Cheyenne Frontier Days – A True Western Celebration
30th July 2024
Extremely excited to be covering every aspect of Cheyenne Frontier Days for Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine. Sharing the newest article submitted to the magazine right here, and pictures of this year's celebration can be found in the Cheyenne Frontier Days gallery as well as on Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine's social media channels, website, and print publications.
A cacophony of aromas fill the hot, thin air found at 6063 feet above sea level. From the damp dirt of the arena floor and the faint smell of hay to the wafting smell of warming corndogs and funnel cakes – it’s the first rodeo on the first Saturday of the Daddy of ‘em All. Cheyenne Frontier Days,™ the world’s largest outdoor rodeo & western celebration that happens annually during the last full week in July, offers10 days of far more for visitors than just pro rodeo action. Pull on your boots, grab your hat and saddle-up for some heart-pounding fun – CFD style.
Just a bit of history before we get started. Cheyenne held the first Frontier Days in 1897 which was a one-day cowboy roundup. Since its inception, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ has continued to grow and evolve into a complete western celebration. The 2024 edition of the Daddy of ‘em All will be the 128th, and you don’t want to miss one second of it.
Cheyenne Frontier Days™ officially kicks off with the first musical entertainment offering from Frontier Nights® on the first Friday of the celebration. It is true that when the sun goes down at CFD, the stars come out with some of the biggest music acts gracing the CFD stage. From Garth Brooks & Blake Shelton to Nelly & Post Malone, Frontier Nights® brings the heat and never disappoints.
Much of the CFD celebration happens at Frontier Park, an expansive complex made specifically for the Daddy of ‘em All. However, two long-lived events happen in historic downtown Cheyenne where the feel of the Old West is still alive. The Cheyenne Frontier Days™ parade is the largest horse-drawn parade in the country featuring floats, marching bands, riders in period dress, and classic cars. Equally as impressive as the parades are the Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfasts. Get up early and make your way downtown to take your place in the meandering line that ultimately leads to pancakes, ham, and coffee served at the historic Cheyenne depot. Downtown boasts a great deal of history and local shops that you’ll want to be sure to take in before heading back to “the park” for more official CFD action.
Back at Frontier Park, you have a number of options for shopping and entertainment prior to heading to the rodeo. Follow the identifiable songscapes of the Native American Pow Wow to what is known as the Indian Village which offers a historic view into Native American culture.
Now it’s rodeo time! Time to take in the centerpiece of the Daddy of ‘em All! One of the crown jewels of Pro Rodeo – just ask any rodeo cowboy or cowgirl and they will tell you that Cheyenne is always on the list of can’t miss rodeos. Winning Cheyenne, steeped in history as well as a big payday, is a pinnacle win for cowboys & cowgirls alike. As you make your way to the main gate, you hear to bustle of preparation just a few feet away on the other side of the fence. As you take your seat you can feel the energy buzz through one of pro rodeo’s largest arenas, and patriotism captures your senses as the national anthem booms through the speakers and the daily prayer is offered. Settle back and take it all in, that is if you can stay off the edge of your seat! As the broncs start bucking, you’ll be grabbed by not only the excitement of the event, but also by the speed at which everything happens. The CFD rodeo is known for many things, paramount among them is the efficiency by which it is run, which is even more impressive considering the size of the arena and the number of contestants. As the performance transitions from roughstock events to timed events and then back to roughstock, you’ll barely have the chance to catch your breath. Pages could be written describing the exciting action of each event, but suffice it to say that whether you’re a grizzled rodeo aficionado or a first timer, you will not be disappointed. As you exit the grandstands talking about the spectacle you just witnessed, you pour into the carnival midway where the fun continues.
Your day ends where the Daddy officially begins – with Frontier Nights®! Depending on the night you will either be in for a high energy concert from the biggest names in musical entertainment or on several evenings you will experience the excitement of the Professional Bull Riders Tour. By the time the curtain drops on your action-packed day at CFD, you will be exhausted from cheering, clapping, singing and dancing.
Whether you’re a Wyoming native or a tourist from around the globe you won’t be disappointed with your decision to spend a day or a week immersed in the western celebration known as Cheyenne Frontier Days.™ As they say in the rodeo game, the last full week in July is the time for you to Cowboy Up and come to CFD to Getcha Some!
A cacophony of aromas fill the hot, thin air found at 6063 feet above sea level. From the damp dirt of the arena floor and the faint smell of hay to the wafting smell of warming corndogs and funnel cakes – it’s the first rodeo on the first Saturday of the Daddy of ‘em All. Cheyenne Frontier Days,™ the world’s largest outdoor rodeo & western celebration that happens annually during the last full week in July, offers10 days of far more for visitors than just pro rodeo action. Pull on your boots, grab your hat and saddle-up for some heart-pounding fun – CFD style.
Just a bit of history before we get started. Cheyenne held the first Frontier Days in 1897 which was a one-day cowboy roundup. Since its inception, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ has continued to grow and evolve into a complete western celebration. The 2024 edition of the Daddy of ‘em All will be the 128th, and you don’t want to miss one second of it.
Cheyenne Frontier Days™ officially kicks off with the first musical entertainment offering from Frontier Nights® on the first Friday of the celebration. It is true that when the sun goes down at CFD, the stars come out with some of the biggest music acts gracing the CFD stage. From Garth Brooks & Blake Shelton to Nelly & Post Malone, Frontier Nights® brings the heat and never disappoints.
Much of the CFD celebration happens at Frontier Park, an expansive complex made specifically for the Daddy of ‘em All. However, two long-lived events happen in historic downtown Cheyenne where the feel of the Old West is still alive. The Cheyenne Frontier Days™ parade is the largest horse-drawn parade in the country featuring floats, marching bands, riders in period dress, and classic cars. Equally as impressive as the parades are the Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfasts. Get up early and make your way downtown to take your place in the meandering line that ultimately leads to pancakes, ham, and coffee served at the historic Cheyenne depot. Downtown boasts a great deal of history and local shops that you’ll want to be sure to take in before heading back to “the park” for more official CFD action.
Back at Frontier Park, you have a number of options for shopping and entertainment prior to heading to the rodeo. Follow the identifiable songscapes of the Native American Pow Wow to what is known as the Indian Village which offers a historic view into Native American culture.
Now it’s rodeo time! Time to take in the centerpiece of the Daddy of ‘em All! One of the crown jewels of Pro Rodeo – just ask any rodeo cowboy or cowgirl and they will tell you that Cheyenne is always on the list of can’t miss rodeos. Winning Cheyenne, steeped in history as well as a big payday, is a pinnacle win for cowboys & cowgirls alike. As you make your way to the main gate, you hear to bustle of preparation just a few feet away on the other side of the fence. As you take your seat you can feel the energy buzz through one of pro rodeo’s largest arenas, and patriotism captures your senses as the national anthem booms through the speakers and the daily prayer is offered. Settle back and take it all in, that is if you can stay off the edge of your seat! As the broncs start bucking, you’ll be grabbed by not only the excitement of the event, but also by the speed at which everything happens. The CFD rodeo is known for many things, paramount among them is the efficiency by which it is run, which is even more impressive considering the size of the arena and the number of contestants. As the performance transitions from roughstock events to timed events and then back to roughstock, you’ll barely have the chance to catch your breath. Pages could be written describing the exciting action of each event, but suffice it to say that whether you’re a grizzled rodeo aficionado or a first timer, you will not be disappointed. As you exit the grandstands talking about the spectacle you just witnessed, you pour into the carnival midway where the fun continues.
Your day ends where the Daddy officially begins – with Frontier Nights®! Depending on the night you will either be in for a high energy concert from the biggest names in musical entertainment or on several evenings you will experience the excitement of the Professional Bull Riders Tour. By the time the curtain drops on your action-packed day at CFD, you will be exhausted from cheering, clapping, singing and dancing.
Whether you’re a Wyoming native or a tourist from around the globe you won’t be disappointed with your decision to spend a day or a week immersed in the western celebration known as Cheyenne Frontier Days.™ As they say in the rodeo game, the last full week in July is the time for you to Cowboy Up and come to CFD to Getcha Some!