Spectacular autumn foliage in the mountains, beautiful fall temperatures and cattle drives all signal it's time to for the 29th annual Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The Oct. 5-8 event celebrates the culture and stories of the American cowboy and ranching in southwest Colorado, creatively shared by more than 40 cowboy poets, storytellers and musicians.
"It's the perfect opportunity to pull on your cowboy boots and hat, observe a really unique art form in action and enjoy all the incredible fall activities in Durango," says Linda Mannix, coordinator of the second oldest event of its kind in the United States.
The celebration is held in downtown Durango and headquartered at the historic Strater Hotel, where evening performances are staged at the Henry Strater Theater. The theme this year is "cowboy humor" and the premier show on Thursday Oct. 5 is called "Laughing Stock" featuring four of the finest cowboy humorists in the West. Other evening performances on Thursday and Friday at the theater showcase several top cowboy poets and musicians from around the country and take place at 6 and 8 p.m
Mannix recommends enjoying all the great trails, attractions and activities in the Durango area during the day on Thursday and Friday and the many Gathering happenings on Saturday before eating dinner downtown and attending the late shows.
New this year will be a screening of the award-winning film, "Everything in the Song is True". The film screens at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Henry Strater Theater. This documentary follows the lives of three present day cowboys and one cowgirl in the American West. Tickets are $10 to benefit the 4-H and FFA Youth Programs, and more information is at http://everythinginthesongistrue.com/
Viewers can start off Saturday morning with a real Cowboy Chuckwagon Breakfast on the corner of Fifth Street and Main Avenue, then watch the large motorless Cowboy Parade at 10 a.m. with horses, riders, wagons, walkers and even llamas and Longhorns, but no motorized vehicles.
From 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., free themed sessions of cowboy poetry and music are being held at Strater Hotel and other downtown locations. Walk from room to room to hear cowboy music and poetry all day, at no charge.
Shows of Western art are on display at Wild Shots Gallery, Sorrel Sky Gallery and Toh-Atin Gallery throughout the weekend. At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the free Poster Session at Toh-Atin Gallery highlights 15 cowboy poets and musicians performing their interpretations of this year's fine art poster "Ten Below Zero" by artist Andrew Peters. A print signing and artist's reception follows from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering wraps up at the Strater Hotel with free performance "A Cowboy and His Creator" at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday with inspirational poetry and music by many of the weekend's performers.
For a complete schedule, tickets, performer bios and more information, call 749-2995 and visit www.DurangoCowboyPoetryGathering.org. Also follow the event on Facebook.
