steer wrestling skills in 1910.

The famous Union Pacific 844 train on its way to Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2007.

Cheyenne Frontier Days is a huge outdoor rodeo and western festival held every year in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It has been happening since 1897! People call it the "World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration." Almost 200,000 visitors come each year to enjoy the fun. Hotels and places to stay fill up fast in Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska during this time. The festival usually runs for ten days around the last full week of July. In 2008, Cheyenne Frontier Days was even added to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame because it's so important to rodeo history.

About the Event

This amazing rodeo brings people from all over the United States and even other countries. Visitors often stay in hotels, motels, or recreational vehicles (RVs). The weather during the festival is usually sunny with temperatures around 81°F (27°C). Cheyenne is also quite high up, about 6,150 feet (1,875 meters) above sea level.

How it Works

Cheyenne Frontier Days has a small team of 18 full-time staff members who work all year. But the real magic happens with about 3,000 volunteers! These amazing people help with everything from setting up before the event to cleaning up afterward, and making sure everything runs smoothly during the festival.

Rodeo Action

Cheyenne Frontier Days is famous for its exciting rodeo events. In 2014, it won the "Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year" award from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) for the 16th time! This rodeo lasts for nine days and has more bull riding and bronc riding sections than any other rodeo. Many top rodeo athletes come here because there's over $1 million in prizes and cash up for grabs!

Rodeo Competitions

The rodeo has two main types of competitions:

Roughstock events: These are the wild ones! Riders try to stay on powerful animals. They include bull riding, bareback bronc riding (no saddle), and saddle bronc riding (with a saddle).
Timed events: These events are all about speed and skill. Cowboys and cowgirls race against the clock. They include steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, and women's breakaway roping and barrel racing.

There are also special events like trick riding (where riders do amazing stunts on horseback) and the wild horse race. After all the events, one person is crowned the All-Around Cowboy for being the best in several different events.

Slack Events

Some rodeo events, especially the timed ones, have so many competitors that they can't all fit into the main afternoon shows. These extra competitions are called "slack events." They usually happen in the morning and are free for everyone to watch!

Bull Riding Shows

Cheyenne Frontier Days also hosts exciting bull riding competitions.

PBR Challenger Series

Since 2022, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Challenger Series has been part of the fun. This is where individual bull riders compete during the summer and fall. Cheyenne started hosting a PBR Challenger Series event in 2024.

Fun Events and Activities

Cheyenne Frontier Days is more than just a rodeo! It also has nightly concerts with popular music and comedy stars, a carnival midway with rides, games, and tasty food. You can also see wild west shows, visit an Indian village, and enjoy many other activities. The event is often called "The Daddy of 'em All®" because it's been around for so long and is known as the biggest rodeo in the world. Most of the events happen at Frontier Park, but some, like the pancake breakfasts, are held in other parts of Cheyenne.

Pancake Breakfasts

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during Frontier Days, you can enjoy a free pancake breakfast! The local Kiwanis club sponsors these breakfasts, and almost 40,000 people enjoy them each year. In 1996, a record 39,111 people came to one breakfast! Over 100,000 pancakes and more than 3,000 pounds of ham are served in one week. This tradition started in 1952. The food is cooked on special military cooking ranges, and the event takes place at the historic Cheyenne Depot Square.

Grand Parade

On the days when there isn't a pancake breakfast, Cheyenne hosts a big Grand Parade in the morning. The parade starts at the Wyoming State Capitol, goes to the Cheyenne Depot Square, and then returns to the Capitol on a different street. The parades used to be quite wild, but in 1926, special floats were created, and they are still used today! The parade now features beautiful floats, old-fashioned carriages pulled by horses, people dressed in period costumes, and fantastic marching bands.

Indian Village

Native American performers have been a part of Frontier Days almost since the very beginning, starting in 1898. One popular attraction is the Native American Village, which is open every day and is free to visit. In the 1960s, a permanent "Indian Village" was set up. Here, you can see authentic dancing, listen to music and storytelling, and experience pow-wows. There are also booths with exhibits and food vendors.

Behind the Chutes Tour

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a rodeo? You can take a free "Behind the Chutes" tour! These tours happen 1 to 3 times a day. You'll follow the path that the bucking broncs and bulls take from their pens to the arena. You'll see where the livestock are kept and how they are guided through gates to the chutes. Then, you'll walk across the arena floor, just like the cowboys and cowgirls do! Sometimes, you might even see animals in the pens during your tour.

Chuckwagon Cookoff

Authentic chuckwagon crews come to Frontier Days to show what life was like on the old Goodnight Trail over 100 years ago. These crews cook meals using traditional ingredients. Their meals are judged, and you can even taste them! They are also judged on their wagon, tools, and campsite. The Championship Cookoff happens on the last demonstration day.

Old Frontier Town

The Old Frontier Town (which used to be called Wild Horse Gulch) is open every day of Frontier Days and is free to enter. It's located between the Old West Museum and the Indian Village. Here, you'll find merchants, guest characters, and craftspeople showing off their skills in different buildings.

Carnival Midway

Right at Frontier Park, near the stadium, you'll find the carnival midway. It's a fair with lots of games, exciting rides, and delicious food vendors. The carnival is open for the entire length of Frontier Days. You can buy different passes for daily fun or for the whole season.

Buckin' A Saloon

This saloon is located right on Frontier Park. It's open from 11 a.m. until midnight, so it's a great spot for anyone enjoying the rodeo during the day. In the evenings, there are often concert ticket giveaways, special drink deals, live bands, and a generally good time! It's open most nights of Frontier Days.

Fiesta Day

One special day during Frontier Days is Fiesta Day! This day celebrates Latino culture with folk dancers and other family-friendly events. There are also concerts by famous Regional Mexican artists.

United States Air Force Thunderbirds

Another exciting annual event is an air show featuring the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron. This amazing show takes place on a Wednesday. The Thunderbirds actually made their first public appearance at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1953 and have been performing there regularly ever since! You can see static displays of aircraft and other flying demonstrations at the Wyoming Air National Guard side of the Cheyenne Regional Airport. The Thunderbirds' main aerobatic display happens over Francis E Warren Air Force Base.

Other Cool Places and Events

Old West Museum and Store

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is open all year round, not just during the festival. There's a small fee to get in. It's located right on Frontier Park. Near the entrance, you'll see a statue of famous bull rider Lane Frost riding a bull. The museum has a huge collection of old western carriages and a permanent exhibit about the history of Cheyenne Frontier Days. During the festival, there's also a Western Art Show and Sale here. The museum is also home to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame, which honors rodeo legends and famous musicians like Lane Frost, Chris LeDoux, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Garth Brooks.

Art Show and Sale

Since about 1980, the annual Western Art Show has been held at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. It kicks off with a special reception on the first day of Frontier Days. This show features top western and wildlife artists using many different art styles. People who buy tickets for the reception get special benefits, like a "buy-it-now" option to purchase art right away or a chance to bid in a live auction before the art is available to everyone. After these special events, anyone can view and buy art at the museum by paying the regular admission fee.

Fort D.A. Russell Days

F.E. Warren Air Force Base and Cheyenne have a long history together. The U.S. Cavalry founded Fort D.A. Russell, which later became the base, in 1867 – the same year Cheyenne was founded! For a few days during Frontier Days, the base offers tours and special events. You can take historic home tours, see military reenactments, and even tour missile systems. The base is located on the edge of Western Cheyenne, just off Interstate 25.

Cowboy Church

Cowboy Church services are held on the first and last Sundays of Frontier Days. These services are usually held in the B Stand, but the location might change. Some services are open to everyone, no matter their faith, while others are specifically for cowboys, like the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys.

Wyoming National Guard Open House

Sometimes, during Frontier Days, the Wyoming National Guard opens its doors to the public for one day. This doesn't happen every year. The open house features displays of equipment from the National Guard and F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Sometimes, the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, "The Leap Frogs," performs amazing jumps at the event! Shuttle buses are available from Frontier Mall to the event.

History Highlights

Cheyenne held its first Frontier Days celebration in 1897. It started as a one-day cowboy roundup.
Clayton Danks, a three-time winner at Cheyenne Frontier Days, is the model for the famous cowboy on the horse Steamboat, which is the symbol for Wyoming's Bucking Horse and Rider trademark.
From 1908 to 1970, a special train almost every year carried travelers from Denver, Colorado, to the Cheyenne Depot Museum. The last train in 1970 had 27 cars and carried over 1,100 guests!
The train trip was brought back in 1992 for the Denver Post's 100th anniversary. It used Amtrak locomotives and carried almost 800 passengers, including the Governor of Colorado.
In 1994, the excursion train became an annual event again. It often featured the famous Union Pacific 844 steam locomotive. Tickets for this popular trip are now chosen by a lottery, and the money helps the Denver Post Community Foundation.
In 1996, Shirley E. Flynn wrote a book about the history of Cheyenne Frontier Days called Let's Go! Let's Show! Let's Rodeo! The book says the celebration was a big success from its very first year.
Cheyenne Frontier Days has won the PRCA Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award many times, including 15 times by 2014 and 10 times in a row! Rodeo experts vote on the finalists for this award.
In 2015, the concert lineup was considered one of the best ever, with stars like Miranda Lambert and Big & Rich.
In 2019, the special excursion train from Denver ended.
In 2020, the entire Cheyenne Frontier Days festival and rodeo had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned in 2021.

Images for kids

Frontier Park, where the fun happens!
"Buffalo" Vernon showing off his steer wrestling skills in 1910.
The famous Union Pacific 844 train on its way to Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2007.