In addition to the nonstop cowboy poetry, there will be music and entertainment, booths of arts and crafts, as well as other activities and merchandise.
HEBER CITY — Two of the most recognized cowboy poets in the world are coming to Utah.
Waddie Mitchell and Baxter Black will host the 17th annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Buckaroo Fair that starts Wednesday, Nov. 2, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 6. The event will also feature Michael Martin Murphey, Suzy Bogguss, the Bar J Wranglers and Joey & Rory.
In addition to the nonstop cowboy poetry, there will be music and entertainment, booths of arts and crafts, as well as other activities and merchandise. A new Professional Bull Riding (PBR) event has been added to this year's lineup in addition to the award-winning western shows and scores of poets, musicians, cooks and artists. The event will kick off with the cowboy steak dinner and show at the Midway Town Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m.
"We don't want people to forget the cowboy heritage that established not only Utah but the West," said Tom Whitaker, who created the event. "The best way to experience being a cowboy without being 'a cowboy' is to be entertained by real cowboys. These performers live it, write it, rhyme it, sing it and perform all over the country."
Whitaker organized the event in 1994 and around 300 people showed up. Since then the annual event has grown to average 12,000 attendees each year, one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the country.
Tickets for the Buckaroo Fair, music and poetry are $10 at the door. A cowboy BBQ lunch and dinner costs $15 for adults and $7 for children. Concert tickets range from $14 to $45 and are available online at www.hebercitycowboypoetry.com or Day's Market in Heber City, 435-654-2352. For more information on event times and locations, visit www.hebercitycowboypoetry.com