Western Legends
Head ‘em Up & Move ‘em Out ... to Western Legends Roundup
By Stephen Browning
Southern Utah’s 14th Annual Western Legends Roundup, to be held this year from August 16-18 in Kanab, “Utah’s Little Hollywood,” promises to be the biggest and best festival ever. Started in 1999 as a way to honor the area’s legendary western movie history, as well as local pioneering families, the event continues to grow, now attracting over 5,000 people from all over the world on the busy Roundup weekend. Two entire blocks on Main Street are cordoned off for festival events during the day on Friday and Saturday that include nearly 100 western-themed vendors, great food, two live stages with continuous shows and the popular Movie Star tables with a chance to meet one of your favorites and get an autographed picture. Other activities in town include: the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in the Old Barn Theater at historic Parry Lodge, Antique Farm Equipment Display and Demonstration at Denny’s Wigwam, Western Film Festival at the Crescent Moon Theater, Movie Location Bus Tours, Quilt Show, Mountain Man Encampment, Old Fashioned Barn Dance, the popular “High Noon” Parade on Saturday with a longhorn cattle drive, and much, much more. The festival kicks off on Thursday night with a Dutch-oven “Dinner with the Stars” at Kanab City’s beautiful Jacob Hamblin Park. Friday night and Saturday night feature live stage shows in the state-of-the-art auditorium at Kanab High School. Friday night’s featured entertainment includes seven-time Western Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year and America’s Western Sweetheart – Belinda Gail, as well as rising country star Eric Dodge. Saturday evening’s show ends with a bang as the Roundup proudly presents Grammy Award Winner and Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Lynn Anderson. Anderson has 17 gold albums and 11 number one songs, including her mega crossover hit, “I Beg Your Pardon, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.” Her “Rose Garden” album was the largest selling album for a female country music artist for an astonishing 26 years. Also featured Saturday night will be the classic country vocals of Arizona favorite, Rollie Stevens. To round out the evening, we’ll enjoy a poem from each of the five top finishers of the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo. For a full schedule of events, movie stars scheduled to appear, and information on how you can purchase your tickets, call Western Legends Roundup at 435-644-3444 or go to our website – www.westernlegendsroundup.com
You better get down to Kanab for Western Legends...or else! Photo by Barry Glazier.
