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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Gilpin County Fair Adds New Draft Horse Showcase, Welcomes Colorado Cowboy Gathering for 2026

New for 2026: A Draft Horse Showcase, Wheelchair-Accessible Wagon Rides, and Western Performers from the Colorado Cowboy Gathering

[GILPIN COUNTY, Colo.] — The Gilpin County Fair, now in its 33rd year, will debut a new Draft Horse Showcase & Competition and welcome the Colorado Cowboy Gathering as a featured partner for its 2026 fair, set for July 17–19 at the Gilpin County Fairgrounds. The fair will also introduce a wheelchair-accessible horse-drawn wagon, expanding the event’s Western-heritage programming and giving visitors of all ages and abilities new ways to take part.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Colorado Cowboy Gathering and debut our new Draft Horse Showcase this year. The community and sponsors who’ve supported this fair make moments like this possible and we can’t wait to share it with the community.”

— Krystal Meyer, Special Events Coordinator

DRAFT HORSE SHOWCASE & COMPETITION

New for 2026, the Gilpin County Fair will introduce a Draft Horse Showcase & Competition designed to bring spectators into the action and create a fun, interactive experience for the entire family.

Rather than a traditional exhibition, the program will feature a series of crowd-friendly challenges that encourage fairgoers to pick a favorite team, cheer along from the stands, and enjoy a playful atmosphere inspired by the friendly rivalries that have long been part of rural communities.

Think of it as a good-natured “Hatfields and McCoys” showdown, where teamwork, horsemanship, and family fun take center stage.

Following the showcase, attendees will also have opportunities to experience horse-drawn wagon rides, offering an up-close look at the animals, equipment, and traditions that helped build the American West.

To help ensure the experience is accessible to as many visitors as possible, a wheelchair-accessible horse-drawn wagon will also be available, allowing individuals with mobility challenges to take part in this unique Western experience.

FEATURED COLORADO COWBOY GATHERING PERFORMERS

Representing the Colorado Cowboy Gathering during the 2026 Gilpin County Fair will be Ray Delgado and Patty Clayton, with the possible appearance of special guest Jimmy Cantwell.

Together, these performers bring a rich blend of Western music, storytelling, humor, and tradition to audiences throughout Colorado and beyond.

“Western heritage isn’t something you read about in a book. It’s something you experience. That’s what this partnership with the Gilpin County Fair is all about. Our performers are looking forward to sharing that with a new audience, right alongside the draft horses, the wagon rides, and everything else the fair has to offer.”

— Jerry Cunningham, President, Colorado Cowboy Gathering

ABOUT THE GILPIN COUNTY FAIR

For 33 years, the Gilpin County Fair has been a summer anchor for Gilpin County, drawing more than 6,000 attendees annually to a weekend of community traditions, agricultural heritage, and family-friendly competition.

Guided by a mission to create a fun, welcoming, inclusive, and safe experience for all, the fair has grown steadily while staying rooted in what makes the region distinct. Fairgoers can expect the community parade, livestock show, Mutton Bustin’, the Stick Horse Rodeo, Cowboy Church, entertainment under the Big Top, and the crowd-favorite Redneck Relay – alongside newer attractions that reflect the fair’s mining and ranching heritage. In 2025, the fair introduced Gilpin County Mining Competitions; in 2026, it adds the Draft Horse Showcase & Competition and welcomes the Colorado Cowboy Gathering as a featured partner.

ABOUT THE COLORADO COWBOY GATHERING

For nearly four decades, the Colorado Cowboy Gathering has worked to preserve and promote the traditions, stories, music, poetry, and culture of the American West.

What began as a gathering of Western artists, musicians, poets, storytellers, and enthusiasts has grown into one of Colorado’s longest-running celebrations of Western heritage. Today, the organization continues its mission through live performances, educational programming, community partnerships, and events that connect new generations to the traditions and values that helped shape the West.

EVENT DETAILS

The 2026 Gilpin County Fair runs July 17–19 at the Gilpin County Fairgrounds, located at 230 Norton Dr, Black Hawk, CO 80422.

Visitors are encouraged to join the community for a full weekend of fair favorites, Western music and poetry from the Colorado Cowboy Gathering, and the new Draft Horse Showcase & Competition.

Additional performer announcements, schedules, and event details will be released as plans are finalized.

For updates and event information, follow the Gilpin County Fair and Colorado Cowboy Gathering on social media and visit their respective websites.

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