The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering is an annual three-day event staged in Ellensburg, Washington, and is modeled after the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko. Over 70% of our attendance travels from out of the area, with a full 1/3 from the Puget Sound Region.

The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering came to the Northwest for the first time in February of 2005. The event brought some of the best traditional cowboy musicians, poets, and artists together along with a gear show, workshops, and dances that incorporated the entire Historic Downtown of Ellensburg.

With The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering, Ellensburg is continuing its rich tradition of attracting major events, such as the nationally ranked Ellensburg Rodeo, The National Art Show (second only to Cheyenne), Jazz in the Valley (a huge mid summer success), and now The Spirit of the West.

Each year we attract over 4,000 visitors to hear well known entertainers like: Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Sons of the San Joaquin, Wylie and the Wild West, Cowboy Celtic and many more national and local entertainers. Ellensburg continues to be a popular destination city. And like Elko, The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering is drawing attention from beyond our region, bringing old west aficionados and new devotees from Oregon, Montana, Idaho, California, British Columbia, and as far away as Maine, to name a few.