The BC Cowboy Heritage Society Proudly Presents

The 21st Annual

Kamloops Cowboy Festival

March 16th - 19th, 2017

Thursday & Sunday evenings are a
bonus for weekend pass holders

We've gained the reputation of being the

Biggest and Best Festival of its kind in Canada

as well as one of the best in North America!

Don't miss out on the Sunday performance:
Evening main feature dinner show!

Our headquarters and host hotel is the
Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre

Good news ... bus tours to the 2017 Kamloops Cowboy Festival will be available this year from Alberta! See the details here

Two BCCHS Fund Raiser Raffles!

The 2016 Commemorative Belt Buckle

... and this time a special 20th Anniversary Buckle!

This has become a favourite annual raffle. Tickets are $10 each and the winner will receive a solid silver, custom handmade, 2016 Kamloops Cowboy Festival commemorative belt buckle valued at about $750.00. It's a one of a kind buckle too, hand made by Merritt silversmith Richard Tenisch.

click to enlarge A past year's buckle shown

There are only 300 tickets printed for this raffle and they're $10.00 each. Tickets will be sold in the trade show area, at the information desks, and at the General Stores - ask any volunteer!

click to enlarge An example of a Hope River Metal Art firepit - the raffle prize will be a different style.

The 2016 second, but just as popular, raffle ...

There's two prizes on this one - the first prize is a custom made metal firepit donated by Hope River Metal Art and valued at $400.00. The second prize winner will receive two weekend passes for the 2017 Kamloops Cowboy Festival and three nights accommodation at the Ramada Kamloops!

There are only 900 tickets printed for this raffle and you get 3 tickets for $10.00. Tickets will be sold in the trade show area, at the information desks, and at the General Stores - ask any volunteer!

Back to Index

Thursday Night "Welcome to Cowboy Festival" Event!

Ramada Kamloops Hosts Thursday Night Kickoff Dinner Dance

$45 admission (including tax & gratuity) includes the Cowboy Buffet, lots of great entertainment, and the Dance! Shuttle busses will be available from the Festival headquarters. This year featuring ... with other joining in throughout the night.

Happy Hour @ 6:00, Dinner Buffet @ 6:45, Entertainment @ 8:00pm. The buffet will include: Buns and Whipped Butter, House Salad, Caesar Salad, Apple Cranberry Coleslaw, Baked Beans, Seasonal Roasted Vegetables, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Chipotle Mushroom Ravioli, Rosemary Pepper Roast Beef with Au Jus, Assorted Squares and Bars, and Freshly Brewed Coffee or Tea! Tickets are available at the Ramada Kamloops: Ph:1-800-663-2832 and ask for Joan, or get them when you order your Festival tickets.

click to enlarge

Back to Index

Festival Hours

• Wednesday and Thursday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM pre-Festival entertainment at the Horse Barn with Gordie West.
  
  
• Thursday evening: Dinner Dance at the Ramada Kamloops details
  
  
• Thursday 7:00 PM Kickoff party at the Kamloops Convention Center - this is free for all weekend pass holders! (but you must have a weekend pass)
  
  
• Friday kick off events at the Horse Barn will have entertainment from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Different Festival entertainers have been scheduled to perform ... there will be a free shuttle service.
  
  
• Friday
  • Doors open at 9:00 AM (for ticket purchases only)
  • Shuttle Bus will be running to the Horse Barn all day
  • Trade Show & Art Show, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Daytime entertainment 12:00 - 4:45 PM
  • Evening Show (Ball Room) 7:00 PM
  • Dinner Theatre (Theatre) - happy hour 5:30 - dinner & show 6:30 PM
  
  
  
• Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM the Horse Barn will again have scheduled entertainment with different Festival entertainers performing ... there will be a free shuttle service.
  
  
• Saturday
  • Doors open at 10:00 AM
  • Trade Show 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Art Show 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Daytime entertainment 11:00 AM - 4:45 PM
  • Evening Show (Ball Room) 7:00 PM
  • Dinner Theatre (Theatre) - happy hour 5:30 - dinner & show 6:30 PM
  
  
• Sunday
  • Doors open & entertainment starts at 9:30 AM
  • Cowboy Church (Calvary Church) 10:30 AM to Noon
  • Trade Show & Art Show 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Daytime entertainment (Convention Centre only) 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Dinner Theatre - happy hour 5:30 then dinner & show - weekend pass holders only

Back to Index

Ticket Information

Ticket prices for 2017

• Weekend Pass - $80.00 - Includes everything (except the dinner theatre) all weekend!
  
• Evening Show - $40.00 - Includes evening performance in the Ball Room & daytime admission!
  
• Fri, Sat, or Sun Dinner Theatre - $35.00 upgrade - with a weekend pass - Includes dinner!
  
• Fri or Sat Dinner Theatre - $75.00 - Includes day time & one evening performance & dinner!
  
• Day Pass (Fri, Sat, or Sun) - $25.00 - Includes daytime entertainment, trade show, & seminars!

Check out the all new Dinner Theatre Show menues!
Roast Beef plus other choices all 3 nights: 2017 Dinner Theatre Menu

To order tickets phone toll free: 1-888-763-2221

Festival Tickets will be available after November 1st at:

Weekend passes and Feature passes may be purchased at:
The Horse Barn on Mount Paul Way, BC's biggest and best western wear store.

Or through us by phoning: 1-888-763-2221 (please don't call the Horse Barn).

Please note: for 2017
all Dinner Theatre tickets must be purchased at our toll free number,
and the Coast Hotel will not be offering packages - book your room then phone us for tickets.

The BC Cowboy Heritage Society, Box 137, Kamloops, BC, V2C 5K3.
1-888-763-2221 or Email: cowboys@bcchs.com

There are discounted room rates at many of the local motels if you remember to tell them that you are going to attend the Cowboy Festival. Please support our sponsor motels - book at one that is on our list - see the Accommodation List!

Good News For Albertans!!

Alberta Bus Tour to the 2016 Kamloops Cowboy Festival

Enjoy the Kamloops Cowboy Festival without worrying about mountain travel ...

Frontier Bus Lines is full but Anderson Vacations is putting together a bus tour package - if they get enough interest before February 17th. See their web site for details: www.andersonvacations.ca or phone them toll free at: 1-866-814-7378.

Our official carry is Frontier Bus Lines and it's announcing their second annual tour to the Cowboy Festival with a departure on March 17th, 2016 from Central Alberta. Ol' Ugly will be keeping everyone entertained which will make the trip go by so quickly. The tour will include deluxe motor coach transportation with an experienced tour guide, 4 nights at the Coast Hotel (host hotel for festival), $15 daily meal coupon, a weekend pass to Cowboy Festival and all three dinner theater shows. Please check our website for details at www.frontierbuslines.com or contact us at our toll free line 1-888-LET-S-BUS (538-7287).

Back to Index

2016 Performers Line-up:

Here's the entertainer line up for 2016. Biographies and photos
for the following will be available on the Entertainers Bios and Photos soon.

• Abe Zacharias
• Alan Moberg
• Brian Salmond
• Bryn Thiessen
• Bud Webb
• Butch Falk
• Dave Longworth
• Don Wudel
• Duane Nelson
• Ed Peekeekoot
• Frank Gleeson

• Gary Fjellgaard
• Gordie West
• Horse Crazy
• Hugh McLennan
• Jim McLennan
• Jinny Cash
• Kristyn Harris
• Mack Station
• Mag Mawhinney
• Matt Johnston

• Mike Dygert
• Mostly A-Cappella
• Nathan Tinkham
• Ol' Ugly
• Rob Dinwoodie
• Robbie Robertson
• Ryan Fritz
• Shirley Field
• Terri Mason
• Tim Hus
• Tom Cole

Back to Index

The 2016 Evening Only Performance Schedule!

This is tentative ... all schedules are subject to change

March 18th - Calvary Church
Friday Evening - 7:00 PM!

(MC) Hugh McLennan
Dave Longworth
Butch Falk
Terri Mason
Shirley Field
Frank Gleeson
Gary Fjellgaard
Intermission
Hall of Fame Inductions
Don Wudel
Rob Dinwoodie
Bryn Thiessen
Hugh & Western Spirit Band

March 18th - Dinner Theatre
Kamloops Convention Centre
Friday Evening

5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Mostly A-Cappella & Jinny Cash
Dinner Show
(MC) Gordie West
Nathan Tinkham
Duane Nelson
Tom Cole & Brian Salmond
Intermission
Horse Crazy
Ol' Ugly
Gary Fjellgaard
Possible Surprise Guest

March 19th - Calvary Church
Saturday Evening - 7:00 PM!

(MC) Dave Longworth
Mostly A-Cappella
Mag Mawhinney
Ryan Fritz
Terri Mason
Kristyn Harris
Intermission
BCCHS Scholarship Awards
Joe Marten Award
Matt Johnston
Duane Nelson
Tim Hus

March 19th - Dinner Theatre
Kamloops Convention Centre
Saturday Evening

5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Gordie West Band & Jinny Cash
Dinner Show
(MC) Hugh McLennan
Mack Station
Don Wudel
Horse Crazy
Intermission
Alan Moberg
Robbie Robertson
Ed Peekeekoot

The Sunday evening dinner theatre show at the Kamloops Hotel and Convention Centre will be for weekend pass holders only ... here's the schedule.

The 2016 Performance Schedules!
All schedules are subject to change!!

The evening schedules only (not daytime) are above. If you want the complete schedules pick one of the following PDFs to download it. They include daytime performances and evening performances in both venues, as well as the workshop schedule for that day. There is a separate schedule for each day.

There is also a list of entertainers with their scheduled sets beside their name if you're hunting a particular show - this includes all performers, both venues, and all three days.
Schedule updated February 11th

Friday Schedule PDF
Saturday Schedule PDF

Sunday Schedule PDF
Schedule list by Entertainer PDF

Back to Index

Workshops and Seminars for the 2016 Festival

Here is the tentative list of workshops that will be at the Festival:
Workshops and Seminars
Please note all workshops and seminars will be held upstairs in the Calvary Church
and there will be no workshops on Sunday.

Friday
1:00 Workshop room #1 - Daniel Gordon - Cowboy Boots - history, construction, leather, cost
2:00 Workshop room #2 - Jim McLennan - guitar playing as back up
3:00 Workshop room #1 - Horse Crazy - Harmony!
4:00 Workshop room #2 - Jinglebob Music - From stage to studio: how to make a record

Saturday
11:00 Workshop room #1 - Gary Fjellgaard - song writing
12:00 Workshop room #2 - Ed Peekeekoot - guitar picking
1:00 Workshop room #1 - Mike Miltimore - what makes a great guitar
2:00 Workshop room #2 - Nathan Tinkham - Guitar playing
3:00 Workshop room #1 - Cowboy hat history & custom hat building
4:00 Workshop room #2 - Andy Knight - Let's Talk Saddles

Back to Index

The Art of the West Show and Sale!

Click here to go to the Art Show Page!

The BC Cowboy Heritage Society is pleased to present the Art of the West Show and Sale at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival. The goal of this event is to showcase the art of the West in all its forms and all its locales, and in doing so, become one of the premier Western art shows in Canada. This year, the show will feature flat work in all mediums, photography, and sculpture.

People's Choice Award

Watch for the People's Choice Award ballots at the Festival. A People's choice award will be awarded to the piece of art work that receives the most votes from the viewers attending the show. The volunteers taking care of the show will be asked to encourage each visitor to vote once for their favourite. Artwork, Photography, and Sculpture entries are all eligible for the award. The voting will end at 5 pm on Saturday.

Back to Index

The Western Art and Gear Show!

Click here to go to the 2016 Trade Show Page!

As well as all the above entertainment we also have a Western Art and Gear Show that will run all weekend long! The exhibitors in this show are some of the finest cowboy craftsmen and artists in North America! There will be a variety of booths selling and taking orders for saddles and leather work, western clothing, cowboy hats, books, jewelry, lots of art, bronzes, and some educational booths!

Here is a list of the exhibitors that will be at the 2016 Festival

For photos and write-ups on some of the exhibitors see The Trade Show Page!

Back to Index

Where Are We?

The Kamloops Cowboy Festival is held in two great venues - across the road from each other. Kamloops Conference Centre (formerly Forsters) and the Calvary Community Church! We'll be running a shuttle service between venues.

Kamloops Conference Centre is located at 1250 Rogers Way and the Calvary Community Church is at 1205 Rogers Way - just off of Highway #1 in Kamloops, BC, Canada. Kamloops is one of the few places that you can not only take in a super Cowboy Festival, but you can also bring your snow skis and your golf clubs and enjoy a week long holiday in March! Remember to tell your motel that you are attending the Cowboy Festival, as they are offering discount rates! For more information phone 1-888-763-2224 (in Canada), outside Canada phone: (250)579-5667, or Email: cowboys@bcchs.com

Click here for a Map!

Back to Index

Accommodation

Just say that you're going to the Cowboy Festival and the following sponsors will give you a special "Festival Rate!" Don't forget to tell them, though. If you do need accommodation please stay at one of the following as they do sponsor the Festival.

The prices quoted below are as accurate as possible but if the motels have not supplied us with current information then these prices may not be correct .... please let us know if the prices here are not the same as what the motel quotes you. Also motels may block a number of rooms at the following prices and when they are gone, they will go back to their normal price. We have no control of this.

Please note: Some hotels that were sponsors in the past are no longer sponsoring us and have therefore been removed from this list - we'd appreciate you supporting our sponsors, thank you!

Our Official Host Hotel

Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre

1250 Rogers Way (Festival Headquarters)
Phone 1-800-665-6674 or 250-828-6660
Email: ckhinfo@coasthotels.com
www.coastkamloopshotel.com

March 2016
single $120 or $130 double (plus tax) for standard accommodation with 2 queen beds.
Please quote: Cowboy Festival

Download weekend package rates

2016 Special package prices at the headquarters hotel all prices based on double occupancy!

The following are the Early Bird Special Prices and are only good until January 20th.
(see the weekend package rates card for prices after January 20th.)

Cowboy Festival 3 Night Package based on Thursday night arrival: ($260 per person plus tax based on double occupancy) - Includes the three nights in a standard room, two full Festival weekend passes and 2 tickets to either Friday or Saturday Dinner Theatre Show (reserved seating - please let us know if you want to sit with anyone). This also includes the Thursday Night Get-Acquainted Party!

Cowboy Festival 3 Night Package based on Friday night arrival: ($284 per person plus tax based on double occupancy) - Includes the three nights in a standard room, two full Festival weekend passes and 2 tickets to either Friday or Saturday Dinner Theatre Show (reserved seating - please let us know if you want to sit with anyone). This also includes the Sunday night Dinner Show!

4 Night Package ($340 per person plus tax based on double occupancy) - Includes the four nights in a standard room, two full Festival weekend passes, 2 tickets to either Friday or Saturday Dinner Theatre Show (reserved seating), and 2 tickets to the Sunday Night Dinner Theatre Show. This also includes the Thursday Night Get-Acquainted Party.

Download weekend package rates

Upgrades are available at additional upgrade fees. Please call for more information.

You never have to leave the building!