26th annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering getting ready
NEWS RELEASE - ALPINE Cowboy poets, singers and musicians, and storytellers from near and far will gather later this month for the 26th annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine. The event kicks off on Friday morning, February 24, at 10 a.m. in the Marshall Auditorium.
The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering is renowned for its dedication to authenticity. Those folks invited to participate are working cowboys and cowgirls, ranchers and ranch hands.
The event is funded without excessive commercialism. Donations by local businesses and sponsorships of performers are the primary sources of income.
West Texas National Bank is the title sponsor of the Gathering and the City of Alpine is a significant underwriter.
Daytime sessions to the event are all free. These sessions are held in classrooms on the campus. Each session will feature several performers for 50 minutes. Ten concurrent sessions are held at various locations on the campus.
Admission to the night shows Friday evening and Saturday evening is $12.50 for adults and $5 for children.
The traditional campfire breakfasts at Poet’s Grove are back this year. Come rain or shine the breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy will be served 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. both Friday and Saturday mornings. Cost is $5 per plate.
Clay Cravens has hand crafted a beautiful pair of spurs to be raffled for $10 per ticket. Jack Sammon has donated another kangaroo hide stock whip to be raffled as well. All proceeds from the raffles go to the perpetuation of the Gathering.
Tapes, CDs and books by the participants of the Gathering will be available for sale on the second floor of the Morgan University Center. Sales begin late Friday morning and will continue until the close of the event Saturday evening.
Tickets for the shows and breakfast and raffle tickets, as well as programs, go on sale at noon Thursday on the second floor of the Morgan Center.
Additional information is available at the Gathering website at texascowboypoetry.com.
