Poll: What Is Your Favorite Thing About Cheyenne Frontier Days?

It's hard to believe, but Cheyenne Frontier Days 2024 is almost here.

It starts on Friday, July 19 and runs for 10 days.

For some folks, CFD is the highlight of their year and certainly the summer. A lot of hard-working volunteers put in long hours to make it happen. It's essentially a second job for some, and a labor of love.

CFD Is A Second Christmas For Some Businesses

For many local businesses, CFD is make or break time. Businesses such as bars, restaurants, taxis/uber, gas stations, and many others rely on CFD business to boost their bottom lines. There aren't too many Cheyenne/Laramie County enterprises that don't reap at least some financial benefit.

So what do you most enjoy about Frontier Days? Of course, it all started with the rodeo, and CFD remains the world's largest outdoor rodeo, drawing the top competitors in the sport from around the country. The ''Daddy of 'em All" is a very big deal in the sport of rodeo.

The night shows are also a big deal, and much like the rodeo, CFD draws big-name entertainers to perform in concert. There are a whole lot of people who aren't necessarily rodeo fans who turn out for the night shows. The odds of getting even one of the headline performers to Cheyenne without CFD are slim to none.

Then there are the free events. Free is always good. You can take in the parades and pancake breakfasts without spending much more than gas money to get there. For Cheyenne residents who live within walking distance, maybe not even that.

The Air Force Thunderbirds are back again for 2024, with the ''Wings Over Warren" air show. While saying they perform ''death-defying'' feats in the skies might sound like a cliche, this is one time when that is not even a slight exaggeration. You have to see it to believe it.

And if we are honest, a lot of people like it when CFD is in the books for another year and life goes back to normal. Ten days of crowds, traffic, and special events might be great for the community, but there is something to be said for getting back to regular life and enjoying late summer in Cheyenne.