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  • July 25, 2026
    Time : 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (America/Chicago)
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National Day of the Cowboy!

Dรญa Nacional del Vaquero!

Tippinโ€™ its hat and celebrating the legacy of the cowboy, cowgirl and vaquero, the Briscoe presents its annual National Day of the Cowboy | Dรญa Nacional del Vaquero celebration on Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. โ€“ 4 p.m.

The free community event, which includes free admission to the museum, features indoor and outdoor activities across the museumโ€™s River Walk campus for cowpokes of all ages to enjoy and explore the west.

Long before the American cowboy became a symbol of the West, vaqueros perfected the horsemanship, ranching techniques and traditions that continue to define cowboy culture today. On Saturday, July 25, the Briscoe Western Art Museum invites visitors to experience that living legacy during its annual National Day of the Cowboy /Dรญa Nacional del Vaquero celebration, a free day of live demonstrations, music, history and hands-on family activities celebrating cowboys and vaqueros, the original cowboys of the American West.

Held throughout the museum and in the scenic McNutt Sculpture Garden, National Day of the Vaquero / Dรญa
Nacional del Vaquero brings the West to life with music, art, storytelling and hands-on activities for visitors
of all ages. Guests can enjoy cowboy and vaquero traditions including lasso demonstrations, crafts, cowboy
poetry, chuckwagon treats and live Western music while celebrating the rich cultural heritage that continues
to influence Texas and the West today.

Register for free, saddle up with your family and head west for a free day of fun you wonโ€™t forget!ย 

๐Ÿ“… July 25, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

๐ŸŽŸ ๏ธFREE Community Event

๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Free Museum Admission!

One of the Briscoeโ€™s most treasured annual events, National Day of the Cowboy highlights and preserves Americaโ€™s cowboy culture and pioneer heritage. The day began in 2005 to celebrate and preserve the heritage of the American cowboy, cowgirl and vaquero in the United States. The state of Texas declared it a day of honor in 2015 and the Briscoe annually hosts a free community day marking the occasion, throwing open the doors of the museum to honor the cowgirl, cowboy and vaquero in us all.

Full Day of Fun Activities!

ARTS & CRAFTS

Stick ponies and barrel racing

Felt horseshoe toss

Lil Buckaroo corral-lassoing and bull riding

Silversmith etching (drawing on tin foil)ย 

Dress like a Vaquero: Make your own spur, Make your own vaquero hat

Braiding Station

Accordion Longhorn

& More!

Artist Demonstrations

Engraving with Troy Flaharty

Rawhide Braider with Leland Hensley

Sculpting with Jason Scull

Painting with Brenda Murphy & Mike Capron

& More!

ACTIVITIES

Chuck wagon

Story Time

San Antonio Rodeo

Cowboy Poetry

Food Trucks

Games & More!


Special Activity Times

11:30am-12pm & 1:00pm-1:30pm : Danzavida De San Antonio Dance Company

12:30 pm-1:00 pm : Cowboy Poetry with Don Mathis

1:30 pm and 2:00 pm : Story time with Antoinette Lakey reading about Mary Fields

2:30pm-4:00pm : Cowboy Ballads with Sons of San Antone

Looking to Lend a Hand?

Volunteers needed for our annual National Day of the Cowboy Community Day! We will have live performances, food, and activities throughout the day for guests to experience.