Upwards of 10,000 cowgirls and cowboys will flock to Santa Clarita’s 24th annual Cowboy Festival this week, as the Old Town Newhall five-day event kicks off Wednesday.
Donning boots, hats, plaid and fringe, guests will have their pick of 26 musical guests, food and family activities at William S. Hart Park.
“It’s the place to be for everything cowboy,” City Communications Manager Carrie Lujan said.
New this year, performers Run Boy Run and Tony Furtado are set to perform over the weekend. After a hiatus, the civil war reenactments will be featured as well.
Festival alumni Sons of the San Joaquin and Dave Stamey, whose show is already sold out, will both perform on Friday and Don Edwards will perform on Saturday.
A sold-out Out West Concert Series will kick off the festival Wednesday night. The SCV Film Ranch Tour is also sold out Thursday, but the SENSES Block Party, free of cost, will start at 7 p.m. on Main Street on Thursday.
Hands-on activities will be available for children, including archery and hatchet and knife throwing and entertainment from a rope trick magician and a gun slinger.
“It will really take you back to the old western roots of the city of Santa Clarita,” Lujan said.
The scavenger hunt for Sammy Clarita, a horse stuffed animal with a Santa Clarita 30th anniversary shirt, will debut during the festival. The city’s Instagram page will post clues where to find him, and encourages those who find him to post pictures with the hashtag #IFoundSammyClarita.
Winners of the Youth Poetry Roundup Contest will also perform their original poems on stage at the festival.
Guests may want to bring a little spending money, as a variety of barbeque food, peach cobbler and cowboy merchandise will be for sale.
Admission for the Saturday and Sunday festival are $10 in advance and $13 at the door for adults, $7 in advance and $9 at the door for children three to 12 and free for guests under three years old. The festival opens at 10 a.m. both days and closes at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Cowboy Church on Sunday morning is free at The Master’s University at 8 a.m. The Historical Bus Tour, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is $50 a ticket and will depart from Heritage Junction.
The Walk of Western Stars Induction Ceremony is free at 5 p.m., and a reception for $30 a ticket will proceed at 6 p.m. at The Main. Actor Bo Hopkins and film veterans and Santa Clarita movie ranch owners Andre Veluzat and Renaud Veluzat will be inducted at the ceremony, and a montage of clips of the honorees and a question and answer session will take place at the reception.
To purchase tickets or for more information and event and performance times, visit cowboyfestival.org or call 661-250-3735.
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