Every year, the small town of Cody, Wyoming is notorious for celebrating the Fourth of July in a big way. Complete with the rodeos, parades, craft fairs, numerous musical performances, a 5K/10K fun run, and a fireworks display, it’s safe to say there is a little something for everyone to enjoy.
So what could be missing?
This year [2017], we’re kicking it up and notch and ramping up the celebration with a few special guests. Bestselling author of the Longmire series, Craig Johnson, and actors Robert Taylor, who portrays Sherriff Walt Longmire, and Adam Bartley, who plays one of his deputies named Ferg, in the popular Netflix series are scheduled to take part in the Cody festivities. In fact, Taylor and Bartley are set to co-grand marshal the Stampede parade.
No fear, though, because the excitement continues after the parade; as a part of the Center’s year-long Centennial celebration, all are welcome to enjoy an afternoon book signing with the Walt Longmire Mysteries series author and stars. The book signing event takes place on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, from 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Center’s onsite Museum Store, which has copies of several novels in Johnson’s Longmire series available for purchase.
Johnson says, “Bringing the actors who play the roles of the characters in the TV show based on your books up to Wyoming is a tricky business, kind of like bringing somebody home to meet your mother—but I’m never worried about bringing the cast members of Longmire. Robert Taylor and Adam Bartley are gracious, kind, and approachable, and I’m sure everyone in Cody will find that to be the case during the Stampede/Rodeo/Fourth of July celebrations.”
This Fourth of July—if you have the chance to spend it in Cody—don’t miss out on the opportunity to take part in the traditions that make this town the perfect place to celebrate.
“I love playing Walt Longmire. I wish I could be Walt Longmire. He is decent, humble, tough, a student of history, a lover of beer, and he is always, always his own man,” Taylor notes.
Looking for additional ways to celebrate our Centennial? For all listings of public programming coming up during the Center of the West’s Centennial year, visit centerofthewest.org/calendar.
