Cheyenne Frontier Days 2024 Gets Underway On Friday

Cheyenne Frontier Days 2024 gets underway today (July 19), although the first round of rodeo action won't start until tomorrow.

But the carnival midway will open at 10:30 a.m. at Frontier Park, and the first night show of CFD 2024, featuring the Turnpike Troubadours and the Red Clay Strays will be tonight at 7.

Frontier Days 2024 will hit full stride on Saturday when the world's largest outdoor rodeo swings into action. The first of four CFD Grand Parades will be held on Saturday morning at 9 in downtown Cheyenne.

Here is the parade route:

More parades along the same route will be held on Tuesday, Thursday, and on Saturday, July 27.

CFD Pancake breakfasts will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7-9 am at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza. Both the pancake breakfast and the parade are free events.

Cheyenne Frontier Days has been held every year since 1897 except in 2020, when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Got It's Start As A One-Day Event in 1897

So how did it get its start? Interestingly, it was modeled after a Colorado Festival celebrating...the potato.

That's according to cfd.com.: The website explains how it happened: In 1897, Frederick W. Angier, Traveling Passenger Agent of the Union Pacific Railroad, suggested to the editor of the Cheyenne Daily Sun-Leader, a festival similar to Greeley, Colorado’s “Potato Day.” As a result of that suggestion, plans for the first “Frontier Day”, were formulated in the Tivoli Saloon at the corner of 16th Street and Carey. Events included pony races, bronco busting, and steer roping among others. 

Of course, technically in 1897, it wasn't Frontier Days, but rather Frontier Day, a one-day rodeo event. It has over the years grown and expanded to include all of the modern festivities, likely far exceeding what anyone could have predicted in 1897.

You can get a full schedule of Cheyenne Frontier Days 2024 events here.