The Cowboy Capital's Big Day: National Day of the American Cowboy, July 25
By Gordon Cook · July 5, 2026
Well, the Fourth has come and gone — and what a Fourth it was. America's 250th birthday, two parades, fireworks over Bandera and Lakehills, and a campground full of happy folks and tired dogs. Thank y'all to everyone who spent the holiday with us. Now, before you put the calendar away, let me point you at the next date worth circling: Saturday, July 25.
A Day for the Working Cowboy
The fourth Saturday of July is the National Day of the American Cowboy — a day set aside every year since 2005 to honor the men and women who built their lives around horses, cattle, and hard, honest work. A lot of towns mark the day. But if you're going to celebrate the American cowboy, there's really only one place to do it right: Bandera, Texas — the Cowboy Capital of the World, fifteen minutes down the road from us.
How Bandera Celebrates
This isn't a town that plays dress-up one day a year. Bandera's cowboy roots go back to the great cattle drives, and folks here still ride horses to town like it's the most normal thing in the world — because here, it is.
The big celebration happens in Bandera City Park, right on the banks of the Medina River. The county's still putting the final touches on this year's lineup — the full flyer hadn't dropped when I sat down to write this — but if past years are any guide, expect live music, trick riding and roping, plenty of good food, and more boots and hats than you can count. Keep an eye on the Bandera County CVB's event page for the details as they firm up.
And here's how to make a proper weekend of it: the Friday night summer rodeo series at Mansfield Park runs every Friday through the end of July. So come in Friday afternoon, catch the bulls and barrel racing that night, spend Saturday celebrating the cowboy in City Park, and cool off Sunday with a swim under the cypress trees on the Medina before you head home. That's about as Texas as a weekend gets.
Sleep Like a Cowboy (or at Least Near Some)
Here's the part I love telling folks: we've got 9 cowboy campsites here at the Hideaway — simple, quiet spots where you can pitch a tent, build a fire, and fall asleep under some of the darkest skies in the Hill Country. If your idea of cowboy camping includes air conditioning (no shame in that — it's July in Texas), we've also got 13 handcrafted log cabins and 10 full-hookup RV sites.
Bring the dog — we're pet-friendly with no pet fees, and no cleaning fees either. We're also the closest campground to the new Kronkosky State Natural Area taking shape just down the road, so you can scout that out while you're here.
One word of advice: the last Saturday in July draws a crowd to Bandera, and we expect that weekend to fill up. Book direct on our website and use promo code FUN for 10% off when you stay 2 or more nights. Friday rodeo plus Saturday celebration is two nights right there — the math works out in your favor.
Hope to see y'all out here on the 25th. Wear the hat. You'll fit right in.
Until next time…
Happy Trails.
Be Safe & God Bless.
— Al