History of Cheyenne Frontier Days in Timeline

Cheyenne Frontier Days, held annually in Cheyenne, Wyoming since 1897, is billed as the "World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration." This major event draws nearly 200,000 people each year and significantly impacts lodging throughout the region. The ten-day celebration centers around the last full week of July and features a large rodeo. It was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008.

1925: End of Rowdy Parades

Until 1925, the Frontier Days parades were known for being rowdy affairs, marking a transition to a more structured event.

1926: Introduction of Floats to the Parade

In 1926, Dazee Bristol created floats upon request, which are still in use today, transforming the Cheyenne Frontier Days parade.

1952: Inaugural Pancake Breakfast

In 1952, the Cheyenne Frontier Committee started the tradition of the free pancake breakfasts, sponsored by the local Kiwanis chapter.

1953: Thunderbirds' Public Debut

In 1953, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron made their public debut at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

1980: Annual Western Art Show

Circa 1980, the annual Western Art Show began taking place in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, showcasing top western and wildlife artists.

1995: Touring Pro Division Debut

In 1995, the Touring Pro Division of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) made its debut, later becoming the Challenger Tour and having an event at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

1996: Record Attendance at Pancake Breakfast

In 1996, the Cheyenne Frontier Days free pancake breakfast served a record 39,111 people in a single day.

2001: Challenger Tour at Cheyenne Frontier Days

In 2001, the first minor league tour of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the Challenger Tour, had an event at Cheyenne Frontier Days, having been renamed from the Touring Pro Division.

2001: Two-Day All-Bull Riding Event

Since 2001, Cheyenne Frontier Days has hosted a two-day all-bull riding event as part of its Frontier Nights activities, sanctioned by different organizations over the years.

2008: Induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame

In 2008, Cheyenne Frontier Days was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, marking a significant recognition of its contribution to the sport of rodeo.

2010: End of Challenger Tour at Cheyenne Frontier Days

In 2010, the Challenger Tour's event at Cheyenne Frontier Days concluded, reverting to its original title of the Touring Pro Division.

2011: CBR Regular-Season Event

In 2011, the all-bull riding event at Cheyenne Frontier Days became a regular-season event for Championship Bull Riding (CBR).

2012: CBR World Finals Event

From 2012, the all-bull riding event at Cheyenne Frontier Days was the World Finals event for Championship Bull Riding (CBR).

2013: Annual Cattle Drive

In 2013, the annual Cattle Drive preceding Cheyenne Frontier Days involved 447 steers, herded by mounted cowboys, walking three miles from Hynds Boulevard into Frontier Park, attracting considerable attention.

2014: PRCA Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year Award

In 2014, Cheyenne Frontier Days received the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award for the 16th time overall and the 11th consecutive time, underscoring its prominence in the rodeo circuit.

2014: Cinch Rodeo Shootout

In 2014, the opening rodeo performance at Cheyenne Frontier Days was the Cinch Rodeo Shootout, sponsored by Cinch Jeans, featuring 40 invited contestants competing in five rodeo events, with teams composed of the previous year's champions of the eight largest regular-season rodeos, including Cheyenne Frontier Days.

2015: Annual Cattle Drive

In 2015, the annual Cattle Drive preceding Cheyenne Frontier Days involved 550 steers walking the route from a pasture north of the city along Interstate 25, south and then through the city streets into Frontier Park.

2015: Cinch Rodeo Shootout

In 2015, the opening rodeo performance at Cheyenne Frontier Days was the Cinch Rodeo Shootout, sponsored by Cinch Jeans, featuring 40 invited contestants competing in five rodeo events, with teams composed of the previous year's champions of the eight largest regular-season rodeos, including Cheyenne Frontier Days.

2016: Cinch Rodeo Shootout

In 2016, the opening rodeo performance at Cheyenne Frontier Days was the Cinch Rodeo Shootout, sponsored by Cinch Jeans, featuring 40 invited contestants competing in five rodeo events, with teams representing local businesses and winnings donated to charity.

2017: Cinch Rodeo Shootout

In 2017, the opening rodeo performance at Cheyenne Frontier Days was the Cinch Rodeo Shootout, sponsored by Cinch Jeans, featuring 40 invited contestants competing in five rodeo events, with teams representing local businesses and winnings donated to charity.

2018: Return of Challenger Tour at Cheyenne Frontier Days

In 2018, the Challenger Tour returned to Cheyenne Frontier Days after being absent since 2010.

2018: PBR and CBR Sanctioned Bull-Riding Event

In 2018, the annual bull-riding event at Cheyenne Frontier Days was sanctioned by both the PBR Touring Pro Division and the CBR World Finals, with the latter produced by the PBR before CBR went out of business.

2019: PBR Unleash the Beast Series

In 2019, the PBR brought the Unleash the Beast Series (UTB) Last Cowboy Standing event to Cheyenne, marking another milestone in the event's history.

2020: Cancellation of Cheyenne Frontier Days

In 2020, the Cheyenne Frontier Days festival, including the PBR Unleash the Beast Series event, was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

2020: Pancake Breakfast Cancellation

In 2020, the free pancake breakfasts that are part of Cheyenne Frontier Days were not served.

2021: Return of PBR Unleash the Beast Series

In 2021, the PBR Unleash the Beast Series returned to Cheyenne as part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days festival after the cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

2022: First Stop of PBR's Team Series

In 2022, Cheyenne was the first stop of the PBR's Team Series, where teams of bull riders representing different regions of the United States competed against each other.

2022: PBR Challenger Series

Since 2022, the Challenger Series is the only PBR tour in the United States that takes place during the PBR Team Series season where riders compete as individuals.

2023: First Stop of PBR's Team Series

In 2023, Cheyenne was again the first stop of the PBR's Team Series, continuing its role as a key location for the team-based bull riding competition.

2024: Last Cowboy Standing as Challenger Series Event

In 2024, the Last Cowboy Standing event, previously held at Cheyenne as part of the PBR's elite Unleash the Beast Series (UTB), was held as a Challenger Series event.

2025: Sanctioned by PRCA as part of Xtreme Bulls tour

Beginning in 2025, the Cheyenne Frontier Days event will be sanctioned by the PRCA as part of its Xtreme Bulls tour, becoming a Division I event, the highest level of the Xtreme Bulls tour.