SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Cowboy Festival Returns to Melody Ranch

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside

Weather

Calendar

Today in
S.C.V. History

May 3

1842 - California's first mining district established in SCV; Ygnacio del Valle, chairman [story]

Cowboy Festival Returns to Melody Ranch

Message from Mayor Bob Kellar

Mayor Bob Kellar | Monday, Apr 1, 2013

Click Here to Get Our 'SCV This Morning' Newsletter

Tweet This

Facebook

Digg This

Bookmark

Stumble

RSS

Inspired by the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev., Santa Clarita decided to try its hand at creating a local, Western event that combined the best in authentic cowboy entertainment, art, culture and history. The result is the city of Santa Clarita’s award-winning Cowboy Festival – and 2013 marks the event’s 20th anniversary.

The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival made its debut in 1994, immediately following the devastating Northridge earthquake. Santa Clarita was the third worst-hit city in the quake, and the original venue for the festival – the auditorium at Hart High School – was too damaged to host the event.

Undeterred, the city partnered with the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio to host the event at this tremendous venue, and the rest is history.

The Cowboy Festival found its home at Melody Ranch, and today, the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival continues to honor the authentic Old West through music, poetry, cowboy gear, food and storytelling in a setting that is one of Santa Clarita’s greatest treasures.

Although elements of the Cowboy Festival have changed over the years – including its name; it used to be the Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival – Santa Clarita’s Cowboy Festival continues to offer festival-goers a one-of-a-kind, multi-day lineup of music, food, entertainment and activities for Western enthusiasts of all ages.

You don’t have to be a cowboy or cowgirl to enjoy the Festival. Movie buffs love having access to Melody Ranch, which is open to the public only during the city’s Cowboy Festival.

Wooden sidewalks, surrounded by giant oak trees, and a Western town with old-fashioned storefronts offer an ambience that is distinctly Melody Ranch.

The Oscar-winning “Django Unchained” was filmed in part at Melody Ranch, along with hundreds of other movies, television shows, videos and commercials. A small museum on the property (free entrance during Cowboy Festival weekend) showcases a variety of memorabilia from various film projects at the ranch over the last 50 years.

The Cowboy Festival continues to grow in popularity, and several regional venues and community partners are working with the city to offer four days of events and entertainment to ensure the 20th annual event is the best yet.

This year, the city of Santa Clarita, together with the festival’s gracious hosts, the Veluzat family, will once again open the doors of the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21. I encourage you to attend the festival and enjoy one of Santa Clarita’s best events.

For tickets and information, visit www.cowboyfestival.org. Bob Kellar is mayor of the city of Santa Clarita.

Comment On This Story

COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Click here to cancel reply.

Opinion Section Policy

All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.

Message from Carlos Orozco JCI President

Thursday, May 2, 2024

As we kick off the new month, I am proud to reflect on the incredible growth and achievements we've witnessed over the past four months.

Ken Striplin | Hit the Trails During Santa Clarita Bike Challenge

Thursday, May 2, 2024

With spring in full effect, now is the best time to hit the trails and enjoy the natural scenery of Santa Clarita.

Cameron Smyth: Free To Be Me at West Creek Park

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Imagine a day where barriers dissolve and possibilities unfold, a day dedicated to celebrating diversity and fostering inclusivity.

Kathryn Barger | Focusing on Mental Health

Monday, Apr 29, 2024

At the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting this week, we reviewed the Chief Executive Officer's proposed $45.4 billion budget for the next fiscal year.

Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning Your Neighborhood

Thursday, Apr 25, 2024

Spring heralds a time of renewal and rejuvenation, not just in the natural world, but within our homes and lives as well.

Kathryn Barger | Statement in Support of $45.4B County Budget

Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024

Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement in support of the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer’s presentation of a $45.4 billion budget for the forthcoming 2024-25 fiscal year.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com


May 7: Regular Meeting of the Saugus School Board The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, May 7, with closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by public session at 6:30 p.m.	May 9: Arts Commission to Hear Updates on Civic Art Projects The city of Santa Clarita Arts Commission is holding its regular meeting in City Hall's Council Chambers Thursday, May 9 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355.	Experience the Butterfly Encounter at Gilchrist Farm Experience the Butterfly Encounter at Gilchrist Farm open now on weekends thorugh Sunday, June 18. Walk through a tent of beautiful flowers hosting live butterflies that fly freely throughout the tent.	May 8: COC Board Business Meeting Considers Contracts The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, May 8, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 4:15 p.m.	May 8: Castaic Union School Board Regular Meeting The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, May 8, at 6 p.m. A closed session will be held at 5:30 p.m.	May 4: LACoFD Hosts Countywide Open House at All Fire Stations Fire Service Day Open House will be held at all County of Los Angeles Fire Department fire stations on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 18: Support Young Creatives at NextGen MediaMakers Festival The Santa Clarita Valley Media Collaborative invites the public as well as local creatives, media industry professionals, students, parents, teachers and others to celebrate the next generation of media makers participating in the inaugural NextGen MediaMakers Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center.	Vasquez Rocks Full Moon Twilight Hikes Explore Vasquez Rocks during the magical twilight and early evening full moon hours. These fun, collaborative, interpretive hikes are led by trained staff and volunteers and will highlight the park's natural and human history.	Princess Cruises Sails to Prime Viewing Spot for 2026 Total Solar Eclipse in Europe Astrotourism is top of mind for travelers making special trips for experiences in the sky, and with the recent “take-your-breath-away” total solar eclipse, thousands of cruisers onboard Emerald Princess and Discovery Princess off the coast of Mexico caught a glimpse of the total darkness event.	May 7: City Council Conducts Budget Study Session The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a study session on Tuesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall, Carl Boyer Room, 23920 Valencia Blvd., First Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.	Garbage Inspectors to Look for Improper Recycling Garbage inspectors will soon be paying a visit to neighborshoods throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to inspect recycling bins to insure residents are following the recycling rules in the SCV.	Canyons Advances to Day 3 of 3C2A State Championships College of the Canyons competed at the 3C2A State Singles & Doubles Championships for a second straight year, with the doubles duo of Sydney Tamondong and Estrella Segura establishing program history by advancing to the round of 16 at the Ojai Athletic Club.
Registration Open for 2024 Howard Fisher Cougar Basketball Camp College of the Canyons men's basketball head coach Howard Fisher's Cougar Basketball Camp returns in 2024 with three sessions open to boys and girls ages 8 to 14.	May 4-12: Spring Bag Sale at Santa Clarita Public Library The Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library is hosting a “Spring Bag Sale” event at the Valencia, Canyon Country and Newhall branches of the Santa Clarita Public Library, during normal operating hours from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 12.	MALDEF Sues Man After Rant at Fruit Vendor in SCV A former public school teacher who launched a racist and anti-immigrant tirade against a Santa Clarita street vendor is being sued by a Latino civil rights group for civil assault and violating California civil rights laws.	July 6: Wine in the Pines, Pine Mountain Club The Village of Pine Mountain Club has hosted wine festivals since 2003. You can taste exciting wines from the world’s top wine-growing regions, with dozens of premier wineries to choose from on Saturday, July 6, 1-4 p.m. at Wine in the Pines.	Today in SCV History (May 3) 1842 - California's first mining district established in SCV; Ygnacio del Valle, chairman [story]	May 4: SCV Relay for Life ‘May the Cure Be With You’ The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Santa Clarita Valley will be held Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at Central Park, with the theme “May The Cure Be With You,” a Disney/Star Wars celebration.
CalArts Announces 2024 Herb Alpert Award Winners Ten risk-taking, mid-career artists were announced Thursday as the recipients of the 2024 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (HAAIA).	Mustangs Post-Season Play Continues After First Round Win CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Master's University men's volleyball team won their opening match of the 2024 NAIA National Championship with a 3-set win over the No. 9-seed Mount Mercy (IA) Mustangs.	TMU Student Set to be School’s First Electrical Engineering Graduate Andrew Skerratt did not anticipate graduating with an electrical engineering degree from The Master’s University.	Lady Cougs Advance to Next Round in Regional Playoffs Nichole Muro was brilliant in the circle through seven shutout innings and Gigi Garcia broke the game open with a two-run double in the sixth inning as No. 15 College of the Canyons got past No. 18 Cuesta College 4-0 in its 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs play-in game at Whitten Field on Tuesday.	Message from Carlos Orozco JCI President As we kick off the new month, I am proud to reflect on the incredible growth and achievements we've witnessed over the past four months.	COC Names Sydney Tamondong, Nathaniel Wilkinson Athletes of the Week College of the Canyons student-athletes Sydney Tamondong (women's tennis) and Nathaniel Wilkinson (men's track and field) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 22-27.