The Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Western Art Show is an invitational show which features the nation’s top Western artists presenting original art that celebrates the heritage and the future of the American West. Over the last 40 years, this high-caliber Art Show has contributed over $3 million and has become the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum’s largest fundraiser supporting Arts Education, Exhibits, Collections, and Operations.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of social outings and the world at large, we are determined to bring the experience of the Western Art Show into your living room, while keeping the safety and well-being of the viewers and participants as our number one priority.

This year’s Western Art Show Opening Reception will be on Facebook Live, and promises to bring the same intensity as past opening spectacles with events such as Jump the Gun, Ticket Holder Only Purchase Hour, Artist Interactions, and more.

While it is free to view the Virtual Opening Reception on Facebook Live, audience members who wish to purchase artwork during the Virtual Opening Reception will need to purchase a ticket to the event. Tickets for the Virtual Opening Reception are $160 for Non-Members or $130 for Members. Ticket holder benefits are listed at www.cfdartshow.com.

Ticket holders may Jump the Gun starting on July 9 online only at www.cfdartshow.com. Ticket holders may begin purchasing art at the regular price starting at 7 p.m. on July 16. During the Virtual Opening Reception, the Museum will have a phone bank for those who need assistance.

On July 17 at 9 a.m. MDT, non-ticket holders may purchase art at the Museum, online, or over the phone. All artwork is sold on a first-come, first serve basis. Buyers interested in a commissioned piece from one of our artists can contact the Art Show Coordinator, Cameron Green, at (307)778-7289 or cameron.green@oldwestmuseum.org.

For more information, to purchase a ticket, or to make a donation please visit: cfdartshow.com

All Museum visitors are required to wear a mask and maintain a six-foot social distance from others outside their household.

Quick Facts:

What: Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show & Sale Opening Reception

Where: FaceBook Live, @cfdoldwestmuseum

When: Opening Reception – Thursday, July 16, 2020; The show can be seen through Sunday, August 16, 2020 at the CFD Old West Museum – 4610 Carey Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001

Time: Opening Reception – 6-8 p.m.; Museum hours (Monday and Tuesday: 1-4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Cost: Opening Reception: $160 per person or $130 per person for CFD and Museum Volunteers and Museum Members

CHEYENNE – Fire up the barbecue and plan to party on your patio this Fourth of July!

Cheyenne Frontier Days^™ has partnered with ANB Bank, Union, Cheyenne Beverage, Cowboy Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, First Interstate Bank, Swire Coca-Cola and Black Hills Energy to host the annual fireworks display for the City of Cheyenne.

The 2020 fireworks show is designed to maximize aerial displays for visibility from locations all over Cheyenne. Frontier Park will not be open as viewing locations this year, so plan to enjoy the show from your own neighborhood or other open, flat areas.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Laramie County School District have offered their parking lots for those who wish to view the fireworks. Carey Avenue will be closed and Lions Park will be open to foot traffic only.

Tune in to local radio station KFBC at 1240 AM and 97.5 FM to hear the patriotic broadcast accompanying the fireworks display.

We know entertainment options are limited this year, and we would like for you to enjoy a bright spot with an evening of aerial entertainment. We are pleased to be able to offer the fireworks show and accompanying music where it can be enjoyed from your own backyard, porch, patio, or wherever you choose to watch this great Cheyenne tradition.

The fireworks display will begin at 9:35 p.m.

For more details please go to cfdrodeo.co/July4th

F.E. Warren Air Force Base will be hosting the Wings Over Warren Airshow on July 22, 2020.

Headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the show will also include demonstrations from the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II demonstration teams and appearances by the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, C-130 Hercules and B-52 Stratofortress.

“This year’s airshow is not only an opportunity to highlight United States Air Force airpower and the capabilities of all our military services, but to say ‘thank you’ to our neighbors in Cheyenne and throughout Wyoming,” Col. Peter Bonetti, 90th Missile Wing commander said. “The community has always provided incredible support for F.E. Warren’s mission and our Airmen.”

For more information on the airshow and access to base, please visit warren.af.mil or the F.E. Warren Facebook Page.

For any questions regarding this release, please contact the 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs Office at (307) 773-3381.

The Cheyenne Frontier Days^™ (CFD) General Committee announced that Miss Frontier, Bailey Bishop, and her Lady-in-Waiting, Savannah Messenger will continue their roles into 2021 for the 125^th celebration. The annual event, known as the “Daddy of ‘em All^®,” will not take place in 2020.

“While I am saddened that we will not be having Cheyenne Frontier Days^™ this year, I understand the importance of keeping our community safe and healthy. I am honored the General Committee is allowing me the opportunity, and think highly enough of me to continue through next year as Miss Frontier 2021 for the 125^th celebration,” Bishop said.

Bailey, the daughter of Todd and Jan Bishop, is a 2016 graduate of Burns High School. Bishop spent two years at Laramie County Community College. Currently, she is enrolled at the University of Wyoming. Bailey has been involved with CFD most of her life. She has participated in the Grand Parades, competed in junior barrels, and was a Dandy throughout high school.

“I’m confident in the opportunity to represent the Daddy of ‘em All for an additional year with my Miss Frontier and best friend, Bailey Bishop, by my side once again,” Messenger said. “I had the best year building up to the 124th celebration, and I look forward to another successful year getting ready for the unforgettable 125th. The community of Cheyenne is like no other – strong and courageous. We all ride for the brand because that’s the cowboy way. I’m excited to keep doing what we love.”

Savannah is the daughter of Kirk Messenger, Raedene Messenger and the late Mark Messenger. She is a 2016 graduate of Cheyenne Central High School. Currently, Savannah is a dental assistant at Grand Avenue Dental Center, and she is pursuing a degree in Communications at Laramie County Community College. Messenger has participated in the Grand Parades, and she was a Dandy in high school. She volunteers as an outrider on the Parades Committee, and also volunteers on the Public Relations Committee as a coordinator for the visiting state royalty.

Miss Frontier and her Lady-in-Waiting will work together in 2021 to represent Cheyenne Frontier Days^™ in both the United States and Canada.

Cheyenne Frontier Days™ (CFD) today announced that public health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic have forced the cancellation of the 2020 festival scheduled for July 17-26. This decision was made in conjunction with the other major summertime events in Wyoming and is in accordance with Governor Mark Gordon’s direction and state and local health orders. This is the first time in the 124-year history of the iconic celebration of Western culture that Cheyenne Frontier Days™ will not be held.

Commonly referred to as the “Daddy of em’ All®”, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration. Rodeo contestants rely on the Cheyenne event to be one of the largest payouts on the annual PRCA rodeo circuit. It also features some of country music’s biggest stars performing before sold-out crowds at the Frontier Nights® concerts.

“This has been an incredibly difficult decision, but in the end, it was the only choice,” Tom Hirsig, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ CEO said. “The health and safety of our fans, volunteers, contestants, first responders, healthcare workers and everyone in our community is the only thing that matters right now. The only responsible decision was to put their safety first,” General Chairman Jimmy Dean Siler added.

Hirsig said CFD knows how devastating this decision will be for many fans who return year after year, as well as first-timers planning to come because “the Daddy” is on their bucket list. The cancellation will also have a severe economic impact in the community. Hundreds of thousands of people attend CFD concerts, rodeo performances and the related Western events each year, contributing tens of millions of dollars to the local economy.

In 2019, visitors spent over $28 million during Cheyenne Frontier Days™’ 10-day run, generating over $1 million in local and state taxes, more than $5 million for overnight lodging, and almost $9 million for retail businesses. It also created over 300 jobs resulting in $5 million in wages and salaries during the event.

“I know what this means for rodeo in Cheyenne,” Governor Gordon said. “The financial and emotional impact this announcement has on our community, rodeo fans, and especially the contestants, is immense. But it is the right thing to do, and together we are committed to making 2021 the best Daddy of em’ All ever.”

In addition, the event raises funds for the CFD Old West Museum, a year-round attraction that showcases artifacts celebrating Cheyenne Frontier Days™ history and Western culture.  Cheyenne Frontier Days™ also supports The Volunteer Crisis Fund, which provides emergency monetary assistance to event volunteers when needed and the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Memorial Foundation, which provides scholarships for volunteers and their dependents.  The Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Foundation, Inc. was recently established to support the charitable and educational aspects of the celebration.

Hirsig said CFD will be contacting sponsors and vendors to discuss their options, including refunding their fees, donating a portion of their fees to the CFD Foundation, or extending an account credit for the 2021 celebration.

Fans who have already purchased rodeo or concert tickets are asked to visit the CFD website for information about account credit roll overs or refunds at www.cfdrodeo.com.  The Thomas Rhett, Eric Church and Blake Shelton shows have been rescheduled as part of the 2021 lineup and tickets will be reissued when 2021 tickets go on sale.

“Nobody knows how long this pandemic will last, but we look forward to welcoming our fans back to Cheyenne to enjoy some of our famous Western hospitality in July 2021,” Hirsig said.

“We have an amazing staff, an awesome General Committee, incredibly generous and loyal sponsors, and the hardest working group of passionate volunteers anyone could ever hope for. We are shifting our focus to planning for the 125th “Daddy of ’em All®” next year and our goal is to deliver a show you will never forget,” Siler said.

The 39^th Annual Western Spirit Art Show & Sale opens on March 7, 2020. This show features over 400 original pieces of Western art from artists all over the country.

The Art Show kicks off with an opening reception the evening of March 7. Museum members will be admitted at 5:00 pm for a member-only preview and Buy-it-Now, where all pieces, including the popular miniatures, can be purchased at a 25% premium before the sale opens to the ticketed public at 6:00 pm. 35% of each piece of artwork sold and opening night reception ticket directly benefit the Museum.

Opening night festivities feature a Silent Auction Quick Draw, where four artists create an original piece of art from scratch that and can be bid on during the duration of the Quick Draw. Other components include live entertainment, and complimentary full bar, and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

New to Western Spirit is the Western Art for Non-Profit Partners Program. This initiative provides buyers a new way to purchase art, support the Museum, and give to other local non-profits. Buyers may select art from wish-lists provided at registration to buy and donate to our partner organizations. These wish-lists have been carefully curated by our partner organizations to fit their missions.

For more information about the show, please call 307-778-7289 or visit us online at www.westernspiritartshow.org.

Quick Facts:

What: 39^th Annual Western Spirit Art Show & Sale Opening Reception

Where: CFD Old West Museum – 4610 Carey Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001

When: Opening Reception: March 7, 2020; Exhibit Runs to April 19, 2020

Time: 5:00pm for members, 6:00pm for ticketed public.

Cost: $45 for Museum Members, $55 for Non-Members, $65 at the door

How: Tickets to the Opening Reception can be purchased by calling 307-778-7290 or visiting https://westernspiritartshow.org/

Contact: Cameron Green, cameron.green@oldwestmuseum.org, 307-778-7289

The nomination forms for the 2020 Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Hall of Fame Class are now available. Don’t miss your opportunity to nominate the person or entity that you believe has helped shape Cheyenne Frontier Days into the “Daddy of ‘em All.” All nominations must be postmarked by January 15, 2020. Nominations are open to the public (you don’t have to be a member of the CFD Old West Museum to nominate) and are limited to past and present Cheyenne Frontier Days contestants, contract personnel, entertainers, livestock, families, organizations, and volunteers.

Cheyenne Frontier Days plays an important role in the community and it’s time to honor those that have helped make it what it is today.

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame showcases individuals, livestock, families, and organizations whose distinctive contributions to CFD have helped grow a dream into “The Daddy of ‘em All.” Whether contestants, contract personnel, entertainers, livestock, families, or volunteers, those voted into the Hall of Fame represent the wonderful competitive and cooperative spirit that has remained the hallmark of Cheyenne Frontier Days since 1897.

Nomination forms are available at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, online at www.oldwestmuseum.org, or send a letter explaining why your candidate is the best choice for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame.

Call the CFD Old West Museum at (307) 778-7290 or visit us online for more information.

Quick Facts:

Who: The CFD Hall of Fame Nomination is open to the public.

What: The CFD Hall of Fame honors those who have made a distinctive contribution to Cheyenne Frontier Days.

When: Nomination forms are available now. Nominations are due by January 15, 2020.

Where: Find your nomination form at the CFD Old West Museum or online at www.oldwestmuseum.org.

How: Fill out your nomination form and either mail it or bring it to the CFD Old West Museum. You can also send a letter explaining why your candidate is the best choice for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame.

Contact: Daniek Long, Registrar, at daniek.long@oldwestmuseum.org