Cheyenne Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Cheyenne, Wyoming - WY, USA)

Various venues around downtown Cheyenne play host to annual festivals throughout the year, particularly during the warm summer months.

One of the biggest of all the events held in the city is Cheyenne Frontier Days, which takes place each July and was first held way back in 1897. Over the years that followed, Frontier Days grew and grew to become the world's largest combined Western, cowboy and rodeo celebration. Bull riding, steer wrestling and calf roping are just some of the top crowd pleasers today, along with bareback horse riding. There are also concerts, carnival processions, breakfast gatherings (with free pancakes), and lots of themed games and contests.

Located on West 15th Street, the Cheyenne Depot Museum and Plaza serves as something of an entertainment and cultural hotspot, with its extensive calendar of events and things to do. These include the Hispanic Festival at the end of May and the Wyoming Brewers Festival each June, followed by the Steam Train Excursion every July. There are also fundraising casino nights, model railroad shows and a popular rail-themed ball.

Cheyenne Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Wyoming Kids Xtreme Ice Festival - held in January or February, this is a free event with ice sculptors, snow games, a toboggan run and a snowmobile simulator, amongst other fun.

February

• Wyoming Governor's Arts Awards Ceremony and Dinner - honoring both local residents and organizations who have contributed to the city's arts scene, first held in the early 1980s. In the past, this event has been staged at the Little America Hotel and Resort, on the West Lincolnway (Lincoln Highway).

March

• Easter Egg Hunt - held in Holliday Park at Easter time (March / April), the egg hunt is aimed at children aged two to six years old. A lot of fun and laughter is had looking for the hidden candy filled eggs.
• Underwater Easter Egg Hunt - held at Easter time (March / April) in the Municipal Pool, children search for plastic eggs which may float or be sunk in the indoor pool. This family themed event is suitable for young children, aged two to ten years old.

April

• Home and Garden Show - late March / early April, displaying products and services linked to home and garden improvement.

May

• RailArt Show and Sale - exhibitions from mid-May to late July, displaying American Rail artwork by national artists.
• Cheyenne International Film Festival - held on the third weekend of the month, multiple films are screened by first-time filmmakers, including regional and worldwide movies.
• Cheyenne Hispanic Festival - late May / early June, established in 2010, these festivities are part of the Depot Museum's Plaza summer events and celebrate the Hispanic cultures of the community with exhibits, food and music.

June

• Cheyenne Gunslingers - June / July, costumed actors stage old-fashioned gunfights in downtown Cheyenne.
• Wyoming Tribune Eagle's Fridays on the Plaza - first Friday in June to the first Friday in September, a series of free concerts are held each week.
• Movies in the Park - Tuesdays from June to August, open-air screenings of family films on selected Tuesday evenings (blankets are recommended). Locations include the David R. Romero Community Park, the Lions Park Amphitheater and the Sun Valley Park.
• Peppers on the Plaza - second Saturday of the month, an annual Chili Cook Off including live music, chili tastings and a pepper eating contest.
• Wyoming Brewers Festival - third Friday and Saturday of the month, this event combines beer tasting with food vendors and live music.
• Holly Frontier Superday - last Saturday of June, held annually at Lions Park, this is a fun day including a 5K and 10K walk / run, a 'Show-N-Shine' car show, a volleyball tournament and so much more.
• Cheyenne Celtic Musical Arts Festival - last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month, a party for everything Celtic including dancing, music and food.

July

• Cheyenne Frontier Days - mid-July, an outdoor rodeo and celebration of all things Western. Frontier Days occurs each year over a ten-day period, in the middle of July.
• Steam Train Excursion - held on a Sunday in late July, the excursion consists of a one-way journey on the Union Pacific 844 Steam Locomotive from Denver (Colorado) to Cheyenne.

August

• Kiwanis Ribfest - third Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month, this barbecue festival sees vendors competing for titles such as 'Best Ribs' and 'Best Sauce', and also includes live music and a car show.
• Laramie County Fair - early August, with livestock showing, bands, horticultural exhibits and mayhem over an eight-day period.
• Cheyenne Artists Guild Annual National Art Show and Sale - held throughout the month, the show features an exhibition of competing artworks from a range of categories, including wildlife, portraits and landscape.

September

• Cheyenne Greek Festival - mid-September, occurring on two days, this gathering has Greek dancing displays and plenty of food. It is held in association with the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Christian Church.
• Zombie Fest - late September / early October on a Saturday, festivities include a zombie walk, a fashion show, live music, a food court and much more.

October

• Carriage Ball - early October, organised by the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, the ball includes a gourmet dinner and a silent auction.

November

• Christmas Parade - last Saturday of the month, spectators in downtown Cheyenne get to see decorated floats, carriages and marching groups.
• Holiday Mart - late November, at the Depot Museum Plaza, a build up to the Christmas festivities, with local artisan traders and an appearance from Santa Claus himself.

December

• New Years Eve Ball Drop - December 31st, bringing in the New Year with a laser show, music, fireworks and a 'ball drop' countdown.