CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The 128th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) — a huge, 10-day western celebration — opens Friday.
The "Daddy of 'em All" has been held since 1897 so that Cheyenne can celebrate its Old West roots.
More than 140,000 people will visit the Wyoming capital for a packed festival schedule of rodeos, parades, and pancake breakfasts, as well as concerts by Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Machine Gun Kelly, T-Pain, Ludacris, Lainey Wilson, Turnpike Troubadours and more.
The centerpiece of the celebration is the world's largest outdoor rodeo which draws the top professionals who compete for more than $1 million in prize money.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Cheyenne Frontier Days always brings the top names in entertainment to perform at Frontier Nights and this year is no exception.
Turnpike Troubadours will kick off the 128th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days on Friday, July 19. Country music star Thomas Rhett will close out the concert series on Saturday, July 27.
Other concert headliners include Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Machine Gun Kelly, T-Pain, Ludacris, and Lainey Wilson.
Red Clay Strays, Chase Matthew, Dylan Scott, Warren Zeiders, Shaboozey, and Flatland Cavalry are also scheduled to perform at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2024.
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) will hold night events on Monday and Tuesday.
Tickets for the Frontier Nights shows are on sale now at CFDRodeo.com.
Cheyenne Frontier Days 2024
Frontier Nights concert schedule
- Friday, July 19 — Turnpike Troubadours and Red Clay Strays
- Saturday, July 20 — Jason Aldean and Chase Matthew
- Sunday, July 21 — Jelly Roll and Warren Zeiders
- Monday, July 22 — Professional Bull Riders
- Tuesday, July 23 — Professional Bull Riders
- Wednesday, July 24 — Machine Gun Kelly and Shaboozey
- Thursday, July 25 — T-Pain and Ludacris
- Friday, July 26 — Lainey Wilson and Flatland Cavalry
- Saturday, July 27 — Thomas Rhett and Dylan Scott
The only thing better than pancakes is free pancakes. Cheyenne Frontier Days' Pancake Breakfasts are legendary and draw tourists from around the world.
Volunteers in downtown Cheyenne will serve up more than 100,000 flapjacks, cook 3,000 pounds of ham, serve 9,200 cartons of milk and 520 gallons of coffee with 630 pounds of butter and 475 gallons of syrup.
The three pancake breakfasts — which are completely free to the public — will take place Monday, July 22, Wednesday, July 24, and Friday, July 26.
9Neighborhoods: Explore Cheyenne, Wyoming
Just outside of the rodeo arena, Old Frontier Town features Western merchants, craftspeople, artisans and special faces from the Old West.
The town's petting zoo is a must-see if you have children.
Cheyenne is known around the world for its love of rodeo. There will be nine days of rodeo action this year.
Events in the rodeo include bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie down roping.
The carnival midway at CFD has thrilling rides, kids rides and amazing carnival food. What more is there to say?
The midway is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
American Indians have always been an important part of Western history and it's no different at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
The park's Indian Village hosts American Indian performers who educate visitors about American Indian heritage and culture. There are also Native American craft and food vendors.
Downtown Cheyenne is the location of four Grand Parades that draw visitors from around the world. The parades feature top marching bands and the most horse-drawn vehicles you'll see anywhere.
The parades will take place on Saturday, July 20, Tuesday, July 23, Thursday, July 25, and Saturday, July 27, at 9 a.m. in downtown Cheyenne.
Cheyenne Frontier Days lets visitors see how such a huge event is put on with daily Behind the Chutes tours. The free tours let visitors meet the animals, step into the chutes and walk across the arena floor.
The tours are held most days at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
The CFD Old West Museum celebrates the American western legacy of Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Open year round on the Frontier Days grounds, the museum offers extended hours during CFD as well as special exhibits, including the Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show and Sale, as well as a display of this year's championship buckles.
Cheyenne Frontier Days: Daddy of 'em All
The 128th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days opens Friday, July 19, and continues through Sunday, July 28, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Held the last full week of every July since 1897 except for 2020, Frontier Days carried on through both World Wars and the Great Depression, when tough finances prompted it to become a mostly volunteer-run festival of rodeo, music concerts, parades and other events.
A complete Cheyenne Frontier Days schedule and event tickets can be found at CFDRodeo.com.