The annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering is a truly unique event organized by ranchers, musicians, poets and writers living in the area as a way to help preserve and promote ranching, cowboy culture and lifestyle. It is co-sponsored by the Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering Outfit and the Grand Encampment Museum and is held the third full weekend in July.

Friday evening, please join us at Grand View Park.  Enjoy the dutch oven cook-off demonstration at 6 pm, with the open mic cowboy music and poetry session beginning at 7 pm.  Stay for the campfire jam session held at dusk.

Saturday's events include the dutch oven cook-off from 7-11 am at Grand View Park, book signings and Grand Encampment Museum tours at 10 am, and the Stick Horse Rodeo at 11 am at Grand View Park. The Encampment-Riverside Lions Club will serve lunch at the Park starting at 11 am.  From noon until 4 pm, the Western Entertainment Roundup begins at Grand View Park, featuring cowboy poetry and music. Saturday evening's All Star Cowboy Poetry and Music Show features favorite cowboy and cowgal poets and musicians beginning at 7 pm at the Encampment School Gym.  Saratoga's own cowboy poet Chuck Larsen will thoroughly entertain the crowd as emcee and poet extraordinaire.  The Pioneer Award will also be presented.  Tickets are $15, doors open at 6:15 pm. Following the evening events, informal cowboy jam sessions will be held by the campfire in Grand View Park.  Anyone interested in sharing music or a poem is encouraged to attend.

On Sunday, events include a chuck wagon breakfast from 7-10 am at Grand View Park, featuring biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and sausage, and cowboy coffee.  Cowboy Church starts at 10 am at the Park.  During the day, you may also tour the Grand Encampment Museum and surrounding area.

For more information about the Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering, please call Steve 307-327-5465.