NOVEMBER 3, 2010
Cave Creek Cowboy Christmas event inspired by the book
Dec. 3, 4, 5; Free admission
CAVE CREEK – Cave Creek Cowboy Christmas is a family holiday western experience being held in the historic Town of Cave Creek, Arizona and hosted by The Buffalo Chip Saloon and Harold’s Corral, 6811 E. Cave Creek Road, on the first weekend in December – the 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2010. Free admission.
Cave Creek Cowboy Christmas began with a story about Cowboys when the West was new, by Cave Creek author, Tom Van Dyke. A magical story that takes place in the Arizona territory in the 1870’s when Cave Creek was being born. Published during the 2009 Christmas Holiday, Larry Wendt, owner of the Buffalo Chip – a true cowboy saloon – read the book and was inspired to create a Cave Creek Cowboy Christmas. Larry proposed the idea to Dan and Dina of Harold’s Corral. Harold’s has a western reputation spanning 75 years that began with serving miners and cowboys cheese sandwiches and beer iced in tubs.
Word of the event spread quickly and folks around town and cowboys volunteered to create an event rich in Cave Creek heritage and atmosphere embracing the romance of the West.
The aim is to embrace and keep the cowboy western heritage alive. Partnering with the Pioneer Arizona Living History Village, they have created a charitable event to support their outstanding efforts and future. Together they’ve created a western holiday celebration with games, food, dance and song. Musicians, performers and re-enactors will create an 1870’s atmosphere portraying the Tonto Apache, pioneers, cowboys, gold miners and Buffalo Solders.
A western atmosphere much like a John Wayne movie will be created between the Buffalo Chip and Harold’s Corral. Yes, we have Cowboys that worked with John Wayne and Dustin Hoffman as wranglers and stunt men in their movies. Paul Pennit will be directing and setting up the action scenes. Actors and performers will re-enact moments of western life to entertain and amuse.
Cave Creek Cowboy Christmas kicks off Friday night at 8 p.m. Santa will ride a live bull at the Buffalo Chip. Also, Friday and Saturday night, Harold’s Corral and the Buffalo Chip will stage a boot scootin’ Christmas cowboy dance contest. Country music singer-songwriter Pat James will be performing at the Buffalo Chip. The dance contestants will appear on the large 14’x 20’ outdoor television screen at the Buffalo Chip camp.
COWBOY UP! Dress cowboy and bring your camera
Saturday morning the western performance begins and continues all day. Step back in time to coffee and cook fires and cowboys serving up steaming hot chocolate. Watch the action, smell the aromas and sample Dutch oven cooking throughout the day, starting with sourdough biscuits at 10 a.m. There will be chuck wagons and cowboy cooks who will share secret recipes and demonstrate Dutch oven Christmas cooking – meals and desserts.
Gary the Cowboy Singer and Dusty will be performing from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Big Bronco, all decked out with holiday gifts and just across the street, will also have Dutch oven cooking demonstrations and tastings all day. We invite you to wander around town and explore all the Cave Creek merchants, shops and art galleries that have unique, wonderful holiday offerings and western gifts.
Back in camp, live country music, cowboys, gold miners, blacksmiths, photographers and Buffalo Soldiers will perform, entertain and show kids games, tricks and skills used by cowboys and gold miners: how to toss horse shoes, rope a calf, dowse to find water, set a branding iron, and pan for gold.
Stop by and visit with the author Tom Van Dyke who will be signing the book A Cowboy Christmas An American Tale.
Experience a holiday of western adventure and enjoy a cowboy meal of mesquite barbeque.
Saturday afternoon music and performances start at 3 p.m. Lee Anderson, cowboy performer, historian and all around top hand will host and introduce:
• The Southwest Legends Gunfighters will perform and entertain
• The re-enactment of a Pony Express rider being chased, blazes in to pick up the mail and switch to a fresh mount. Bring your letters for Santa Claus and have them delivered to Santa in the North Pole by the Pony Express.
• A decorated stagecoach and team arrives with Santa Claus at 4 p.m. Santa experiences some desperados along the way. When Santa arrives, he will meet and greet good boys and girls. Santa’s beautiful custom-made leather cowhide chair will be raffled thanks to Liz over at the Lazy Lizard.
As the sun sets and the moon begins to rise, campfires will light up the camp. One lucky boy or girl will help Santa light the 35 ft. Christmas tree set on the foothill to Black Mountain. Patty Motley of MTM Ranch and twenty mounted cowboy carolers with Christmas lights will ride down the mountain trail and form a semi-circle around the tree. Linda Anderson and a choir of Christmas carolers will lead the camp in caroling.
Steve Pasenelli, a cowboy who once shared the stage with Willy Nelson, Chris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash will perform a harmonica solo.
As the night goes on, re-enactors will gather around the campfires and inside the dance halls. The winners of the boot scootin’ dance contest will be chosen.
Sunday morning, 10 a.m. cowboy church service will be held at the Buffalo Chip followed by a cowboy burrito breakfast.
Ya’all come!
