Mustang expert Fred Woehl is just one of the unique and exciting things to experience at Silver Dollar City’s National Crafts & Cowboy Festival.
“Silver Dollar City’s National Crafts & Cowboy Festival is a sure sign of fall in Branson,” said Preston Garrison, Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “It’s a joint celebration of the legacy of the ‘Great American Cowboy’ and ‘1880’s style craftsmanship.’ There’s not another like it anywhere,” he added.
The Festival runs from September 13 to October 28 and is one of the largest gatherings of demonstrating craftsmen in the country. About 125 “visiting craftsmen, including Best of Missouri Hands juried artists,” will join Silver Dollar City’s 100 traditional craftsmen for the festival. It’s a unique chance to experience and see demonstrations of a variety of American crafts all in one place, including basketry, cooperage, knife making, stained glass, glass blowing, pottery & ceramics, quilt making, and many more.
Silver Dollar City’s Wild West Show, is returning, by popular demand, and will run through October 15. It’s hosted by trick roper and bullwhip artist A.J. Silver. Reminiscent of the Wild West shows of the 1880s, the show features “trick riders, 8-time World Champion Native American Hoop Dancer Nakotah LaRance, performing canines, and a new marksmanship demonstration by sharpshooting champion Kala Howard, who fires at targets while riding horseback.”
The Festival’s musical entertainment includes “Western Music Association 7-time Female Performer of the Year Belinda Gail, 3-time Group of the Year Miss Devon and the Outlaw, Entertainer of the Year and 2-time Female Performer of the Year Kristyn Harris, plus The Malpass Brothers, and The Home Rangers.” The popular Barn Dance, with Silver Dollar City’s own “Horsecreek Band,” will be held at the Carousel Barn each day.
See the “Extreme Mustang Makeover,” as mustang expert Fred Woehl tames and trains rescued wild mustangs. Kent Rollins, a ranch owner, whose chuck wagon cooking talents have been featured on the Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” returns for daily demonstrations of trail-side cooking. “Watercolor artist and Gunsmoke star Buck Taylor shows off his and other artists’ work in Buck Taylor’s Cowboy Emporium, located in the Silver Dollar City Frisco Barn. A cowboy art-lover’s dream; it features craftsmen with cowboy-inspired crafts like saddle making, leather crafting, Native American jewelry making, antler art, moccasin crafting and turkey feather painting.
In addition to the excellent food offered throughout the park daily, there will also be special Festival food offerings. These include Harvest Skillets with vegetables and smoked ham, bacon-wrapped smoked Turkey Legs, slow-smoked Prime Rib, and Apple Dumplings with homemade Cinnamon Ice Cream.
Branson Tourism Center’s Garrison points out that all the activities of the National Harvest & Cowboy Festival are in addition to everything else the award winning 1880’s theme park offers daily. This includes over 30 rides and attractions, 12 stage venues, 60 shops and more.
In terms of value and being able to enjoy all that Silver Dollar City has to offer at your leisure, he points out that the Branson Tourism Center (BTC) has a two day Silver Dollar City Pass that offers a greatly discounted price over two one day admissions. For additional information or tickets for Silver Dollar City, including the National Harvest & Cowboy Festival, or any of Branson’s other shows, attractions, or lodging, please contact BTC by either calling their toll-free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website https://www.bransontourismcenter.com/.