By City Manager Ken Striplin
Did you know that we are already less than three months away from the 29th Annual Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival? On Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, get ready for William S. Hart Park (24151 N. Newhall Avenue) to be completely transformed into the Wild West. Explore living history exhibits, enjoy live music on three stages and take part in activities for all ages. Explore a unique shopping experience featuring one-of-a-kind treasures, and savor authentic cowboy cuisine that celebrates Santa Clarita’s Old West traditions. Together, these elements honor the City’s rich Western heritage and brings our history to life.
If you ask me, William S. Hart Park is the perfect location for the Cowboy Festival. When you walk through the gates, you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. In each direction, you’ll see attractions that will immerse you in the cowboy lifestyle, with festivalgoer-favorites like hatchet throwing, archery, panning for gold, mechanical bull riding and more. For a deeper dive into frontier life, exploring the living history experiences will offer a glimpse into the Old West. Engage in conversations with The New Buffalo Soldiers as they care for their horses, take a photo with the iconic trick roper and watch as skilled blacksmiths man the forge – you can even get a horseshoe with your name stamped on it.
Throughout each day, you won’t want to miss the incredible live music performed across three stages: The Mane Stage, The Whistle Stop Stage and Hart Hall. Enjoy a unique blend of cowboy, country, folk and bluegrass music that will have you singing along. For those who enjoy line dancing – join the Bootscoot Bosses Line Dance Crew to learn a new dance routine every hour.
If you ask past attendees, some would say that their favorite part consists of the unique shopping experience that the event brings, along with all of the classic food and beverages. The Cowboy Festival offers an unparalleled marketplace across three distinct areas throughout William S. Hart Park. There’s Sutler’s Row, a carefully-curated collection of Western goods and merchandise, where you can find everything from vintage fashion to handcrafted leather goods. Mercantile Row delivers an authentic Old West shopping ambiance that has been wildly popular among attendees and the food court is a flavorful hub for all the cowboy-inspired eats such as BBQ, brisket, Dutch-oven peach cobbler and refreshing craft beverages.
For those interested in joining in on the fun of the 29th Annual Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, we’re now seeking vendors who share a passion for the Western lifestyle that can offer unique, high-quality products and mouth-watering food and drinks. Vendor applications are open now through Monday, February 3.
There is so much more to look forward to at the 29th Annual Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival. To learn more and submit your vendor application, visit CowboyFestival.org.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.
