Westernaires equestrian performance group comes to Longmont on August 16
On Sunday, August 16, the Boulder County Fairgrounds will host something Longmont doesn’t see often: a full-scale, 350-rider equestrian production from one of Colorado’s longest-running youth organizations. The Westernaires Full Arena Extravaganza begins at 2 p.m. and runs two hours, bringing precision drill riding, trick riding, and Roman riding to a local audience.
For nearly 80 years, Westernaires has trained young riders out of its home base in Golden, tucked on the other side of the metro area from Boulder County — far enough that many Longmont-area families have never had the chance to see its riders perform in person. This month, the organization is bringing its entire performance division north for a single afternoon, giving local audiences a firsthand look at a training program, and a community, built up over generations.
Who are the Westernaires?
Westernaires is a volunteer-run, nonprofit youth horsemanship organization founded in 1949 in Golden, Colorado, at the request of the Jefferson County Youth Council. Founders Elmer and Marjorie Wyland built the program around a simple idea: teach young people responsibility, teamwork, and leadership through the discipline of caring for and riding horses.
Nearly 77 years later, the organization has grown into one of the largest of its kind in the country, training more than 1,000 members ages 9 to 19 out of its home base, known as Fort Westernaire, near the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The property includes three outdoor and three indoor arenas, stables for the organization’s own string of horses, classrooms, and a museum.
Members progress through a structured system of teams, working their way up through years of weekly practice toward the organization’s top performance squads, such as the Varsity Big Red Team. Along the way, many also train in specialty disciplines like trick riding, Roman riding, and dressage.
Westernaires maintains a strict no drugs, no alcohol, no tobacco policy for members, and the organization runs almost entirely on the work of parent and adult volunteers — it employs a single paid staff member, a horse and facilities caretaker. That volunteer structure has helped the group sustain itself for over seven decades while keeping membership dues modest.
A statewide — and national — presence
Though based in Golden, Westernaires performers have appeared at rodeos, county fairs, community celebrations, and even film and television productions across Colorado and beyond. The organization’s signature annual event, Horsecapades, doubles as both its major fundraiser and an alumni homecoming each fall.
What to expect at the August 16 show
Organizers describe the Longmont performance as distinct from a traditional rodeo or horse show — closer to a fast-moving theatrical production built around coordinated team formations than a competitive event.
The Full Arena Extravaganza brings together the organization’s entire performance division for a single afternoon, featuring:
- Precision mounted drill riding performed at speed
- World-class trick riding
- Roman riding and horse acrobatics
- Trick and fancy roping
- Liberty riding
- Colorful costumes, flags, and music
“This production gives audiences an opportunity to experience the full range of Westernaires performances in one arena,” said Gretchen Partch, coach of the Westernaires Varsity Big Red Team. “It combines speed, precision, athleticism, horsemanship, western tradition, and the remarkable teamwork of our young riders, horses, coaches, families, and volunteers.”
Why the show is in Longmont
The performance was originally scheduled for a venue in Evergreen, but recent storm damage left that arena unusable. Rather than cancel, Westernaires relocated the entire production to the Boulder County Fairgrounds at 9595 Nelson Road — a move organizers say reflects the same adaptability the group tries to instill in its young riders. The fairgrounds’ covered grandstands will offer some shelter from sun and weather while keeping the show’s outdoor arena format intact.
Tickets and logistics
General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 14; kids 4 and under get in free. Westernaires charges no online ticketing fees, and parking at the fairgrounds is free. Concessions will be available on-site.
Advance tickets can be purchased through the Westernaires website, and remaining tickets will be sold at the gate, subject to availability. Seating is general admission, so organizers recommend arriving early.
Event details at a glance
What: Westernaires Full Arena Extravaganza
When: Sunday, August 16, 2026, 2 p.m.
Where: Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont
Cost: $15 adults / $5 children 5–14 / free for children 4 and under
For a county with its own deep ties to horses, open land, and outdoor tradition, the arrival of one of the most established equestrian performance teams in the West offers Longmont-area families a rare chance to see a piece of Colorado’s western heritage performed up close — and, for many in the audience, for the very first time.
Frequently asked questions
What is Westernaires?
Westernaires is a volunteer-run, nonprofit youth horsemanship organization founded in 1949 in Golden, Colorado. It trains more than 1,000 members ages 9 to 19 in western riding, precision drill work, and horse care, along with specialty disciplines like trick riding, Roman riding, and dressage.
When and where is the Longmont show?
The Westernaires Full Arena Extravaganza takes place Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont.
Is this a rodeo?
No. Organizers describe it as a theatrical arena production rather than a competitive rodeo or conventional horse show — built around coordinated team formations, specialty acts, and choreographed riding rather than judged events.
How much are tickets, and how do I buy them?
General admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 14; kids 4 and under are free. There are no online ticketing fees. Tickets are available in advance through the Westernaires website and at the gate, subject to availability.
Is parking available?
Yes, parking at the fairgrounds is free.
Why is the show in Longmont instead of Evergreen?
The performance was originally planned for a venue in Evergreen, but storm damage left that arena unusable. Rather than cancel, Westernaires relocated the full production to the Boulder County Fairgrounds.
Will there be seating and shade?
Seating is general admission, and the fairgrounds’ grandstands are covered, offering spectators some shelter from sun and weather during the outdoor performance.
