History of Cheyenne Frontier Days in Timeline

Cheyenne Frontier Days, held annually in Cheyenne, Wyoming since 1897, is a renowned outdoor rodeo and western celebration. Billed as the "World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration," it attracts nearly 200,000 visitors each year. This ten-day event, centered around the last full week of July, significantly impacts lodging availability throughout the surrounding region. Cheyenne Frontier Days was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008.

1925: Rowdy Parades

Until 1925, with two exceptions, the Cheyenne Frontier Days parades were rowdy affairs.

1926: Creation of Floats by Dazee Bristol

In 1926, upon request, Dazee Bristol created floats for the Frontier Days parades, which are still in use today.

1952: Inaugural Free Pancake Breakfast

In 1952, the Cheyenne Frontier Committee started the tradition of hosting free pancake breakfasts, sponsored by the local Kiwanis chapter, at the historic Cheyenne Depot Square.

1953: Thunderbirds Debut

In 1953, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron made their public debut at Cheyenne Frontier Days and have performed regularly since then.

1980: Annual Western Art Show

Circa 1980, the annual Western Art Show has been taking place in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. To kick off the art show, a reception is held on the first day, which is usually also the opening day of Frontier Days.

1995: Touring Pro Division Debut

In 1995, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) minor league tour debuted as the Touring Pro Division.

1996: Record Pancake Breakfast Attendance

In 1996, the Cheyenne Frontier Days free pancake breakfast set a daily attendance record of 39,111 people.

2001: Challenger Tour Renaming

In 2001, the PBR's minor league tour, previously known as the Touring Pro Division, was renamed the Challenger Tour and had an event at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

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 throughout the years.

2008: Induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame

In 2008, Cheyenne Frontier Days was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, recognizing its significant contributions to the sport of rodeo.

2010: Return to Touring Pro Division

In 2010, the PBR's minor league tour, formerly the Challenger Tour, reverted back to its original name, the Touring Pro Division. It stopped hosting events at Cheyenne Frontier Days in the same year.

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

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

2013: Annual Cattle Drive

In 2013, as part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration, the annual Cattle Drive took place where 447 steers, herded by cowboys, walked three miles from Hynds Boulevard into Frontier Park.

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.

2015: Annual Cattle Drive

In 2015, as part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration, the annual Cattle Drive took place where 550 steers walked from a pasture north of the city along Interstate 25 and through city streets into Frontier Park.

2018: Touring Pro Division Returns

In 2018, the PBR's Touring Pro Division returned to Cheyenne Frontier Days.

2018: Dual Sanctioned Bull-Riding Event and CBR's Demise

In 2018, the annual bull-riding event at Cheyenne Frontier Days was sanctioned by both the PBR Touring Pro Division and as the 2018 CBR World Finals, produced by the PBR; CBR ceased operations after the event.

2019: PBR Unleash the Beast Series

In 2019, the PBR brought the Unleash the Beast Series (UTB) Last Cowboy Standing event to Cheyenne.

2020: Pancake Breakfast Cancellation

In 2020, due to unforeseen circumstances, the free pancake breakfasts, usually held at Cheyenne Frontier Days, were not served.

2020: Cancellation due to COVID-19

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

2021: Return After Cancellation

In 2021, the Cheyenne Frontier Days festival and its associated events returned after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

2022: First Stop of PBR Team Series

In 2022, Cheyenne Frontier Days hosted the first stop of the PBR's Team Series, featuring teams of bull riders representing different regions of the United States.

2022: PBR Challenger Series

Since 2022, the PBR Challenger Series is the only PBR tour in the United States that takes place during the PBR Team Series season (summer and autumn).

2023: First Stop of PBR Team Series

In 2023, Cheyenne Frontier Days continued to host the first stop of the PBR's Team Series, as teams of bull riders competed against each other.

2024: Last Cowboy Standing Event

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

2025: PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour

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