In the summer, the Western heritage of Moffat County comes alive.

Festivals, rodeos and the Moffat County Fair are some of the activities that remind the town of its past.

The Grand Olde West Days is the annual Memorial Day weekend festival. Bull riding, a carnival and lots of vendors from around the country are a part of the weekend. Other traditions at the event are the chili cook-off and a parade. New traditions in 2006 happening during the weekend are the bed races, sponsored by the Craig Chamber of Commerce and a car show sponsored by the Colorado Cruisers.

The dates for the 2006 GOWD weekend are May 26-29. For more information go to http://www.grandoldewestdays.com.

Colorado Wild Horse Festival

The Colorado Wild Horse Festival June 24-25 is an opportunity to see part of the frontier that still exists.

Over the course of two days, several events will be held at the Moffat County Fairgrounds to demonstrate the capabilities of wild mustangs.

The mustangs are rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management and made available for adoption. More than 40,000 are available. The round-ups occur when more horses roam than the range can support. Call 824-9505.

The Little Britches Rodeo

Moffat County’s Little Britches Rodeo is traditionally one of the largest on the circuit. The rodeo gives a chance for the young cowpoke to shine, riding and roping like their older heroes. The 2006 rodeo is Friday, June 30 through Sunday, July 2 at the Moffat County Fairgrounds.

Ride ‘N’ Tie Rodeo

The story goes that in the early days of the rodeo, cars would form a circle and turn on their lights to provide an arena for the traditional Craig rodeo. It continues today in the more modern facility of the Moffat County Fairgrounds. Local and out-of-town professionals come to compete in the rodeo, which always includes a thrilling bull-riding competition. This year’s Ride ‘N’ Tie is Friday-Sunday, July 14-16.

Moffat County Fair

All of the hard work that Moffat County residents have put in raising animals, growing food and making arts and craft culminate during August at the Moffat County Fairgrounds. The nine-day event includes animal judging, the always entertaining equipment rodeo and plenty of vendors. The 2006 fair is from Aug. 4-12.