Uptown Sedona Celebration July 26th

National Day of the American Cowboy

Sedona, AZ - July 18, 2008 - National Day of the American Cowboy, proclaimed by President Bush in 2005, will be celebrated with a FREE community event on Saturday, July 26th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm along “Main Street” (Hwy. 89A) in Uptown Sedona.

Come enjoy “a whole lot of cowboy goin’s on!”

Enjoy live performances non-stop throughout the day at Cowboy Plaza. You will see Joey Dillon, three time World Champion Gunslinger. He’ll be joined by Loop Rollins, World Champion Trick Roper who will also display bullwhip cracking and six gun handling.

Hoot and holler at the shoot-out skits by Rock Holliday and other western re-enactors. "Rock " is also known as Gene Kurz, a Sedona resident and employee who is also a cowboy TV & movie actor and Wild West performer. "Rock" brought the concept of celebrating this day to Sedona by creating an event in Uptown. Sedona Main Street Program has joined his efforts by helping to add activities and promote it for the benefit our community and Sedona Main Street District.

Enjoy several activities, demonstrations and live entertainment throughout Uptown:
Look for the Roasted Corn wagon provided by Sally’s Mesquite Grill & BBQ in front of Joe Wilcox Stagecoach Emporium.

A little further along at the Mid-Block Plaza (near Rollies Camera), you can take your chances on a raffle for a handmade Judy Jones Dalton quilt and a hand-tooled and beaded leather wallet. Both were donated by Judy to raise money for a Tibetan refugee settlement camp in a remote area of India. While you’re there, take a family photo with the life-size sculpture depicting Joe Beeler - one of the founding members of the Cowboy Artists of America right here in Sedona and an incredibly talented artist.

Cowboy performers at last year's National Day of the Cowboy in Uptown Sedona.

At Old West Pueblo Gallery, you can meet and greet the accomplished western artist James Durham. His work can be found in many private collections and seen in Cowboys and Indians magazine.

As you cross the street wander over to the Goldenstein Gallery where you will find Naomi Offner, the first female artist recognized by the National Day of the American Cowboy, who will be painting in residence. Also featured is a special show of photography by Charles W. Gildner who records on film the life of working cowboys on real ranches of the west.

At Sinagua Plaza, Joe Wilcox Western Wear is hosting Dave Rowland of Rio Verde Saddlery demonstrating his leather working skills on saddles, holsters, gun belts and all the other cowboy accoutrements. Gordon Williams, a Verde Valley blacksmith will
demonstrate blacksmithing and the use of branding irons. They will be accompanied by live music by Cowboy Bob from 11:00 – 2:00 in the courtyard.

As you walk along “Main Street,” keep your eyes open for a sighting of "Holy Smoke, is it John Wayne?" Actually it is a professional impersonator of John Wayne. And you will see likenesses of his contemporaries in all the "Hands through History" plaques commemorating Sedona’s western movie history, located at Cowboy Plaza, Orchards Plaza, and Matterhorn Shoppes.

Live western music by the Oak Creek Boys Band from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. will be performed outside near the Canyon Breeze Shops and Restaurant at Sedona Center, thanks to both Joe Wilcox Western Wear and Stagecoach Emporium.

True West Magazine will have a booth at Orchards Plaza (across from Cowboy Plaza), and you might want to check out their recent issue where they’ve advertised this event for national distribution.

At 4:30 p.m. a Spirit of the West outfit contest will be held at the Cowboy Club Plaza. Prizes will be awarded in two categories: youth 16 & under; adults 17 and over. All contestants will be welcome to join in the parade that follows.

An American Cowboy Parade will take place on Jordan Road at 6:00 p.m. Bring a chair to sit and enjoy the festivities. Master of Ceremonies, John Conway of audioworxx, is donating his time to tell you all about the jeeps and cowboys from the local tour companies, the Northern Arizona Mounted Shooters of the Verde Valley, the Camp Verde Color Guard, and the Mounted Patrol of the Arizona Rangers and Sedona Police Department. We should have some riders from AAA Horse Boarding Center, and keep your eyes open for carriages and maybe even a hay wagon.

A “Meet and Greet” with our special guests, Joey Dillon and Loop Rawlins, will take place at Los Abrigados Resort & Spa, who is generously donating their accommodation at the resort. That’s scheduled after the American Cowboy Parade ends.

Sure hopin’ you’ll help us celebrate our recognition of the National Day of the American Cowboy.

Please join us in special thanks to Red Rock Western Jeep Tours, Joe Wilcox Western Wear and Stagecoach Emporium, Los Abrigados Resort & Spa, True West Magazine, DiBattista Construction, On the Hoof Boot Company, Buffalo Don’s Corral, Clear Creek Trading Company, Cowboy Club Restaurant, Cowboy Jeep Tours, Made In Arizona Wine & Gifts, Ravenheart Coffee, Sedona Art Wear & T-Shirt Company, Sedona Trolley, Cahill Leather, Sedona Police Department, Sedona Volunteer Park Rangers, and Arizona Rangers. This event is possible because of the generous financial and service support of these community businesses, organizations and our media partners, with the volunteer efforts of Gene “Rock” Kurz and Sedona Main Street Program.
 

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