Don’t miss Labor Day weekend in Bandera, Cowboy Capital of the World! Bandera’s cowboy heritage is especially celebrated during Labor Day weekend. In the late 1800’s, Bandera became a major gathering place for over 10 million head of Longhorn cattle. The Longhorns were gathered and herded via the famous Western Trail to northern railheads in Nebraska, Montana and even Canada.
On Labor Day Weekend, Bandera, the Cowboy Capital of the World, will be transformed back to that magical time of the Old West. It’s called Experience Bandera. This small, classic Old West town will turn back the clock on the pages of history to the late 1800s. Back to cattle drives and rodeo skills, for the purpose of celebrating Bandera’s 164th birthday.
What will you find at Experience Bandera? Everything having to do with Cowboys!
Bandera has long been known for its cowboy culture. As a matter of fact, that culture is what makes Bandera a tourist destination and one of the poster towns for tourism in Texas. Bandera does not just celebrate the cowboy way of life, Bandera lives it. The town has Old West charm. Many of the locals still live the cowboy way - tipping their cowboy hats to the ladies, riding their horses and occasional buggies to town, and merchants providing watering troughs for those that do. Bandera remembers its cowboy roots at the annual Labor Day event, Experience Bandera.
It all kicks off on Saturday Morning at 11:00 am with everyone clamoring to see the Longhorn cattle drive down Main Street, which precedes the parade of horses, horse-drawn wagons, period dress and many more entries that celebrate Bandera’s western heritage. After the parade, check out the arts and crafts displays on the Courthouse lawn, which continue all weekend and walk on down Main Street to Lowe’s Grocery and play a game of Cow Patty Bingo. There will be a Frontier Times Ranch Rodeo at Mansfield Park Saturday evening. What’s a Ranch Rodeo? It is a competition between ranches with ranch skills! Gates will open at 6:30. On Sunday do not miss an exhibition of Cowboy Mounted Shooters and Mutton Bustin’ brought to you by the Bandera Pro Rodeo Association —admission is FREE! An action-packed evening of fun for the entire family! Finally, don’t forget to visit Rattlesnake Ridge for performances by the famous Bandera Cattle Company gunfighters
There will also be a BBQ cooking competition at Pioneer RV Park --just let your nose take you to where great tasting BBQ is being cooked and available for purchase.
Sunday morning is the time we gather at the Medina River in City Park for a Cowboy Breakfast offered up by the Ridin’ the River Cowboy Church, followed by some great preaching and cowboy gospel music. There will also be gospel music at the Courthouse, as well as the Arts and Craft Show and a lot more of the Bandera Cattle Company.
Experience Bandera is all about Cowboys and our western heritage – come relive it with us this Labor Day weekend. For event schedules and ticket information, go to www.experiencebandera.com, or call 830-796-3280.
