May 12, 2012The Western Folklife Center Gift Shop joins with the Downtown Business Association for Art Walk. 3:00-6:00 pm in downtown Elko. See us at 501 Railroad Street for our selection of fine art including photography, pottery, handcrafted jewelry and more.
May 15, 2012Concert and workshops at the Western Folklife Center featuring Alan Jabbour and Ken Perlman, with their blending of fiddle and clawhammer banjo. Read more.
June 9, 2012Sidewalk Sale and Margarita Walk in downtown Elko! Shop the Western Folklife Center Gift Shop (501 Railroad Street) and throughout downtown Elko from 8:00 am-3:00 pm during the Sidewalk Sale and enjoy the first annual Downtown Business Association Margarita Walk from 4:00-7:00pm.
August 11, 2012Texas cowboy musicians the Gillette Brothers will perform in concert in the G Three Bar Theater of the Western Folklife Center. Mark your calendars now for this exciting event. More information will be posted soon on our website.
October 11 - 14, 2012During the 16th annual Trailing of the Sheep in Ketchum, Idaho, the Western Folklife Center and the Ketchum Sun Valley Heritage Museum will host a Presentation & Open House, 3:00 pm on Friday, October 12th at the Museum:The History of American Sheep Ranching in the West and the Ranching Heritage of the Wood River Valley. Read More.
January 28 - February 2, 2013(preliminary dates)29th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.
January 25 - February 01, 2014 (preliminary dates)
30th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.
PAST EVENTS CALENDAR:March 28, 2012
28th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Student Art Show Reception in the G Three Bar Theater of the Western Folklife Center in Elko, Nevada, from 4:30 - 6:00 pm, Free to the Public. Read More.
January 30 - February 04, 201228th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. Read More about the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Watch poetry and music from the Gathering on our Cybercast.
January 14, 2012hands ON!/Cowboy Up at the Nevada Museum of Art. The Western Folklife Center is collaborating with the Nevada Museum of Art on this program for little buckaroos that takes place from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. The Nevada Museum of Art is located at 160 West Liberty Street, Reno, Nevada. Read more and call (775) 329-3333 for more information.
October 13 - November 4, 2011Pin Design contest for the 2012 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Deadline date has been extended to Friday, November 4, 2011! Get in on the contest now; click here for full information on how to submit your design for our collectible lapel pin and win Gathering memorabilia.
October 7, 2011 ~ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Western Folklife Center staff will travel to the 2011Trailing of the Sheep Festival. Join us at the Ketchum Sun Valley Heritage and Ski Museum for a Open House and presentation of The History of American Sheep Ranching in the West and the Ranching Heritage of the Wood River Valley.
October 1 through 8, 2011The Gift Shop offers special sales as the Western Folklife Center joins the Elko Downtown Business Association's "Street Sweep Week" in celebration of the conclusion of road construction on Idaho Street. Join us at our Elko store location at 501 Railroad Street only, sale offers not available to online store orders. October 1: Kids' Items 20% off; October 3: Cookbooks 20% off; October 4: Jewelry Items 20% off; October 5: National Cowboy Poetry Gathering clothing 50% off; October 6: Cowboy Poetry books 20% off; October 7: CD's - music and poetry 20% off; October 8: selected items 20% off.
September 29, 2011Come on down to the Western Folklife Center and learn Country Dance styles (lessons start at 7:30 pm), then dance the night away starting at 8:00 pm.! $5.00 at the door, with younger family members ages 12-17 welcome (must be accompanied by a parent), and get in free. Contact Tamara Kubacki at (775) 738-7508, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Daily through September 7, 2011Herdsmen and Horsemen of the Hungarian Puszta exhibition in the Western Folklife Center Wiegand Gallery. The exhibition highlights the ancient roots and contemporary life of Hungary's herding occupation, and opened during the 27th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Read more.
September 8, 2011Stop the Car, Dad! Exhibition Reception, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm in the Wiegand Gallery at the Western Folklife Center. A slide slam will also be featured to accompany the exhibition in the Pioneer Saloon, which will be open for business throughout the evening. Call Meg Glaser,775-738-7508, ext. 225 or click here for more information.
July 8 - 10, 2011The Montana Roots Road Show featured music, poetry, and Montana art in concerts and more. Featured performances were in Bozeman, Missoula and Butte, Montana. Read More.
June 10 through August 28, 2011At the Missoula Art Museum in Missoula Montana: Expressing Montana, an exhibition co-produced with the Western Folklife Center. Read More.
March 30 through May 24, 2011A Tribe of Artists: Costumes and Culture of Burning Man exhibition in the Western Folklife Center Wiegand Gallery. Although it is truly impossible to capture the Burning Man experience within the walls of a gallery, Geoffrey Nelson's installation celebrates the creativity and spirited energy generated by this internationally renowned gathering. Read more.
May 21 and 22, 2011Record your memories and family history in the Western Folklife Center Sheep Camp during the Trail Days event at the California Trail National Historical Intrepretive Center located 8 miles west of Elko off the Hunter Exit of Interstate 80. Read More about Trail Days.
May 14, 2011Downtown Business Assocation Art Walk! The Western Folklife Center will host guest artists Andy Stevens, leather carver, and Paiute regalia maker/beader Stephanie Sam from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Wiegand Gallery, 501 Railroad Street, Elko.
May through August, 2011Play Your Hand game nights at to the Western Folklife Center every 1st and 3rd Wednesday beginning at 5:30 pm. Play whatever board or card game you're into: grab your favorite home board games or use our cards, checkers, cribbage boards, or assorted board games. In the historic Pioneer Saloon, 501 Railroad Street. Read More.
April through August 2011Dance Nights return! Monthly Zydeco/Cajun Dance Nights with Dick and Sandy Sturm on Saturdays in the Western Folklife Center G Three Bar Theater. $5.00 at the door with dance lessons beginning at 6:30 and dancing starting at 7:00 pm. Younger family members age 12-17 are welcome (must be accompanied by parent), free admission. Click here for more information on Dance Nights, or contact Tamara Kubacki at the Western Folklife Center, (775) 738-7508, ext. 223, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
March 23, 2011Reception for 2011 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Student Art Show exhibition. 4:00 - 6:00 pm in the Western Folklife Center G Three Bar Theater. Come meet Elko County student artists and view their wonderful and unique art and photography at this free event.
January 24 - January 29, 201127th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. Click Here to see the invited performers, listen to audio, see ticketed shows, and for more information.
Daily through December 11, 2010 beginning August 14, 2010 (closed Sundays)
The Wiegand Gallery of the Western Folklife Center is now exhibiting the stunning photography of Deon Reynolds in Where the Cowboy Once Roamed, an exhibition from our friends at Texas Folklife entitled, Ranch Gates of the Southwest: Manifestations of Individualism, and A Tribute to the Brian Winter Will James' Collection, courtesy of the Will James Society.
November 4, 2010
Play Your Hand continues at the Western Folklife Center! Join us for happy hour at 5:30 pm, followed by lessons on how to play these traditional games at 6:00 pm; game play begins at 7:00 pm. This is a family-friendly event.
November 13, 2010Zydeco Dance! Last Zydeco Dance Night for the season at the Western Folklife Center ~ dance lessons and CD dancing with Dick and Sandy Sturm. Fun for all, dancing will start at 7:00 pm in the Western Folklife Center G Three Bar Theater to this lively and energetic music from Louisiana.
October 30, 2010
10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Ranching Community Open House: Utah State University's Fifle Folklore Archives co-hosts an open house to share, collect and preserve contemporary stories, images and documents of local ranching families. FREE.
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Opening Reception in the Wiegand Gallery for Western Folklife Center exhibitions featuring stunning photography of Deon Reynolds in Where the Cowboy Once Roamed, an exhibition from our friends at Texas Folklife entitled, Ranch Gates of the Southwest: Manifestations of Individualism, and A Tribute to the Brian Winter Will James' Collection, courtesy of the Will James Society.
October 16, 2010
Zydeco Dance Night at the Western Folklife Center ~ dance lessons and CD dancing with Dick and Sandy Sturm. Fun for all, dancing will start at 7:00 pm in the Western Folklife Center G Three Bar Theater,to this lively and energetic music from Louisiana.
October 14, 2010
The Western Folklife Center and Elko High School present a reading and community workshop by author David Lee, in the continuing Tumblewords series. Both events are free and open to the public. Workshop: 1:00 pm at Elko High School main building, Room 213; Reading: 7:00 pm in the Western Folklife Center's Pioneer Saloon.
October 9, 2010
The Western Folklife Center will participate in the final Farmer's Market of the season. Stop by and visit our Gift Shop and the Wiegand Gallery during this event produced by the Elko Downtown Business Association.
September 26, 2010
Mark your calendars now for Mike Beck in concert at the Western Folklife Center! The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the concert will begin in the G Three Bar Theater at 7:00 pm. Ticket prices are $16.00 for the general public and $14.00 for seniors, students, and Western Folklife Center members.
September 11, 2010
Visit the Western Folklife Center Wiegand Gift Shop and Wiegand Gallery on Saturday, September 11 during the new Elko Downtown Business Association Farmer's Market and the ever-popular Elko Wine Walks! The Western Folklife Center is pleased to participate in these events, and we have a large assortment of gift items, books and CDs for sale in our Gift Shop here at 501 Railroad Street, Elko.
September 11: 2010: Zydeco Dance!Zydeco Dance Night at the Western Folklife Center ~ dance lessons and CD dancing with Dick and Sandy Sturm. Fun for all, dancing will start at 7:00 pm in the Western Folklife Center G Three Bar Theater, to this lively and energetic music from Louisiana.
September 4, 2010
Outdoor Summer Concert at Reds Ranch in beautiful Lamoille, Nevada, featuring legendary singer/songwriter Ian Tyson. Tickets for seating on the lawn $25 and special seating at tables on the deck $150. Purchase tickets by calling 775-738-7508, extension 239 (toll free: 888-880-5885) or in our Gift Shop at 501 Railroad Street, Elko.
August 14, 2010: Zydeco Dance!Zydeco Dance Night at the Western Folklife Center ~ dance lessons and CD dancing with Dick and Sandy Sturm. Fun for all, dancing will start at 7:00 pm to this lively and energetic music from Louisiana.
August 14, 2010: Farmers Market and Wine Walk
The Western Folklife Center is pleased to participate in the Elko Downtown Business Association's 2010 Farmers Market series, followed in the evenings by the ever-popular Wine Walks! Come see us at the Western Folklife Center Gift Shop for specials and more.
August 7, 2010
Joni Harms in Concert at the Western Folklife Center! Joni's pure country western sound has garnered her Female Vocalist of the Year from the Western Music Association (2003), and multiple Academy of Western Artists Awards, including the top honor of Entertainer of the Year for 2002. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the concert in the G Three Bar Theater begins at 7:00 pm. Ticket prices are $16.00 to the general public, and $14.00 for seniors, students, and Western Folklife Center members.
January 19 through July 24, 2010
On exhibition at the Western Folklife Center Wiegand Gallery, 501 Railroad Street, Elko Nevada: Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition.
July 15 through November 4, 2010
Play Your Hand at the Western Folklife Center! Join us for happy hour at 5:30 pm, followed by lessons on how to play the traditional games of Pinochle and Mus at 6:00 pm; game play begins at 7:00 pm. This is a family-friendly event.
July 2, 2010
The Pioneer Saloon will open at 5:00 pm on Friday, July 2, for happy hour and the exhibition viewing of Amerikanuak! Basques in the High Desert, a traveling exhibition created by the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, comes to Elko for the National Basque Festival.
June 22 through 24, 2010
Youth Leather Tooling Workshops return to the Western Folklife Center! In partnership with the Elko County Cooperative Extension 4-H Office, we're offering a beginners class for $20 and an intermediate class for $50.
May 1, 2010
Making West Home in Boise: A celebratory event at the Idaho State Historical Museum, 400 Julia Davis Park Drive in Boise, Idaho in conjunction with a related exhibition, The Comforts of Home: Crafting a New Life in the Treasure Valley. Join Western Folklife Center staff at the Museum in Boise on Saturday, May 1, 2010, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm for an afternoon of food sampling, book signing and stories.
March 24, 2010
Join us at the Western Folklife Center G Three Bar Theater as we honor the Elko County student artists at a reception for the 2010 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Student Art Show! Reception begins at 4:00 p.m. and lasts until 6:00 pm. Come and meet the artists! Refreshments will be served.
January 23 - January 30, 2010
26th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.
