Yeehaw! The 30th Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival is almost here with three stages and more than 15 entertainers, food, vendors, a line dancing contest and more.
The two days of cowboy culture are free to attend and will be celebrated at the city of Santa Clarita’s William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Ave. in Old Town Newhall on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
This is a special Cowboy Festival, not only for its success. Thirty years is an impressive run for any event, but now it will be held for the first time at a park entirely managed by the city of Santa Clarita.
William S. Hart Park, formerly under the stewardship of Los Angeles County, is now completely under the management of the city of Santa Clarita.
Santa Clarita Events Administrator David Knutson said the change will allow the Cowboy Festival to add permanent additions to infrastructure to facilitate easier operation of future Cowboy Festivals.
“We are able to use areas we did not have access to before,” said Knutson. “We can put up permanent signs, it’s also exciting to be able to think of new ways to use the property and showcase different city departments like the library system and parks and recreation. Everybody is working together in new ways because they have a real stake in the park.”
The Music
Not only is the Cowboy Festival free to attend, the musical performances are free to enjoy, as are most activities and demonstrations.
Knutson said the festival will feature popular returning stars Dave Stamey, Sourdough Slim, the Messick Family Singers and Krystin Harris.
“Joni Harms and Andy Hedges haven’t been here in several years,” said Knutson. “It’s great to have them back.”
New additions include Olivia Harms (daughter of Joni Harms), Dani Rose, Midnight Cowgirls, The Doohickeys and Jenni Don’t and the Spurs.
“We have a great array of musicians at the tree performance areas,” said Knutson.
Food and Vendors
Knutson said applications for gear vendor spaces more than doubled this year.
“We had to turn people away because we don’t have the space,” he said. “It’s a good problem to have. We were able to add extra space so we could have more vendors.”
There will be three BBQ vendors this year, spread out inside the park.
“We also brought in turkey legs last year,” Knutson. “We had 200 turkey legs and they sold out immediately. The vendor told us they are prepared this year for large crowds.”
Among the returning food favorites is the SCV Rotary peach cobble booth and Wild Bill’s Old-Fashioned Soda.
Fun Activities
Living history reenactors include the New Buffalo Soldiers, the Cowboy Cattle Camp, blacksmiths and a history group representing the Mexican Revolution.
“The Cowboy Cattle Camp guys are great, they started as maybe seven or eight guys a few years ago and now there will be about 30 attending, some from as far away as Europe because they are so excited to be a part of this,” said Knutson.
Gilchrist Farms will offer up a variety of hands-on pioneer living history activities including butter making, panning for gold, leather stamping, wool spinning, laundry washing and more.
There will also be a variety of carnival games.
Line Dancing
“People really love line dancing at the Cowboy Festival,” said Knutson.
The inaugural Line Dance Competition, featuring Line Dance and Country Swing will offer dancers a chance to compete for first place and runner-up prizes. Line Dance (individual) and Jack & Jill (partner). All experience levels welcome for ages 18+.
Prelims will be held Saturday, April 11, 6-9 p.m. at Lucky Luke Brewing 25108 Rye Canyon 91355.
Competitor fee is $10. Free general admission to attend and enjoy the competition. Line dance videos are available at CowboyFestival.org. “You can learn the dances before you compete,” said Knutson.
Finals Night is Friday, April 17, 6-9 p.m. at William S. Hart Park. Free for finalists, $10 general admission.
Daily line dance lessons during the festival will be held at Cowboy Festival’s Horseshoe Honky Tonk, 2-6 p.m.
Dancing into the Dusk
Saturday, April 18, 7-10 p.m. Admission: $10.
Enjoy a night of dancing, games and good vibes at this late-night event at the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival at William S. Hart Park. Line dance instruction will be available throughout the night. Stomp along to a DJ spinning crowd favorites for country swing, two-step and line dancing. Lucky Luke Brewing will be serving beer, wine and seltzers. Food trucks will be on site.
For advance tickets to all line dancing ticketed events visit CowboyFestival.org.
Walk of Western Stars Induction
Cowboy Festival weekend kicks off Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. with the Walk of Western Stars Induction to be held at 24450 Main St., Newhall, CA 91321.
This year’s Walk of Western Stars induction will include Gary Combs and the Happy Family.
Combs is honored for his work as a prolific stunt coordinator, stunt double and second unit director.
The Happy Family includes Don and Edith, Marguerite and Clifford (who were inducted in the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame in 2010), Sean and Ryan, Bonnie (served as president of the United Stuntwomen’s Association) and Jimmy Hock.
After the induction ceremony Knutson encourages attendees to walk down the street to the SENSES block party at 7 p.m. that will feature an “On the Ranch” theme.
“It’s an all cowboy theme. There will be line dancing, a mechanical bull, a good time as always,” he said.
For the entire lineup of entertainment, activities, free and ticketed shows and activities occurring Thursday-Sunday in conjunction with the 30th Cowboy Festival visit CowboyFestival.org.
