Back to Journal
No bucking tradition here—Cheyenne Frontier Days is hopping back in the saddle for another wild ride.
Written by Jenn Thornton
Early in his career, the man who would rise to become America’s most iconic cowboy, John Wayne, saddled up for Wyoming-based films The Lawless Nineties (1936) and Wyoming Outlaw (1939).
Though the American West is tamer these days, and Wayne has left the scene for greener pastures, the least populous state in the union is still a mainstay of cowboy culture with real-deal ranches, working buckaroos, and a slew of events keeping it all alive. Arguably none more popular than Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD), which returns for a heart-stopping, boot-stomping good time on July 21-30, 2023, in Cheyenne, Wyoming itself.
This is not exactly the first rodeo for Cheyenne Frontier Days. Established on Sept. 23, 1897, when cowboys still roamed the American West, the event pre-dates the birth of the Duke by a decade. But just like the late actor’s beloved Westerns, it never gets old—only better. This Wild West-inspired extravaganza has been voted “PCRA Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year” 16 times by rodeo cowboys and stock contractors alike, and year after year it features country western talent big enough to fill the Duke’s boots.
Despite having operated in different arenas, the Duke and CFD make natural allies. Both are legend, born at the dawn of the 20th century, and deeply rooted in the Western imagination, with Wayne emblematic of the American cowboy and CFD a celebration of the cowboy’s unique spirit and role in society—one that the actor, who also owned a cattle ranch in Arizona, experienced firsthand. And both are top draws to this day. Even now, fans of John Wayne stream his movies, like 1935’s The Desert Trail, which featured Duke as rodeo rider John Scott, while CFD offers real-life rodeo pros $1 million in cash and prizesto enter the ring for steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, tie-down roping, and more, all in the run up to Championship Sunday.
Rounding out CFD’s high-octane fare is the event’s experiential offerings, including a Native American Village and an old frontier town. There is a chuckwagon cook-off, pancake breakfasts, brisket and Wyoming bison to satisfy your appetite, drinks to whet your whistle, and dancing at Buckin’ saloon. And if all that doesn’t get you, then the event’s high-flying carnival midway and soaring air show surely will.
On Frontier Nights, CFD cedes the stage to some of the biggest names in country music. Previous incarnations of the event welcomed the likes of country titans Garth Brooks and Brooks & Dunn, along with rap star Nelly. This year the mic-drop lineup includes 1883 star Tim McGraw along with Eric Church, Zach Bryan, and Cody Johnson. As an accumulation of its history, Cheyenne Frontier Days has seen it all, including depressions, wars, and natural disasters. Nothing has slowed down this stampede. This year will be no different. The event promises to rein in Western enthusiasts and country music fans from across America and 23 different countries. Buckle up!
Photographs courtesy of Cheyenne Frontier Days
