Cheyenne Frontier Days got underway on Friday (7/19), and we went on Sunday (7/21) to participate in the festivities. I have been fortunate to get a media invite for two years in a row, and I happily jump at this opportunity, partly because it’s so close to home.
I’ve often driven from Loveland, Colorado, to Cheyenne, Wyoming. However, I never cease to be amazed at how short it feels. While it’s a few more miles to get to Cheyenne than Denver, it feels closer than Denver because there’s little traffic.
It only took us around forty minutes to make it to Little America Hotel & Resort, where we’ve been lucky to have stayed several times. The conference hotel features multiple buildings, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a store and lounge. It’s especially fun during Cheyenne Frontier Days. Nightly live music in the bar welcomes happy fairgoers for one or two last drinks and a twirl around the dance floor before going to bed. But I am getting ahead of myself!
We checked into the hotel and our room (early), welcomed by the sound of mooing cows in the field behind our building. Our first stop was Cowgirls of the West Museum in downtown Cheyenne. This year, the theme of Cheyenne Frontier Days is Year of the Cowgirl, so I felt like this stop was more than appropriate, it was a must. By the way, there are an array of wonderful museums in Cheyenne. Check out this list from Visit Cheyenne. We’ve been to quite a few over the years.
As a non-profit run entirely by volunteers and funds from the adjacent shop/emporium, I guarantee you’ll learn a few things at the Cowgirls of the West Museum. I did! There are several examples of real-life side saddles (I can’t believe anyone ever used these things).
The Cowgirls of the West Museum has a lot of information and you can spend 15 minutes or several hours perusing it. I like the movie in the back that told the stories of famous cowgirls like Prairie Rose (who wasn’t just one gal, but multiple gals).
Before leaving, go next door and make a purchase. After all, the museum is free thanks to the store. Plus, items are well-priced. I bought two bracelets for just $24.
After the museum, we made our way to Cheyenne Frontier Days, parked, and took in the Indian Village before heading to the rodeo. While I had been to CFD (as the locals call it), I had never visited the Indian Village.
Most of the dancers were teens and adults, but this kid stole the show!
We made it in time for the dance performances which were quite beautiful. I love this purpose-built space. It has a warm, personal vibe that I think is appropriate for learning about Native American culture.
This activity is completely free, as is admission into CFD. Of course, rodeos, concerts, and rides at the carnival require tickets. We got Navajo tacos for lunch at Indian Village. Beware that while entrance is free, food isn’t, and my taco was $15, while water was $4.
The rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days truly is the granddaddy of them all. I got to experience it last year as media and was excited to introduce Ryan this year. It’s nonstop action. Seriously, there’s never a dull moment. Plus, despite raining for about two minutes, we had perfect weather the entire day.
Our rodeo on Sunday opened with the Navy Seal Leap Frogs parachuting into the arena.
A lot has been written about the CFD rodeo over the years. After all, this is the 128th year. It is something you should experience, even if you aren’t a huge rodeo fan. As a writer and media person, I’ve gone to my fair share of rodeos through the years and this one is tops.
We passed Old Frontier Town and the chuckwagon cookout area several times during our visit to CFD. The smells are glorious. We’d like to do the Chuckwagon Experience one day, but I think you have to get tickets early because it appears to be sold out.
Back at Little America, we freshened up and ordered a Lyft. I have found that Uber and Lyft are easy to find during CFD, and we utilized three to get around to dinner and our concert.
Before dinner, we enjoyed a beer on the back patio of Blue Raven Brewery. We’ve been here once in the dead of winter when it was zero degrees outside so we sat at the bar. This time, we got to experience the back patio which is probably one of the nicest brewery patios I’ve ever had the pleasure of sitting on—and I’ve sat on a lot of brewery patios!
Our dinner reservation, like last year, was at The Metropolitan Downtown. A surprisingly swanky Cheyenne restaurant serving up things like steak and pasta. We shared the calamari, a chopped salad, filet Oscar (the special of the evening), and the brownie.
While last year, I was somewhat indifferent about the food at this place. This time, the meal was extremely satisfying. The steak was cooked perfectly, and I might dream about their mashed potatoes, whipped to creamy perfection. The brownie, made in-house, is a chocolate lover’s delight. Ryan’s opinion was that he would “definitely go back.”
That evening, we saw Jelly Roll. This wasn’t my first pick for CFD concerts this year, but sometimes as a media person, you can’t be picky. I do, however, like concerts here. Last year my friend Karen and I got to see Tim McGraw. My 1990s country music lovin’ side was on full display.
Pleasantly surprised at the caliber of Jelly Roll’s performance, his duet with his daughter brought tears to my eyes. Cheyenne Frontier Nights, as these concerts are called, are, like everything at CFD, top-notch. See the musical lineup at the link.
When we arrived back to Little America, Barely Gettin’ By was playing in Hathaway’s Lounge, so we stopped in for a nightcap. We like this comfy bar, featuring a dance floor on which I may or may not have cut a rug. What happens at Cheyenne Frontier Days, stays at Cheyenne Frontier Days (well, at least what happens at Hathaway’s Lounge during CFD, stays there).
I’m writing this on a Monday, and we rolled out of bed at Little America this morning. Ryan quickly declared it was “the most comfortable hotel bed he’d slept in for years.” High praise because we sleep in a lot of hotel beds.
This morning we partook in the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days free pancake breakfast. Bigger and more professional than I had imagined, hundreds of people turn up at the depot in downtown Cheyenne to stand in line for a free pancake breakfast. And not just pancakes, but all the fixin’s including butter, syrup, blueberries, milk and coffee. Plus, there’s a band playing.
Having heard about this event for years, I am so happy to have gotten the chance to participate in it. Everyone was there from great-grandmas and grandpas to a baby in a stroller next to where we hunkered down to eat. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Pancake Breakfast is one-of-a-kind and that truly makes me proud to be an American. In fact, the band sang Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” as we munched on our pancakes.
Surprisingly, while downtown was as packed as I’ve ever seen Cheyenne, we found parking rather easily. I’d recommend taking Lyft or Uber to and from the fairgrounds. You’ll bypass the parking headache. Or, splurge on a $25 parking pass to lot 8 (next to the CFD museum).
The 128th “Year of the Cowgirl” Cheyenne Frontier Days started July 19 and runs through July 28. If you’re also from Northern Colorado, along I25, it’s a breeze to visit Cheyenne and a fun event to add to your summer itinerary.
Thank you for hosting us at Cheyenne Frontier Days, Travel Wyoming!