Grab your cowboy boots and mosey on over to the eighth annual Old West Festival. The western-themed festival rolls back in town for another season of boot stompin’ family fun on Saturdays and Sundays – September 12 through October 18, 2015. Located at its permanent site, just 15 minutes from I-275, east of Cincinnati, the Old West Festival transports visitors back in time to a historic American era, the Wild West.

Drawing more than 20,000 visitors each fall, the permanent old west town is home to everything you would expect to see in Dodge City circa 1878. Attendees will enjoy historically accurate medicine and saloon shows, can-can dancers, gunfights, jailbreaks, and more. Period re-enactors will also be found walking the streets and performing the roles of cowboys, cowgirls, storeowners, residents, and of course, outlaws.

The Old West Festival will also be abuzz with western music. Attendees can enjoy the sounds of the 1800s with music from Gunpowder Creek as well as Raison d’Etre, a trio mixing traditional folk songs with _a capella_ swing tunes and Shaker hymns.

Other performers will be ‘round town as well. Magician Jason Jacobs will amaze, bewilder and astonish with his magical flare and the Pickled Brothers will shock with their mind-boggling performances. Trick rider Abigail Petersen will impress audiences with her horsemanship and daring stunts, while visitors to the Long Branch Saloon will enjoy shows by world champion roper Rider Keisner, and folks will no doubt get a “kick” out of Miss Melody Star and her Hurdy Gurdy Dancing Girls.

And what would the old west be without a good ole’ fashioned gunfight?

Back by popular demand, four times daily starting at high noon, the Big Irons Rangers return with their gunfight re-enactments and trick shooting. In between shows they, and other period interpreters, will be walking the grounds to meet visitors and pose for photos.

The Old West Festival is a grand time for the young’ins, too. At 10:15 a.m. daily, the kiddies can get sworn in as town deputies. They can also enjoy old-timey puppet and magic shows, storytelling and sing-a-longs. The youngsters can also participate in historic games, pan for gold, take a ride on the A&A Express train, take a pony ride, and even cross the frontier in a covered wagon.

New this year, children’s wristbands are available for $5 at the gate, and allow children UNLIMITED train rides, panning for gold, Santa Fe Slingshot, Beginniner Bow and Arrow, and Lucky Levi’s Lasso.

Themed weekends add to the experience of the Old West Festival and include Western Film Weekend Sept. 12-13; Romance Weekend Sept. 19-20; America’s Pastime Weekend Sept. 26-27; Steampunk Weekend Oct. 3-4; OctoBEERfest Weekend Oct. 10-11; and Halloween Weekend Oct. 17-18.

To celebrate the opening of another season, the Old West Festival presents Western Film Weekend. Iconic scenes of cowboys riding into the sunset, saloon brawls and gunfights have shaped our idea of the Wild West. Guests will enjoy screenings from classic movies, experience a lively panel discussion and meet the cast and crew from Revelation Trail, a western film shot on the grounds of the Old West Festival.

Tickets to the Old West Festival can be purchased for $12, $6 for children ages 6-12, children 5 and under admitted for free. Parking is free and the festival will be held, rain or shine. Tickets are available at a discounted rate in advance at www.oldwestfestival.com.

ABOUT THE OLD WEST FESTIVAL

The Old West Festival runs Saturdays and Sundays, September 12 to October 18 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and is located at 1449 Greenbush Cobb Rd between Mt. Orab and Williamsburg, Ohio just off St. Rt. 32. For more information, visit www.oldwestfestival.com.