The BC Cowboy Heritage Society Proudly Presents

The 16th Anniversary!

The Kamloops Cowboy Festival

March 8th - 11th, 2012

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 performances:
Afternoon Rising Star Showcase finals
Evening main feature dinner show!
See the bottom of the Schedule for details

Looking for something else to do while you're in Kamloops this year? The downtown businesses are joining in on the fun, too! There will be open mic stages at a few different coffee shops and rumour has it there might be a downtown treasure hunt as well ...
See the details here

Thursday and Friday morning kick off events at the Horse Barn with entertainment.
Gordie West and others will be performing and there will be shuttle service.

Help Us Keep the Cowboy Festival Alive

Watch for raffle tickets throughout the weekend ... Two different raffles will be running ...

Commemorative Belt Buckle Raffle

Every year this prize buckle gets more and more popular. There is only one made each year. There are only 300 tickets printed and they're only $10 each. The buckle is a custom made solid sterling silver buckle that has a value of approximately $750.00 - plus it's collectable value. It's hand made by silversmith Richard Tenisch, in Merritt, BC. Tickets will be sold in the trade show area, at the information desks, and at the General Stores - ask any volunteer!

sample photo only

GreyWolf Coffee Table Set & 2013 Cowboy Festival package!

There are two prizes in this raffle - the 1st winner will receive a coffee table set. This is the second year that GreyWolf Metal Art has donted to our raffle. This year they have custom made a coffee table with two matching end tables. They are all steel with a wood frame top. There will be a silhouette (different than in the photo) on the coffee table and end tables. This set is worth about $1000.00!

The 2nd winner will receive the 2013 Cowboy Festival package.
This package consists of two weekend passes to the 2013 Kamloops Cowboy Festival and three nights accommodation at the Ramada Kamloops! This prize is valued at approximately $450.00.

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!

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Thursday Night "Welcome to Cowboy Festival" Events!

Take your pick between three (so far) different Thursday evening functions.

New for 2012! The host hotel, now called the Coast Kamloops Hotel, will be featuring a Thursday evening dance - exclusively for their guests! You need to book early as there are only 100 place settings in total. This new event called "Cowboy Festival Thursday Night Dinner & Dance Kickoff Party" will feature the Allen Christie Band. The evening will include a full buffet dinner as well as the dance, and there will be a cash bar on site. For ticket information see the details below!

Kamloops Cowboy Festival fans ... for weekend pass holders only, we have our Thursday evening kickoff party in the dinner theatre of the Kamloops Convention Centre. Last year we changed the evning program a little and called each of the performers up to take a turn on stage ... this gave the audience a "taste of things to come" for the rest of the weekend so they could pick their venues. This idea seemed to have gone over really well so we'll do it again this year. At some point during the evening things will once again turn into the good old fun type jam that we've seen in past years. 7:00 PM start.

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Downtown Kamloops joins in on Cowboy Heritage Week

Cowboy Up! Downtown Kamloops!

Downtown Kamloops is joining the fun and festivities of Cowboy Heritage week and the Cowboy Festival. We welcome everyone to our wonderful city and invite you to come Downtown to enjoy the great restaurants, exciting shopping and amazing ambiance in the heart of the "Best Blooming Community" in Canada! Shopping Downtown at our unique and eclectic collection of boutiques is always a delight. Be sure to check out our website www.kcbia.com and Facebook page before and during Festival week for details on Cowboy Festival promotions, contests and a schedule of performers at Downtown venues.

Downtown Entertainment
Several venues Downtown will have open mic performances featuring cowboy musicians, poets and storytellers for your enjoyment.   Venues include:
The Smorgasbord Deli at 7th & Victoria Street from 12:00 - 2:00 pm on Thursday
Casey's Caffeine at 340 Victoria Street Thursday & Friday from 12:00 - 2:00pm
the art we are at 246 Victoria Street Friday 11:00 - 1:00 & Saturday 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Caffe Motivo (formerly Cowboy Coffee) at 220 Victoria Street all three days from 2:00 - 4:00 pm


Log on to our website www.kcbia.com during Festival week for details.

During your stay in Kamloops, grab your hat and point your boots down hill, you don't want to miss Downtown Kamloops ... we have it all!

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Festival Hours

• Thursday evening "Cowboy Festival Thursday Night Dinner & Dance Kickoff Party"
  Info here. (Please note: This is exclusive to Coast Kamloops Hotel guests).
  
  
• Thursday 7:00 PM Kick off party at Forster's - weekend pass holders only Info here
  
  
• Thursday and Friday morning kick off events at the Horse Barn with entertainment. Gordie West and others will be performing and there will be shuttle service.
  
  
• Friday
  • Doors only open at 9:00 AM (for ticket purchases only)
  • Shuttle Bus will be running to the Horse Barn all morning
  • Trade Show & Art Show, 12:00 PM to 6:45 PM
  • Daytime entertainment 12:00 - 4:45 PM
  • Evening Show (Calvary Church) 7:00 PM
  • Dinner Theatre (Forster's) - happy hour 5:30 - dinner & show 6:30 PM
  
  
• Saturday
  • Doors open at 10:00 AM
  • Trade Show 10:00 AM to 6:45 PM
  • Art Show 11:00 AM to 6:45 PM
  • Daytime entertainment 11:00 AM - 4:45 PM
  • Evening Show (Calvary Church) 7:00 PM
  • Dinner Theatre (Forster's) - 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 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Daytime entertainment (Forster's only) 11:00 AM - 2:45 PM
  • Rising Star Showcase (Forster's only) 3:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Dinner Theatre - happy hour 5:30 then dinner & show - weekend pass holders only

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Ticket Information

All prices will remain the same for 2012

• Weekend Pass - $65.00 - Includes everything (except the dinner theatre) all weekend!
  
• Evening Show - $30.00 - Includes regular evening performance and daytime admission!
  
• Fri or Sat Dinner Theatre - $30.00 upgrade - with a weekend pass - Includes dinner!
  
• Fri or Sat Dinner Theatre Only - $60.00 - Includes one evening performance and dinner!
  
• Sunday Dinner Theatre - $25.00 upgrade - with a weekend pass - Includes dinner!
  
• Day Pass (Fri & Sat) - $15.00 - Includes daytime entertainment, trade show, & seminars!
  
• Day Pass (Sunday) - $10.00 - Includes daytime entertainment, and trade show!

All prices will remain the same for 2012

Tickets are available 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).

Coast Kamloops Hotel, our Official Host Hotel, has complete packages available.
See the Accommodation Section for details.

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

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Tentative The 2012 Performers Line-up:

Here's the tentative entertainer line up for 2012. Biographies and photos
for the following will be available on the Entertainers Bios and Photos soon.

• Abe Zacharias
• Allen Christie
• Brad Creemer
• Brian Salmond
• Bud Webb
• Butch Falk
• Dave Longworth
• Duane Stewart
• Ed Brown
• Ed Peekeekoot
• Frank Gleeson

• Gary Prescott
• Gord Colliar
• Gordie West
• Ian Stults
• Jacquie Drew
• Jayden Stafford
• Jean Prescott
• Kristyn Harris
• Les Folles Jambettes
• Liz Masterson
• Mag Mawhinney

• Matt Johnston
• Mike Dygert
• Mike Fleming
• Ol' Ugly
• Robbie Robertson
• Sam DeLeeuw
• Shirley Field
• Sweethearts In Carhartts
• Tom Cole
• Yvonne Hollenbeck

The Rising Star Showcase - sponsored by CJKC Country 103 Radio

The "Country 103 Rising Star Showcase" has been a great success with an incredible amount of talent taking part - so much talent that we have picked quite a few of the contestants to perform on main stage!

The contests will once again be split into two groups. There will be a section for poets and a section for musicians. Both first place winners will receive $1000 each. The other four finalists (2 poets and 2 musicians) will receive $500 each.

These Rising Stars will be performing throughout the weekend
and the six finalists will be showcased on main stage Sunday afternoon.

If you are interested in being part of the "Rising Star Showcase"
please see the Rising Star Showcase page, which includes an application from.

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The 2012 Evening Only Performance Schedule!

We have the daytime entertainment schedule available below.
All schedules are subject to change

March 9th - Calvary Church
Friday Evening - 7:00 PM!

(MC) Dave Longworth
Butch Falk
Frank Gleeson
Shirley Field
Intermission
Hall of Fame Inductions
Tom Cole
Brian Salmond
Sweethearts in Carhartts

March 10th - Calvary Church
Saturday Evening - 7:00 PM!

(MC) Liz Masterson
Robbie Robertson
Ed Peekeekoot
Intermission
BCCHS Scholarship Awards
Joe Marten award
Allen Christie
Ol' Ugly
Mike Fleming

March 9th - Dinner Theatre
Kamloops Convention Centre
Friday Evening

5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Gordie West
After Dinner Show
Les Folles Jambettes
(MC) Mike Fleming
Ed Brown
Matt Johnston
Gord Colliar
Kristyn Harris
Intermission
Mike Fleming
Sam DeLeeuw
Ed Peekeekoot

March 10th - Dinner Theatre
Kamloops Convention Centre
Saturday Evening

5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Gordie West
After Dinner Show
Les Folles Jambettes
(MC) Dave Longworth
Mag Mawhinney
Duane Stewart
Jayden Stafford
Kristyn Harris
Intermission
Jean Prescott
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Gary Prescott

The Sunday evening dinner theatre show at Forsters Convention Centre will be for weekend pass holders only. This should be a spectaular show - here's the schedule.

The 2012 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 (coming soon) 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 January 1st

Friday Schedule PDF
Saturday Schedule PDF

Sunday Schedule PDF
Schedule list by Entertainer PDF

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Workshops and Seminars for the 2012 Festival are:

Sponsored by CJKC Country 103 Radio

All work shops are tenative and subject to change ...

There are a lot of workshops, and they're put on by some of the best - don't miss out. Here's a tentative list. All the workshops will be educational, informative, and a lot of fun. Past years have shown them to be the most popular additional activity at the festival.

Workshops and Seminars
Please note all workshops and Seminars will be held at the Calvary Church
and there will be no workshops on Sunday. Times and places could change.

Friday
1:00 Workshop Room #1 - Cowboys Choice and Vern Elliott - which is the right hat? How's it made?
2:00 Workshop Room #2 - Gary Prescott - writing cowboy songs
3:00 Workshop Room #1 - Liz Masterson - Harmony & maybe a little Yodel :-)
4:00 Workshop Room #2 - Ynonne Hollenbeck - writing cowboy poetry

Saturday
11:00 Workshop Room #1 - Andy Knight - saddles, geared to what the audience wants
12:00 Workshop Room #2 - Mike Fleming - The Craft of Song writing
1:00 Workshop Room #1 - Shirley Field - Yodeling don't have to hurt
2:00 Workshop Room #2 - James Douglas - Amazing Tales from Golden Trails
3:00 Workshop Room #1 - Ed Peekeekoot - Guitar picking

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The Western Art and Gear Show!

Click here to go to the 2012 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 potential exhibitors for the 2012 Festival

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

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Live in Alberta?
Want to see the Kamloops Cowboy Festival
without the worry of winter driving?

Anderson Vacations
from Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta
Toll Free: 1-866-814-7378
fitres@andersonvacations.ca

Anderson Vacations has put together a great package for the 2012 Kamloops Cowboy Festival. They'll leave Edmonton and travel south on Queen Elizabeth Hwy picking up folks along the way. The package includes the all new Thursday night dinner dance as well as full Festival passes, and all the dinner theatre shows - that's 5 days and 4 nights with accommodation in the host hotel - you'll never have to leave the building!
Download the Complete Anderson Vacations Information Package

Or you can ride the bus without buying a package for only $225 (plus tax) return! At this price why risk driving winter roads?! 1-866-814-7378

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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!

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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.

Our Official Host Hotel

Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre
(formerly Kamloops Towne Lodge)
1250 Rogers Way (Festival Headquarters)
Phone 1-800-665-6674 or 250-828-6660
Email: info@kamloopstownelodge.com
www.kamloopstownelodge.com

March 2012
single $105 or $115 double (plus tax) for standard accommodation with 2 queen beds.
Please quote: Cowboy Festival

Download weekend package rates

2012 Special package prices at the headquarters hotel!

Cowboy Festival 3 Night Package based on Thursday night arrival: ($255 per person plus HST) - 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: ($273.99 per person plus HST) - 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!

Please note: the Thursday night dinner/dance is almost sold out
4 Night Package ($365.00 per person plus HST) - 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, Thursday Night Get-Acquainted Party ... and this package also includes 2 tickets to the New "Cowboy Festival Thursday Night Dinner & Dance Kickoff Party" with the Allen Christie Band!

Download weekend package rates

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

You never have to leave the building!

Hampton Inn
1245 Rogers Way (just 2 doors away!)
Your room includes a complimentary self serve
hot breakfast bar (6:00am - 10:00am)
Phone 1-866-571-7897 or 250-571-7897
Email: kambc_hampton@hilton.com
www.kamloops.hamptoninn.com

Upgraded rooms will begin at $139.00 (plus tax)

March 2012
single & double $129 (+ tax)
Hot Breakfast Included

Free high speed internet access, free premium movie channel, and free use of the indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness room (6:00am - midnight). Suites with a fridge and microwave available. 100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed!
A proud member of the Hilton Family of Hotels.

Travelodge Mountview
1225 Rogers Way (right next door)
Phone 1-800-667-8868 or 250-374-4788
Email: mountview@kamloops.com
www.travelodge.com

Your room includes ... a complimentary self serve breakfast bar (6:30am - 9:30am), free high speed internet access, free premium movie channel. All suites come with a fridge and microwave for your convenience!

March 2012
$79 including
continental breakfast

Two night minimum at this special low rate, thanks.

Canadas Best Value Inn
(right next door to Coast Hotel & Convention Centre)
Exit 368 of Highway # 1
1200 Rogers Way
Phone 1-800-665-4467 or 250-374-8100
Email: canadasbestvalueinn@shaw.ca
www.canadasbestvalueinn.com

Free continental breakfast, WIFI, parking and local calls. Ice machine, vending machine and guest laundry onsite. All rooms have a fridge, microwave, TV with cable, Iron, Ironing board, Tea / coffee maker, AM/FM Clock radio and Hair Dryer.

March 2012
$89 single or double
Kitchenettes &
Pet friendly rooms available
Ask for Cowboy Festival rate

Walking distance to the Cowboy Festival ... and Ric's Grill, On the Rocks Pub,
Duffy's Pub, Tim Horton's, Mc Donald's, Dairy Queen, Triple O Restaurant

Special meal discounts with our parternered restaurants: ABC Country, Joey's Seafood and Vittorios Italian Restaurant (2 minute walking distance)

Accent Inns
Exit 369 of Highway #1
1325 Columbia St West
Phone 1-800-663-0298 or 250-374-8877
Email: kamloops@accentinns.com
www.accentinns.com

Superior location where one can walk to Whitespot Restaurant, Boston Pizza, Lynx Bar and Grill, Fiesta Mexicana, Central Sports Lounge to name a few.

There will be four Free Shuttles from the Cowboy Festival running all weekend long!

March 2012
$79 single or double
Ask for Cowboy Festival rate