National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
"The Gathering" is a week-long coming-together of people rooted in the poetry, music, and arts of cowboy country. It is a delightful, immersive experience for those who appreciate the rural West’s boundless creativity. It is an open-hearted occasion to forge connections and grow knowledge among, and with, people who live life on the land. It’s a mid-winter, multigenerational, merrymaking event full of ranch-y folk and ranch-y food, art, gear, film, discussions, dance, music, verse, and more. It is the place to talk cowboy poetry. And, it’s a darn good time for all!
First produced in 1985 by a small group of folklorists and poets, the Gathering has grown into a national and international happening: a week of poetry, music, dancing, workshops, exhibits, conversations, food and fellowship, rooted in tradition but focused on today’s rural West.
The 47th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering will be held Jan. 25-30, 2027 in Elko, Nevada.
At the corner of Railroad and Idaho streets lies the heart of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering—the Western Folklife Center (WFC), headquartered in the historic Pioneer Hotel building. Here, you’ll find Gathering shows, exhibits, shopping, and probably a new friend or two at the Pioneer Saloon. The hubbub doesn’t stop here. The WFC also hosts Gathering shows, workshops, dances, films, vendors, food, and carousing in multiple venues around town, including the hotspots of the Elko Convention Center and Conference Center.
categories: Annual event, Concerts, Cowboy poetry, Dances, Music: Western cowboy, Music: Western swing, Vendors
Western Folklife Center
501 Railroad St
Elko, NV 89801
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