The National Festival of the West Turns 21

The National Festival of the West is coming of age!  This popular Western event will celebrate its twenty-first anniversary at West World in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 17-20, 2011.

The festival is now under new management and new ownership.  Former owner and festival founder, Mary Brown is handing over the reins to Western entertainer, Rollie Stevens of Phoenix, AZ and Gene Butts of the New Pioneers Western singing group, Sugarland, Texas.  Both men have been crowd favorites at this well-attended event for many years.

Rollie Stevens, Mary Brown and Gene Butts

Voted “America’s Best Western Festival” five years in a row by True West Magazine, the annual event brings nearly 10 million dollars to the local economy.  Thousands of visitors from all 50 states and multiple foreign countries travel to Arizona each spring to be a part of America’s Western culture.

Over 200 exhibitors will market authentic Western merchandise during the four-day shopping expo. This is one of the largest trade shows of its kind in the nation. Exhibits will be juried for quality and appropriateness.  In addition to the trade show, other festivities include several stages of continuous Western Entertainment, Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Chuck Wagon Cook-off Contests, Historic Mountain Man Rendezvous, Arizona Gunfighters Re-enactments, Old West Costume Contests, Cowboy Spirit Award, TV and Film Celebrities and much more!

The new festival owners feel it’s important to keep the kids involved. They’ve expanded the children and teen areas which will now include Western recreational activities, Buckaroo games, educational events, Cowboy singing and Karaoke contests. The main tent will introduce nightly concerts, featuring top Nashville entertainment.

For ticket information, festival hours and special discount days for children and senior citizens, check the website www.festivalofthewest.com.

For vendor applications, contact Kathy Meek at 602-996-4387.

For festival details, contact Rollie Stevens email@festivalofthewest.com.

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2 Comments

  1. Hi I am trying to find out when the Festival of the West is planned for 2012. We need to make arrangements to go. Please let us know thanks, Cheryl

  2. Hi I am trying to find out when the Festival of the West is planned for 2012. We need to make arrangements to go and are thinking of maybe being a vendor. Please let us know thanks, Gloria

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