Spend the 4th of July in the Old West at the week-long Fourth of July celebration known as Willits Frontier Days. This event stars California’s oldest continuous rodeo, which has run for over 90 years.

The rodeo and a full week of events draw people from all over California and the world. Willits Frontier Days was started by the American Legion in 1926 with the intention of raising money to build a hospital for the town. In 1932 the reins were handed over to the Willits Volunteer Fire Department, and since 1950 it’s been run by the Willits Frontier Days Association, a nonprofit organization of businessmen and ranchers raising funds for community projects.

The main event is the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association (CCPRA) Rodeo. This is rodeo at its finest, featuring some of the finest cowboy talent in California. It’s got the right stuff: bull riding, bulldogging, bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping and more, plus all the dust, sweat and excitement anyone could want. Live professional rodeo is a spectator sport like no other in America, and in Willits it’s clear the Old West is still alive and kicking. This is the real deal. Centered around this semi-professional, top competition are a traditional rodeo parade, rodeo sweetheart competition, junior rodeo, old-time carnival, classic western dance, cowboy barbecue and breakfast, a truck-pull, and a national anthem singing contest. Get a hat (horses and six-shooters are optional) and come be a cowboy or cowgirl for a week!

MORE INFO: 707-459-6330