You could say signs have the “vinyl” say on Frontier Park where the shop’s sheds were emptied over the weekend in order to make necessary repairs and additions to get the boards in place for the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration of our western roots. Security Committee member Brian Wright runs the sign shop.
F.E WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. — For the first time in 25 years, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are returning to the skies over F.E. Warren, Air Force Base, moving from Laramie County Community College, Wyo., July 24, 2019.
Fort D.A. Russell Days, the base’s annual open house will take place July 19-21. All events are free and open to the public.
These events, solely located on F.E. Warren this year, will require additional volunteers to ensure its success.
“We are going to need hundreds of volunteers to make this event successful,” said Christopher Picinni, 90th Operation Support Squadron director of operations. “There will be a call sent out soon looking for volunteers for the events and setup.”
Due to an expected influx of traffic during the base open house and air show, the gates operations will change to accommodate a smooth traffic flow July 18 – Aug. 2. Gate 2 will open as the instillation’s 24/7 entry control point.
All non-DOD ID holders will use gate 1 for event access.
All visitors will require a valid government or state issued ID to access the events.
Gate 5’s operations and the Visitor Control Center’s operations at gate 1 will remain unchanged during this period.
Fort D.A. Russell Days and the Thunderbirds air show is an opportunity for the Air Force to highlight the mission and showcase their capabilities. As the events get closer more information will be released. Stay tuned to our Facebook page @FEWarrenAirForceBase. If you’d like to volunteer contact your unit POC to sign up.
Fort D.A. Russell Days
The annual open house will begin daily at 9 a.m., July 19-21, with free events running throughout the day. For a full schedule of events go to www.warren.af.mil/fort_darussell_days/.
Free parking will be available on F.E. Warren through Gate 1. Additionally, a free shuttle will be available from the Cheyenne Frontier Days Grounds main entrance to the base.
Concessions will be available for purchase around the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Thunderbirds Air Show
The 65th performance by the Thunderbirds here, will take place at 10 a.m. on July 24, 2019, on F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
Entrance into the base will be open from 6 – 9 a.m. and free parking will be available.
Early arrival is encouraged as base access for the air show will close at 9 a.m. and late visitors will be turned away at the gate.
All visitors, volunteers, and base personnel will park at event parking and be shuttled to the viewing area.
The venue will have static displays for viewing, concessions and a bouncy house for children.
By Senior Airman Braydon Williams, 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. — A presence of achievement fills the room, with walls covered in patches and awards of all sorts. Lt. Col. Chris Picinni, 90th Operation Support Squadron director of operations has led a 20-year career within the ICBM enterprise, but never thought he would be leading the charge in planning an airshow for the USAF Thunderbirds.
It started all started at a very early time in Picinni’s life, when his father served in the Air Force working electronic counter measures, during the Vietnam War, from then on, he knew the air force was right for him.
“Growing up with my dad enlisted in the Air Force, is what drove my desire to serve as well,” said Picinni. “His work on aircraft made me fall in love with the idea of flying and I had the goal of becoming a pilot.”
Soon after commissioning through ROTC in June 1999, Picinni’s plan to become a pilot was halted due to his vision not meeting Air Force standards.
“With my eyes not being quite good enough to fly, I ended up choosing missile operations and became a missileer.” Said Picinni
Picinni executed the primary mission of Air Force missileers from 2000 to 2004 when he moved between a few different duties before becoming a part of the Airborne Command Post on the U.S. Navy E6-B Mercury.
The ABNCP primarily functions as a communications relay platform for U.S. Navy submarines, it also serves as an Airborne Launch Control System. The ALCS is joint-manned by U.S. STRATCOM battle staff mission members from the Navy and Air Force.
“It took me 15 years in the Air Force to get the chance to fly, and it was on a Navy plane, but I made it,” said Picinni. “I served as the mission commander and was in charge of the battle staff for 4 years.”
When Picinni finished his tour with the E6B, he later moved to F.E. Warren AFB as the 90th OSS DO, where he was selected as the project officer for the annual Thunderbirds airshow during Cheyenne Frontier Days the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and wester festival.
“I was put up for this by Lt. Col. Christopher Maroney the former commander of OSS,” said Picinni. “He recommended me and from the looks of it, base leadership agreed with him that I was right for the job.”
2019 marks the first year in 25 years that the Thunderbirds will be flying in the skies above F.E. Warren, instead of the fields around Laramie County Community College.
“Air show planning is a very involved process,” said Picinni. “I’ve been working with people from all walks of Air Force life, from civil engineers and helicopter pilots to security forces and vehicle operators. Every person I’ve worked with as been vital to getting this airshow up and running, and I am grateful for their hard work.”
Cheyenne Frontier Days™ drove nearly 550 head of Corriente steers from the pasture north of Cheyenne along I-25, and through the city streets into Frontier Park on Sunday, July 14.
Cheyenne Frontier Days™ will drive nearly 550 head of Corriente steers from the pasture north of Cheyenne along I-25, and through the city streets into Frontier Park on Sunday, July 14, 2019. The drive begins at approximately 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of I-25 & Horse Creek Road north of the city. It then moves along I-25 on the Eastern frontage road to Hynds Blvd, turns south to Central Ave., to Kennedy Road, and then moves from Kennedy Road to Carey Ave., and into Frontier Park.
Approximate arrival times at the following areas are as follows:
Please note: The Wyoming Highway Patrol will not allow parking along I-25 at any time during the Cattle Drive. Central Ave.,between Kennedy Road and Hynds Blvd., will be closed while the cattle are on Central Ave.
The Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum and CFD Hall of Fame is excited to announce the CFD Hall of Fame Class of 2019!
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame showcases individuals, livestock, and organizations whose distinctive contributions to Cheyenne Frontier Days have helped grow a dream into “The Daddy of ‘em All.” Whether it be contestants, contract personnel, entertainers, livestock, families, or volunteers; those voted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame represent the wonderful competitive and cooperative spirit that has remained the hallmark of Cheyenne Frontier Days since 1897.
The seven inductees for the 2019 CFD Hall of Fame class are:
Terry “Buffie” Bottorff
Billy Etbauer
Valerie Cegelski McLeod
Painted Valley
Clare “Bud” Racicky
Bob Weaver
W-Heels
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held September 6, 2019 at the Cheyenne Red Lion Hotel, beginning at 5 p.m.
CHEYENNE – Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) invites visitors to use the current Park-n-Ride located on Happy Jack Road in 2019. Buses will travel between Park-n-Ride and Frontier Park all day long during the “Daddy of ‘em All,” and a quick five-minute bus ride will take visitors directly to the celebration.
A new plot of land on Southwest Drive is intended to be used as the Park-n-Ride location in future years, but the move won’t take place until 2020.
“Our Park-n-Ride will remain in the same location for 2019. The extra time will allow us to further develop the Park-n-Ride infrastructure in the new location,” Tom Hirsig, Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO said.
The CFD Park-n-Ride is located at I-25 and Happy Jack Road in Cheyenne. (Heading northbound on I-25, take exit 10D and southbound on I-25, take exit 10D.) Cost is $10 per carload, and includes gate admission. Visit www.cfdrodeo.com for exact hours of operation.
DreamWorks Animation’s Spirit Riding Free is coming to life at Cheyenne Frontier Days with “Unstoppable Experience” live shows and immersive activities for fans!
CHEYENNE, Wyoming: MAY 13, 2019: A first for Cheyenne Frontier Days, fans of DreamWorks’ Spirit Riding Free will be able to enjoy a theater show experience with live entertainment, never seen before footage, a variety of themed experiential activities, and receive giveaways! Each 90-minute live show and experiences will take place at the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park, adjacent to Frontier Park. Fans are not required to purchase Cheyenne Frontier Days tickets to attend these shows and dates: Saturday July 20th & Sunday July 21st
“Affordably priced, the Spirit Riding Free Unstoppable Experience is a compliment to the diverse mix of entertainment options for fans at CFD” said Patrick Bradley, President of Once In A Lifetime Events. “It makes sense to bring premium Hollywood programming to the heart of the country. Leadership at CFD has been fully supportive in their commitment to enhance the fan experience wherever possible.”
The Emmy-winning Netflix original series from DreamWorks, Spirit Riding Free, centers on a group of three friends, who together experience coming of age and the power of friendship. Lucky, a gutsy 12-year-old girl, befriends a wild mustang she names Spirit. With her two best friends, Abigial and Pru, and their horses by her side, they explore a world filled with endless rides and never-ending fun. Together they’ll push their own limits and discover what it truly means to be free. All episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
As Spirit Riding Free continues to be a fan favorite, DreamWorks Animation has offered their full support in creating a fun, memorable experience for all. Spirit Riding Free Unstoppable Experience tickets are sold separately from Cheyenne Frontier Days tickets and do not include tickets to access the carnival rides, rodeos or concerts. The indoor/outdoor Spirit Riding Free Unstoppable Experience shows are happening right at the festival grounds, in Lions Park at the Kiwanis Theater. There’s a dedicated parking lot (Lot E) with paid, all-day parking available. Show times on Saturday July 20th & Sunday July 21st: 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm.
Tickets for the Spirit Riding Free Unstoppable Experience can be found at: spiritliveshow.com and event info at https://cfdrodeo.com/event/spirit-riding-free-events/
About Once In A Lifetime Events:
Once in A Lifetime Events (onceinalifetime.live) produces live entertainment and celebrity meet-n-greet events throughout the United States. Parent companies are BPositive Events and iDEKO, an award winning, experiential & live event production company that as produced events for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country since 2013.
Press & Media Contact:
Laura Quinones
Communications Coordinator
381 Park Avenue S, Suite 1101 New York, NY 10016
o: 212.532.7800 x 526
iDEKO.com
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 39 years, this high-caliber Art Show has become the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum’s largest fundraiser supporting Arts Education, Exhibits, Collections, and Operations.
The Opening Reception kicks off with a sneak peek of the Carriage Hall filled with exclusive, never-before-shown art. Shortly after, you are transported to the Governor’s residence where the Governor and the First Lady host a cocktail party on the lawn, giving you a chance to mingle with the artists and enjoy the beautiful Wyoming outdoors. After the cocktail hour, you return to the Museum where the real fun begins, with a sales drawing, and opportunity to “Jump the Gun” on the sales, and a live art auction.
This year, the Art Show is featuring six new artists: Barbara Summer Edwards, Howard Halbert, Peggy Judy, David Riley, Georgia Roswell, and David Santillanes. The Museum’s Young Professional group, The Mavericks, selected a piece from the Western Spirit Art Show and Sale, “Wicked” by Robin Cook, to be featured and available for sale in the CFD Western Art Show as the third ever Mavericks’ Choice piece.
Tickets to the CFD Western Art Show & Sale can be purchased online at www.cfdartshow.org or by calling 307-778-7289. Tickets are $160 per person for open seating or $130 per person for CFD and Museum Volunteers and Museum Members. This year, we are offering reserved tables for ten people for $3,500. Advanced reservations required for the Opening Reception.
Quick Facts:
What: Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show & Sale Opening Reception
Where: CFD Old West Museum – 4610 Carey Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001
When: Opening Reception – Thursday, July 18, 2019; The show can be seen through Sunday, August 18, 2019
Time: Museum hours (8 a.m. – 6 p.m. during CFD; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily).
Cost: Opening Reception: $160 per person or $130 per person for CFD and Museum Volunteers and Museum Members. Exhibit run: included in Museum admission.