Oklahoma City KEY - Cover Story

One of the nation’s greatest family friendly festivals returns to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum® in Oklahoma City, May 26 and 27. Designated an official Oklahoma Centennial Festival, the 17th Annual Chuck Wagon Gathering & Children's Cowboy Festival offers mouth-watering food, activities for children, musical entertainment and opportunity to browse the nation’s
premier Western heritage museum.

Recognized by the American Bus Association as a 2004 Top 100 Event in North America, the festival also has attracted the attention of the Food Network, which featured the festival on “Top Five: Summer Sensations,” and Nick Jr. Family Magazine in its May 2006 “Now Playing” column.

The food is fantastic! Ten chuck wagon crews cook such delicious fare as stew, brisket, sourdough biscuits, beans, cobblers and rice pudding for visitors to sample. Recipes are prepared hourly at a demonstration wagon by sisters Sue Cunningham and Jean Cates, award-winning cooks from the C Bar C Ranch, Hartley, Texas.

Children can participate in numerous outdoor activities including pony rides, rope making, bandana designing, paper fan decorating, coloring and leather crafting. Stagecoach and covered wagon rides around the festival oval are a family favorite.

Western musical entertainment is scheduled on two separate stages. Cowboy balladeer, guitarist and composer Don Edwards will be on stage Saturday, May 26. Red Steagall will perform Sunday, May 27. Steagall, who has performed at the Chuck Wagon event since 1991, was inducted into the Museum’s prestigious Hall of Great Westerners in 2003.

Liesl Schoenberger, award-winning classical violinist and fiddler virtuoso will perform on stage both days. Schoenberger, a festival favorite in past years, has performed with symphony orchestras as well as at the Grand Ole Opry.

New to the entertainment stage this year is California horse trainer and singer Nicolette Birnie. Birnie’s talent led her to Nashville where she has recorded the first few songs on her first album, “Stonehorse.”

Admission covers entrance to the festival, food tastings and the Museum. Adults are $14; seniors 62 and over, $12; and children 6-12, $5. Children ages five and under are admitted free, as are members of the Museum with current card. Memberships or two-day passes are available for purchase. Festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dobson Communications Corporation presents the 2007 Chuck Wagon Gathering in cooperation with Delta Air Lines. Additional cosponsors include The Oklahoman, KKNG 93.3 FM and Great Plains Coca-Cola, with support from Museum Partners Devon Energy Corporation, Chesapeake Energy Corporation and the E.L. Thelma Gaylord Foundation.

Nationally accredited, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is located in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District at the junction of I-44 and I-35. For more information call (405) 478-2250 or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.

Make it a Western Weekend in OKC

Oklahoma’s heritage is uniquely Western, and Memorial Day weekend is a great time to take in more than one event. Attend the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Range Roundup, a top-notch ranch rodeo, taking place at State Fair Park, Friday and Saturday, May 25-26 at 7:30 p.m. Range Roundup is the perfect complement to the daytime Chuck Wagon Gathering & Children’s Cowboy Festival at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum! Tickets available at www.tickets.com or (800) 511-1552.

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