26th Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering to kick off next Thursday at Sul Ross

ALPINE – The 26th Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering opens Friday, February 24 at 10 a.m. in Marshall Auditorium on the campus of Sul Ross State University.

Headliners for this year’s Gathering include poets, musicians and storytellers who were here early in the event’s history and some that have participated beginning in the last few years. There will also be plenty of new faces as well.

This year, the evening shows, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m., will feature headliners Jerry Brooks, Craig Carter, Doris Daley, the Gillette Brothers, Don Hedgpeth, Randy and Hannah Huston, Chris Isaacs, Ross Knox, Jack Sammon and Jim Wilson.

Tickets for these two shows are $12.50 per person and $6.00 for children.

At 1 p.m. Friday afternoon, a “100% Original-Cowboy Songwriters” session will be hosted by Joel Nelson. Entry to this session is a minimum $5 contribution to the construction of a memorial on the Sul Ross State University campus.

The memorial will be to honor those who have made contributions to the Gathering through the years.

All other sessions to the event on both Friday and Saturday are free.

The title sponsor of The Gathering is West Texas National Bank with a significant contribution from the City of Alpine.

This year, a custom made pair of commemorative spurs hand crafted by Clay Cravens will be raffled. Also being raffled is a stock whip woven by Jack Sammon. All raffle tickets are $10.

The steering committee will also be selling commemorative pins for $10 each.

Tapes, CDs and books by the participants of the Gathering will be available for sale on the second floor of the Morgan University Center.

Sales begin late Friday morning and will continue until the close of the event Saturday evening.

Tickets for the shows and breakfast and raffle tickets, as well as programs, go on sale at noon Thursday in the Morgan Center. This year the Gathering headquarters will be on the second floor of the Morgan Center.

That includes ticket sales and information.

Additional information is available at the Gathering website at texascowboypoetry.com.