Wild West City will celebrate cowboys

Byram — Cowboys past and present will be honored at Wild West City’s annual Tribute to the American Cowboy on Saturday, Aug. 22. This year marks the 21st annual tribute, an event that showcases all current and veteran Wild West City cowboy actors, as they come together once more to perform, compete and pay tribute to fans and colleagues. All tribute activities and shows are free with the regular price of admission. This special day was initially conceived by Wild West City cowboy Micky Fabian. It was “Big Mick” who reached out to entertainers, cowboys, former staff and others to bring everyone together for one big day of celebration. The one big day has become an annual affair that continues to grow. Fabian proposed the day as a way to highlight Wild West City, which at the time was under pressure to sell to developers who wanted to build townhouses and condominiums. But mostly, it was proposed to focus on the legend and lore of American Cowboys. “It’s a day of reunion, reminiscence and commemoration,” said Michael Stabile, whose family has owned Wild West City for over 50 years. “It’s also a lot of fun, for the cowboys and the crowd. It has always been one of our most popular days of the season.” Throughout the day cowboys will display their western arts skills and portray historic and legendary characters of the Old West. They will also mingle with patrons and be available for photos. “This is a labor of love for these entertainers,” said Stabile. “It’s not only a tribute to cowboys, but to America and what it stands for.” Wild West City is open daily through Labor Day and then weekends until Columbus Day. For more information call 973-347-8900 or visit www.wildwestcity.com.