Celebrating the legacy of the cowboy, cowgirl and vaquero, the Briscoe Western Art Museum presents its annual National Day of the Cowboy celebration at the museum’s campus on the banks of the River Walk.
The FREE community event, which includes FREE admission to the museum and its exhibitions, features indoor and outdoor activities for cowpokes of all ages, with live music in the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, a chuck wagon with tasty cowboy treats, artist demonstrations and hands-on arts, crafts, games, and more! Fun for all ages to enjoy, so mosey on down with your family and friends! Register today and saddle up for cowboy fun!
Cowboy Fun Under the Sun And Throughout the Museum
Cowpoke Games & Crafts: Outfit yer’self in a cowboy hat and spurs, try your hand at silversmith etching, make a stick pony and try out some barrel racing, learn how to rope and ride, herd some balloon animals, do a little bull riding, toss horseshoes, craft a sculpture and more!
Stick ponies and barrel racing
Felt horseshoe toss
Lil Buckaroo corral-lassoing and bull riding
Silversmith etching (drawing on tin foil)
Braiding
Dress like a Cowboy (make your own spurs and cowboy hat)
Make your own sculpture
Balancing cowboy
And more!
Storytime at the Stagecoach: Featuring the stories of Mary Fields, the first African American woman stagecoach driver who traveled with her pet eagle, and Cathay Williams, the only known female Buffalo Soldier who served in the Army in the 19th century.
Hear their stories as Antoinette Lakey reads from “Fearless Mary: Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver”. A community leader, researcher, and dramatist, Lakey serves as Artistic Director for Teatro Anansi, an organization with a mission to connect, celebrate and commemorate African American theatre, performing arts and history within the greater San Antonio community.
Rollin’ Texas Style Chuckwagon Cooking: Sample some tasty peach cobbler and vittles- beans cooked by Sandra Gammill-Julian of Rolling Texas Style Chuckwagon Cooking.
Cowboy Artists of America Demonstration: Western art is brought to life through a live sculpting demonstration by Cowboy Artist Jason Scull.
Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Cowboy Demonstrations: Demonstrations of how to craft the essential tools of the cowboy trade by members of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) of saddle making, braiding and forging.
Volunteers needed for National Day of the Cowboy! Partner up with the Briscoe team and help with check-in, assist in arts and crafts, and lead activity stations during our annual celebration of the cowboy, cowgirl, and vaquero. Morning and afternoon shifts are available and all volunteers must be 18+ years old.
With events all around the country on the 4th Saturday in July, National Day of the Cowboy works to contribute to the preservation of America’s cowboy culture and pioneer heritage.