Echos of the Trail to hold 13th gathering

The 13th Annual Echoes of the Trail Cowboy Gathering, which begins Friday, will feature several weekend activities and events.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Friday at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St., with performances of special cowboy and western music, and will conclude at 10 a.m. Sunday with a morning church service and chuck wagon breakfast. Several vendors will also be present throughout the weekend to sell various pottery and craft items.

Echoes of the Trail co-founder Johnny Kendrick and his sons, Jackson and Sam, Richards, Mo., will kick off the event with performances of cowboy music at 7 p.m. Friday.

The FSCC Academic Building will be open at 9 a.m. Saturday for many indoor events, with entertainment beginning at 10 a.m. A dozen cowboy performers will tell humorous and sad tales, sing, play guitar and more on two stages. Throughout the weekend, a variety of western-themed items such as fine horse tack, deer hide braiding, original western and southwestern art, compact discs, books, clothing and jewelry, will be available for sale by vendors.

Chuck wagon cooks Denny and Donna Williams, Neosho, Mo., will cook up authentic trail food for breakfast and a noon meal on Saturday and Sunday. Mexican food, barbecue, funnel cakes and other tasty treats will also be available throughout the weekend.

Saturday events also include performances by winners of a youth cowboy poetry contest and an open microphone period for anyone who wants to read or recite cowboy poetry or stories, sing, or play cowboy music. Performances by local musicians and six other cowboy poets and musicians from the four-state area will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday. A silent auction of western art and other decorative items will also take place Saturday evening.

Weekend events will conclude at 10 a.m. Sunday with performances of inspirational poems and hymns during a Cowboy Church service. A chuck wagon breakfast will follow the service. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs for this event as seating is not provided.

Tickets for the event will be available at the door and are currently available at Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St. Tickets cost $15 for adults for all shows. Children 12 years of age and younger will be admitted free of charge. Senior citizens may purchase two tickets for $20.