2025 Winnsboro Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering
Winnsboro Center for the Arts (WCA) is thrilled to announce the 2025 Winnsboro Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering, Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27. The two-day celebration combines cowboy culture and artistry, and draws the finest cowboy poets, storytellers and musicians from Texas and beyond. The gathering takes place on The Bowery in Downtown Winnsboro. Tickets are on sale now.
“Our lineup of professional artists showcases the finest storytellers, those who turn the hard work of cowboys into timeless art,” said Mary White, WCA board president and acting executive director.
Friday highlights include Cowboy Culture Conversations with Pipp Gillette and Andy Hedges; Cowboy Poetry and Songs featuring Jay Snider, Teresa Burleson, and Bob Campbell; and an Evening Cowboy Concert with Gillette, Kristyn Harris and Andy Wilkinson.
Saturday’s lineup features Wilkinson and Hedges in conversation on Charlie Goodnight; the Kristyn Harris Trio bringing high-energy western swing; and a grand finale Carnegie Cowboys Concert with Rod Taylor, Joel Nelson and Andy Hedges.
In addition to the weekend performances, there will be two days of fun, FREE activities for the whole family. Activities include a Chuck Wagon with cowboy fixins such as cornbread, beans and cobbler; mule wagon rides; a Los Diablos Tejanos (Texas Rangers) reenactment village; music and poetry performances by regional artists; cornhusk doll-making; face painting; a western-themed mini golf course; Smarty the Cow Roping Dummy; and a baby goat petting zoo. There will be a ticketed Chili Tasting on Friday night. One of the highlights of the festival is Cowboy Tales, a FREE exhibition at the WCA September 24 through November 15 that illustrates the theme of western culture and imagery.
WCA plays a key role in bringing cultural programming, exhibitions and entertainment to Winnsboro and East Texas. WCA is supported in part by grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Winnsboro’s Cultural Arts District is recognized by the Texas Commission on the Arts for its vibrant arts scene. Winnsboro is also recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a Texas Main Street Community and an accredited member of Main Street America for its successful downtown revitalization.
