Celebrating its 78th year, Winthrop Washington's '49er Days is a western heritage celebration of our rich western and horse history. The event starts with the annual Ride the Rendezvous, a week-long horse-packing excursion through the Methow Valley high country, which ends Mother's Day weekend. (Contact woga.org to join in this event) As the horse train enters Winthrop on the final day, the community comes out to celebrate its arrival back home.

Schedule of Events:

May 11, 2023

6 pm: Join the pack string along the Ride to Rendezvous for a cowboy dinner and camp fire $25 per person. Contact WOGA for more information on the location.

May 12, 2023

At high noon on Friday, May 12th, the annual Ride to Rendezvous wagon train arrives in downtown Winthrop. Come and watch the horses and wagons ride through town after spending five days on Methow Valley's backcountry trails. Sponsored by Washington Outfitters and Guides Association (WOGA), the arrival of the horses and wagon trains mark the beginning of Winthrop's Old West celebration.

Look for Grand Lady & Marshal Judy Burkhart and Aaron Burkhart. Junior Royalty features Queen Rio Bourn Lott and Princess Zoe Kaltenbach.

May 13, 2023

Activities in Downtown Winthrop: Please park your cars at the Winthrop Barn Auditorium or along Castle Ave.
The Shafer Museum will be open all day.

10:30 am: West Coast Country Heat Street Dancers perform for the 25th annual presentation in the middle of Riverside Ave.

11:00 am: The '49er Days Parade begins through the main street with more pack strings than any parade in the state, plenty of horses, floats, a band, old-time vehicles, and much more. It is free to join and view the parade!

Following the parade, from 12:00 noon to 2:00, kids can join in old-fashioned games in front of Sheri's Sweet Shoppe at no cost.

Activities in the Mack Lloyd Park from noon on:

Beginning at noon in Mack Lloyd Park, The Winthrop Kiwanis will offer barbecue pulled pork sandwiches until 2:00 p.m. or until they sell out.

Noon - 6 pm: WOGA members will gather for visiting, festive old-time music, stories, and untold other adventures. Friends and families can stroll through the park all afternoon, visit the displays and booths, and taste Dutch oven cooking. An open mic will be at the Mack Lloyd Park band shell- Cowboy songs and poetry.

5:00 pm-6:30 pm: Outfitter Dinner hosted by WOGA in Mack Lloyd Park, steak, BBQ, and Dutch oven fixings, cost $25.

6 pm: Line Dancing Lessons available.

7:00 pm - Family Barn Dance hosted by the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce at the Winthrop Barn Auditorium featuring "The Wild Turkeys." This will be a lively, family-friendly, hootin' hollering time! Admission is $10 cash or check at the door. Ages 12 and under are free.

May 14, 2023

In Mack Lloyd Park

8:00 am -10:00 am: Mother's Day cowboy breakfast in Mack Lloyd Park, cost $10, hosted by Washington Outfitters and Guides Association

10 am: Packing demonstrations

Date: May 11-14, 2023

Location: Various Venues in Winthrop, WA 98862.

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