The Duncan Banner

Local News

September 7, 2010

Western Spirit offers free, family fun

Toni Hopper The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Hearing the word ‘free’ these days is a rare thing when one talks about a festival, but that’s just what the Western Spirit Celebration “A Cowboy” Gathering is. And it’s not just for cowboys, but for anyone who wants to have a good time without the worries of spending tons of money.

The event begins Sept. 16, when area cowboys begin bringing in the Heritage Herd from Bray. They’ll follow the same route as in 2009, said Cova Williams, museum coordinator for the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. Camp will be just off U.S. Highway 81 that Thursday night, on Industrial Road. Visitors are welcome to come and enjoy conversation with the cowboys during camp.

“The herd will come in about 9 a.m. Friday to the center,” Williams said. Friday is mostly a day of getting everyone established, which means chuckwagons and cooks, vendors and of course, letting the cowboys just relax.

Everyone should toss on a pair of jeans and head down to the CTHC Saturday for an entire day of fun, with plenty of entertainment and exhibits for fans of the western history and lifestyle to enjoy.

Outdoors will be the vendors booths, chuckwagons, cooks, cowboys, the Heritage Herd and other things to enjoy. Music will be provided.

“All the time, there will be something happening,” Williams said.

Julie McKinney, who is on the center’s board, and a pivotal player in event preparations, said there will be a dutch oven demonstration and a stock dog demonstration.

Steve Tevebaugh will provide wagon rides. There will also be demonstrations by tatters and a loom maker. Wallace Moore will be on hand to autograph books and there will be quilts on display.

The event is a great time for area families to visit the Heritage Center, as it is open for free admission that weekend. In addition to the regular exhibits and art gallery, there will be three exhibits on display. One is of the colorful artwork of Donna Howell-Sickles, another is a select grouping of images created during the filming of Lonesome Dove, and a third is images featuring the 2007 Oklahoma Centennial Cattle Drive, shot by a local photographer.

The CTHC museum offers an interactive exhibit especially for children to experience Old West life.

New this year to the festival is a horse pulling contest.

“A Shetland pony could win this,” Williams said.

Both Williams and McKinney are excited to have the Church of the Western Swing who will perform in front of the monument outdoors.

Williams said it was one of the best parts of the 2009 festival.

“Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy root beer and listen to some great music,” she said.

There will be breakfast and cowboy church early Sunday to finish off the festival.

Also, on Friday, there will be a private, invitation only chuckwagon dinner for the authors of the Chisholm Trail Book Festival which is set for Sept. 18 at the Simmons Center.

The two day event is sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Williams gives McKinney and Mike Smith praise for helping organize the festival.

“We could not put this on without them. They both have been incredible,” she said. “They make this event what it is.”

For information, call 580-252-6692.



— Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com.

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