October 14, 2009 > It's time for Cowboy Culture Extravaganza

Mount up! It's time to ride 'em cowboy! Reach back to American cowboy roots at the second annual "Cowboy Culture Extravaganza" event on October 17 at the East Bay Regional Park District's Sunol Regional Wilderness. The agenda for the day includes every aspect of rodeo life, especially prevalent in the rich ranching and cattlemen heritage of Sunol.

"We have homesteads right next to the park and ranchers grazing [cattle on] the hill; there is a lot of cowboy history out here, more than 100 years worth," says Thayne Beard of Sunol Park Operations.

The one-day celebration of cowboy culture is packed with entertainment and activities for people of all ages to enjoy for free. Festivities include pioneer cooking activities such as horehound candy making and Dutch oven cooking. Visitors are also welcome to try their hand at working an apple cider press, cranking an ice-cream mixer and viewing blacksmith practices and branding.

"What started out as just a cowboy poetry event, has now turned into a huge fantastic event with many more activities," said Beard. The park is expecting a turnout of more than 1,000 people, based on the crowds from last year.

Arts and crafts will also be part of the festivities to engage kids in fun history based projects, such as making their own stick-ponies along with cowboy adornments like fancy bandanas and bolo ties. The kids will also be able to try their hand at roping hay bales after watching demonstrations by local cattlemen.

East Bay Regional Park District staff and tenants will be present to provide information about the benefits of grazing and proper management of public lands. Five local ranchers currently lease land at Sunol Regional Wilderness, Ohlone Regional Wilderness and Mission Peak Regional Preserve.

Performances during the day include Lynn Owens, Wendy Brown-Barry, Madison Seamans, and Dylan Marchetti reciting their cowboy poetry, along with musical entertainment by Nick Isaak and the Country Classics Cowboy Band and the Campbell Creek Gang (Fiddle). "Many of the poets are coming from as far out as Mariposa foothills near Yosemite, just for the event," added Beard.

The "Cowboy Culture Extravaganza" takes place in a beautiful outdoor Sunol setting. All are invited to enjoy, learn and participate in the rich ranching and cowboy heritage of the Sunol Regional Wilderness.


Cowboy Culture Extravaganza
Saturday, October 17
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunol Regional Wilderness
1895 Geary Road, Sunol
(510) 544-3247
www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol

Free event
Parking $5 per car
Dogs $2