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Monday 10am - 5:30pm Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm Thursday 10am - 5:30pm Friday 10am - 5:30pm Saturday 10am - 5pm

Western Folklife Center

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Western Folklife Center

Our Mission
Use story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world. Our signature event is the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
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It all began as a time and place where Western ranchers and cowboys could gather to share poems about their lives working cattle. Three decades later, the tribe is now a nation of Western poets, musicians, artisans and storytellers, sharing their creativity across the country, telling their stories of hard work, heartbreak and hilarity, and what it means to make your way in the rangeland West. The

38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering will take place in Elko, Nevada, Jan. 30 Feb. 4, 2023! We will be inviting western poets, songwriters, artists, artisans, and land stewards to bring new and old stories to light as they endeavor to create a West that hosts healthy and hospitable landscapes and agriculture-based communities. More details will be available soon about the artist lineup and schedule, so stay tuned. The Western Folklife Center is a regional nonprofit organization based in Elko, Nevada. The Folklife Center produces programs based on original fieldwork and research among diverse groups of people around the West. We use this information to create exhibits, films, radio programs, recordings and other public presentations. These materials also become a documentary record that is preserved in the Folklife Center Archives. The Western Folklife Center has an exhibition gallery, 300-seat theater, 20-seat black box theater, historic saloon and gift shop. Admission to the Wiegand Gallery: $5.00 Adults ~ Students/Seniors $3.00~ $1.00 Children age 6-12
Members Free; $3.00 for each adult guest. Free admission to all ~ first Saturday of every month.

08/19/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝗴, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻!

Ever wonder what the cowboys are talking about? Dakota Robinson offers a crash course in cowboy lingo.

Dakota recites “𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿” during “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀” at the 41st 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Come hear Dakota in person at the 42nd 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 in Elko!

08/18/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝗴, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗯𝗯!

A photograph can tell a story, but sometimes you need a song to tell the whole tale.

Allen Dobb shares the story behind a photograph taken in 1912, when cars were beginning to replace horses, BX Company stages, and freight wagons along British Columbia's historic Cariboo Road.

Allen performs "𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟭𝟮," bringing a piece of that changing time to life through song. This January, he'll be performing as the 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗯𝗯 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗼 at the 42nd 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.

08/17/2026

🎻 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗗 🎶
Join 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱 Wednesday, August 19, for a lively evening of music at the Pioneer Saloon! Enjoy a toe-tappin' mix of Celtic, Western, and contemporary fiddle tunes in a relaxed setting with friends, neighbors, and fellow music lovers.

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡!
Southwind features Carolyn Steninger, Ken Harriman, Gregg Lawrence, and Susan Lawrence. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and stay up to date on upcoming performances.

📍 Pioneer Saloon
501 Railroad St, Elko, NV
🕕 6:00–7:30 PM

Bring a friend, grab a seat, and enjoy an evening of great music and good company! 🎻🍀🎵

08/15/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝗴, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴!

Sourdough and Robert double down on humor and song with "𝗝𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗼𝘆𝘀," performed during the "𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻" show at the 38th 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Get ready for plenty of music, laughs, and good old cowboy fun when Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong return to Elko this January!

08/12/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀!

Rusty tries to impress a sweet young thing with his horsemanship.

Enjoy Rusty Phillips performing "Pretty Girl and a Bronc Ride" during the "Buckaroo Who?" show at the 41st 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, then make plans to see him in Elko this January.

08/11/2026

🎸🪕🎻 𝙅𝙖𝙢 𝙊𝙣! 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚!
Join us 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟮 from 6:00–8:00 pm for our 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 monthly jam session at the Pioneer Saloon!

Play, sing, or just sit back and enjoy a mix of old-time fiddle tunes, folk songs, country, ballads, and more.

All musicians and spectators are welcome. Bring a friend and enjoy an evening of live community music. 🍻🥂🍷

📍 501 Railroad Street, Elko, NV

Facilitated by members of Southwind and other community musicians.

08/10/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘆!

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘆 sings a song she wrote with Waddie Mitchell. "Three-Dimensional Nights" is a collaboration that brings two distinctive voices together in song.

Enjoy Trinity Seely performing "Three-Dimensional Nights" during the "Cohorts & Collaborators" show at the 40th 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, then make plans to see her in Elko this January!

08/09/2026

🤠 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 + 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸

For the past several years, the 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗝𝗿. 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 has been keeping boots shining at the 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 by manning the Boot Shine Booth. 👢✨

Recently, club secretary 𝗚𝘄𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 stopped by the Western Folklife Center to deliver a donation check from the club. Gift Shop Manager 𝗞𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻 was on hand to receive the generous contribution.

We’re grateful to the Lamoille Crossroads Jr. Livestock Club for supporting the 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 and helping keep the cowboy traditions we love alive. Thank you for shining more than just boots! ❤️🤠

📸: Jessica Brandi Lifland, Gloria Ortman

08/07/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻!

If you've ever been married to a cowboy, you know there may be a few "other women" in the relationship... horses, cows, dogs, and just about anything else with four legs! 😄

Teresa Burleson brings plenty of wit and ranch-life wisdom to the stage as she recites "Udder Wimmen."

Join us in Elko this January to see Teresa and dozens of outstanding poets, musicians, and storytellers at the 42nd 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨!

08/05/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘆!

What happens when a cowboy singer teams up with a cowboy poet? You get "He's a Poet with Something to Say," written by Dave Stamey and Waddie Mitchell.

Join us in Elko this January to hear Dave's award-winning songs, stories, and humor

Address

501 Railroad Street
Elko, NV
89801

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	10am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	10am - 5:30pm
Thursday	10am - 5:30pm
Friday	10am - 5:30pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+17757387508

Website

http://westernfolklife.org/, https://www.westernfolklife.tv/browse, https://bio.site/westernfolklifecenter

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