Bandera - where the fun never sets - really comes alive on Labor Day weekend. That's when Bandera returns to its roots. It is the time of the cowboy - and music, horses, longhorn cattle, gunfights, American Indian Powwow, gospel singing and cowboy church on the river. It's Celebrate Bandera 2010 organized by the Bandera Community Foundation.
Get an early start on Celebrate Bandera with all the Friday night events:
COWBOY MOUNTED SHOOTERS; CIRCLE OF LIFE INTERTRIBAL POWWOW WITH THE BLESSING OF THE CIRCLE AND THE GRAND ENTRY, THE NATIVE AMERICAN SILENT AUCTION; AND THE WELCOME TO BANDERA DANCES.
Labor Day week-end Saturday and Sunday will find the whole town alive with cowboys and dudes and little buckaroos jostling for position to see Dr. E.T. Bushrod's Medicine Show, the San Antonio Living History Association, the Concho Cowboys, the famous Brazos Bottom Cowographers, a chance to ride in a stagecoach, The Texas Longhorn Riders and the Buffalo Soldier’s Camp. Folks will be scramblin’ to watch the Fancy Dancers and ceremonial dances of the Celebrate Bandera Circle of Life Intertribal PowWow.
Saturday morning kicks off with the opening ceremony, parade and a cattle drive down Main Street. A cattle drive with real longhorns.
The great thing about Saturday and Sunday is that every event on the river and on Main Street is FREE. And that includes the juried Arts and Crafts Show, the Living History and re-enactors and the Antique Chuck Wagons.
You can move to Mansfield Park and catch the Grand Entry of the Circle of Life Intertribal Pow Wow and the afternoon performance of the Invitational Roping and Barrel Racing. Saturday evening catch the Cecil Adkinson Ford’s Cowboy Mounted Shooters ,the new and exciting Wild West Show and the Invitational Rodeo Finals.
Sunday brings back the Western Heritage Cowboy Church services on the banks of the Medina River. Country Gospel Music is featured most of the afternoon. A Native American Church service will also be held at Mansfield Park at the Intertribal PowWow.
Sunday evening it the Hottest 8 seconds of the year at the National Professional Bull Rider’s Challenge at Mansfield Park. Cowboys from all over the U.S. will gather to ride some of the best bucking bulls in the United States.
Each year, a number of civic and church groups benefit from participation in Celebrate Bandera. To learn more about how you or your group can participate, call Genie Strickland at 830-796-4447.
Notice: Some outfitters charge fees for their rides such as stage coach, pony or horseback riding.
Voted one of the TOP 101 WESTERN EVENTS by
Buddy's Water Well & Septic Service
Roger, Karen and Buddy Byrd
Twin Elm
Cap'n Kury & Miss Victoria
Running R Ranch
Diane Migliaccio
Crawford Pharmacy
(Left to Right) Luke Crawford, Dennis Crawford, Niki Collins & Wayne Antenen
Silver Spur Ranch
Gary and Kay Waltsmith
Flying L Guest Ranch
Susan Jenkins
Purple Sage Ranch
Ron Yaeger
City of Bandera
Mayor Horst Pallaske
Bandera City Council
The Almost Patsy Cline Band
Lanette Pennell
American Indian Store
Judy Klein
Boyle's Bandera Hardware and Just Ask Rental
Johnny Boyle and Nick Phelps
Dixie Dude Ranch
Clay and Diane Conoly
Bandera's Economic Development Corporation
Margaret Paradee, owner of the Gingerbread House &
President of the Bandera Business Association, Both Proud Sponsors
O.S.T. (Old Spanish Trail Restaurant)
Michelle Armstrong, Amanda Martinez and Bekah Boyd
Shoe Biz
Peggy Ashmore
Skyline RV Resort
Bob Shaw
Cow Creek
Allen Strong
The Lodge at San Julian Creek
Randy and Burma Kincaid
Dr. Margo Denke
Love Creek Orchard The Apple Store
Norma Jean
Modern Woodmen
Larry Richardson and Bret Davenport
Indian Creek Internet Services
Marian McCurdy
Janna Ivy Lindig, Attorney at Law
Super S Foods
Stuart Wagner
Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Debbie Corley
Bandera Veterinary Clinic
Mark Richardson, DVM
Bandera County Chamber of Commerce
Cerise Ripps
Bandera County Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Starlight Bookkeeping
Bruce Hanks
Chicago Brothers
Rick Pusateri
Bandera Bulletin
Christina Ryrholm
The Cowboy Store
Mickey Bloxham & Denise Beaseley
McMullan Insurance
Kirk & Hooter McMullan
Stagecoach Realty
Martha Bodiford & Rene' Leith
Bit of Mexico
Skye Holt & TJ Fernandez
Bandera Bank
Ken Finley
Rane Roofing
Dave Vogelsang, Judi Mullins, AJ Martinez & Diana Tatum
Comprehensive Physical Therapy& Bandera Fitness
Carmon Gascot, LPT
Wells Fargo
David Geisweidt & Sharon Treece
Brick's River Cafe'
Brick Gibson
Blue Gene's
Laurie King & Melinda Sullivan
Bandera First State Bank
Anthony Richards & James Wilson
Bandera County Courier
Gail Joiner
Bandera Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
Peter Tierney & Staff
Braun Medicine Chest
Leticia Henk & Staff
Band-Aire Heating & Cooling
Bobby W.
Pioneer Rv Resort
Lloyd & Linda Randall
Gunslinger
Melissa Benge
Old West Imports
Abel & Alea Loredo
Bandera Star Steakhouse
Mike Lynch
Gray Realty
Steve Stone
Bandera General Store
Georgia & Gail Click
Website by Indian Creek Internet Services, Inc.
Photo Credits James Taylor and Jessica Hawley of the Bandera Bulletin
Carl Holt from the Bandera County Courier
And Chuck Murphy ~~ ALL PROUD SPONSOR PICTURES with
Bandera Community Foundation President Dave Demers taken by Jackie Demers