Saddle Up and Celebrate National Day of the American Cowboy in Fort Worth on July 26th

Visitors to the city of Fort Worth are invited to “Saddle Up” and take part in festivities for the annual National Day of the American Cowboy in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District on Saturday, July 26, 2014. Fort Worth, home to hundreds of years of Western history, has been dubbed the “City of Cowboys and Culture” for its abundance of Old West-related attractions as well as a thriving arts scene complemented by a diverse culinary palate and sophisticated cultural offerings.

Recognized nationally as the Best Cowboy Tribute by multiple national media outlets, the Fort Worth Stockyards has planned a day of free and family-orientated activities that will take place along East Exchange Avenue.  The activities are designed to help visitors experience and appreciate the role that Cowboys and Cowgirls of all ethnicities have played -- and continue to play -- in every day Western life. In addition to stage coach rides, live music, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a “jail and bail” available all day, other special events include:

• 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Barn/Tack Sale
• 10:00 a.m. - Hay Stacking Contest
• 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Children's Art Contest
• 11:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. - Texas Legends Gunfight
• 11:00 a.m. - “Cowboy Idol”
• 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive
• 11:30 a.m. - Parade (follows the Cattle Drive)
• 1:00 p.m. - Watermelon Eating and Seed Spitting Contest
• 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Tip-to-tip Longhorn Contest
• 1:15 p.m. - Most Worn-Out Boots Contest
• 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Fort Worth Herd Cow Camp
• 1:30 p.m. - Mustache Contest
• 2:00 p.m. - Rib Eating Contest
• 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. - Stockyards Championship Rodeo/Pawnee Bill Wild West Show
• 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Legends of Texas

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, The Fort Worth Stockyards is a 15-block area that looks the same today as it did 100 years ago, complete with the world's only twice-daily cattle drive presented by the Fort Worth Herd and the restored Grapevine VintageRailroad. The Historic Stockyards District is also home to Stockyards Station, a dining and shopping marketplace made from former sheep and hog pens, as well as notable attractions such as the Cowtown Coliseum - home to the world's only year-round rodeo, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Billy Bob's Texas—the world's largesthonky-tonk, M.L. Leddy's legendary handmade boots and saddles, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro and the White Elephant Saloon.

The National Day of The American Cowboy was created by the National Day of the Cowboy nonprofit organization, which seeks to contribute to the preservation of Cowboy heritage through education, the arts, celebrations, gatherings, rodeos, and community activities. The first National Day of the American Cowboy was held on July 23, 2005, and this year's Fort Worth celebration marks the fifth celebration in the City of Cowboys and Culture.

Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau (FWCVB)

The FWCVB is the official destination marketing organization of the 16th-largest city in the United States. Known as the “City of Cowboys and Culture,” Fort Worth is a destination with a rich Western heritage and a dedication to urban renewal. The city is home to the famed Stockyards Historical District, the lively downtown Sundance Square and a renowned Cultural District complete with the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth Zoo and the Kimbell Art Museum. The organization is dedicated to promoting Fort Worth as a premier business and leisure destination, with thriving centers of culture and commerce. For more information, visit www.FortWorth.com.