"Cowboy Culture Comes to Moab"

Put a little yippe-ki-yay in your winter weekend by attending the Moab Western Stars Cowboy Poetry Gathering at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center.

In its eighth year, the gathering has expanded to include children's performances and art shows and invited the cream of the crop of Utah and western states cowboy poets and western musicians.

The poetry and song begins Friday at The MARC with entertainment on two stages from 1:00 on.  That evening you'll want to take in our one-of-a-kind Cowboy Campfire Concert. This year the concert features top western entertainers all on stage together around the campfire - just the way authentic entertainment comes together out on the western range.  Expect to see Katy Creek, Jo Lynne Kirkwood, Kenny Hall and other favorite performers.

Saturday and Sunday Moab's MARC will once again be the corral for cowboy culture events. Performances begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and continue through the day. Saturday's activities will include a sa special matinee, "A Tribute to the Songs our Fathers Sang." Performances by Dave Stamey, Patty Clayton, Katy Creek, Richard Lee Cody and others will blend together for a stirring tribute to the songs we grew up with, and our fathers loved.

Mid-day Saturday a Dutch oven cook-off will give everyone a taste of old fashioned range food that will knock your socks off! Cash prizes will be awarded and tastes will be sold to the public as a fundraiser for the MARC.

Saturday night at The MARC, audiences will be treated to another cowboy campfire.  Suzy Bogguss will also be in concert Saturday night, at Red Cliffs Lodge.  After the concerts head back to the MARC for The Saturday night Community Cowboy Dance with the Sawmill River Band. Call 435-259-6272 for more information and tickets.

Activities begin again Sunday Morning, with an inspirational non-denominational Cowboy Church, coordinated by Marion Manwill. Come prepared to share a thought or a song, or just partake of the pure spirit of the west. Later in the day performers again take the stage, and there will be additional workshops available with registration. And of course you'll want to visit the western vendors.

Suzy Bogguss will appear for a lunch with Suzy at noon at the Moab Arts & Recreation center.

Throughout the weekend there will be western craft demonstrations and a host of vendor booths including quilt appraisals, saddlemakers, Western art, amazing leather and silver work. Get dressed up in your western finery and have your portrait made at the black and white photography booth. You'll have a lasting memory of the gathering.

There are always surprises in store for anyone who shows up for a cowboy poetry gathering in Utah, so expect to see some faces not listed here!

For information, tickets, vendor guidelines, western art guidelines and more, visit http://www.moabwesternstars.com/ or call the MARC at 435-259-6272.