Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

BUFFALO – For what would have been their 15th year of operation, the Big Horn Mountain Festival planning committee has decided to cancel the annual music event in Buffalo this year, due to a schedule conflict with Longmire Days, an event celebrating a fictional, Wyoming-based character featured in books and on television.

Earlier this week, the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce announced that Longmire Days will be held July 18-21, the same weekend traditionally reserved for the Big Horn Festival.

Lynn Young, with the festival committee, expressed his disappointment in the timing, and the ultimate decision to cancel the festival.

"Having two events on the same weekend really puts a hurt on the festival for ticket sales, and there was no assurance that visitors would be able to find accommodations on that weekend," explained Young. "It's real sad."

The committee had considered moving the event or the date, but ultimately decided that the options were not worth the risk to sponsors and volunteers, who number in the hundreds. The committee also had to consider the cost of rebooking bands, sound crews and security for the event.

A byproduct of the festival over the years has been the establishment of the Bighorn Bluegrass Camp, which teaches youth bluegrass music and instruments, over a week-long period before the festival. (The festival traditionally ended with the students as the last musical act to showcase what they had learned.)

"We'll put our efforts into supporting the bluegrass camp, rather than the festival this year," said Young, although the camp may need to be restricted without the festival.

"As sad as it is, we can still celebrate bringing 14 good years of music and friendship to the area," said Young.

There are no immediate plans for the festival in 2020.