Table of contents

• Introduction
• Cowboy Party Invitations
• Cowboy Leather
• Cowboy Lasso
• Cowboy Hat
• Cowboy Party Decorations
• Cowboy Party Guest Arrival & Announcement
• Cowboy Party Favors
• Cowboy Party Activities
• Cowboy Lasso
• Horse Shoe Toss
• Rescue That Cowboy!
• Shootout
• Food & Drink

Introduction

Time for a party again, and this time one that both young and old love equally. The topic is a Cowboy Party, which means it's time to get out those chaps, spurs and, of course, the obligatory hat. Below you will find all you need to organize the successful event, so be sure to take some notes. Just before we start, however, a little more about the cowboy.

What many may not know is that there is a difference between Cowboys and those individuals we usually see in old Western films. Where the latter usually kept to themselves and were very hard workers, the former... well, we all know the stories of the old western outlaws and their shootouts like the one at O.K Corral.

Now, what you may not know is the fact that the word "cowboy" is in fact a direct translation from the Spanish word "vaquero". This will make sense because it's an art form brought over from Spain and taught to the early settlers back in the early days of the United States. In addition one would have to mention that the first cattle and horses were originally also brought from Spain.

In all fairness however, one would have to give special mention to all the cowgirls of old as well because had it not been for them, the cowboy culture might not be as popular as it is today. You see, when all the men went off to fight in the wars, the women had to look after the farms and tend to the cattle as help was often expensive in those days. It is for this single reason that the United States government granted women the right to vote in 1869.

And that being said, it's time to organize ourselves an ace-high (outstanding) party!

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Cowboy Party Invitations

Cowboy Leather

The Cowboy leather invitation will be a hit with your friends and will simply require you to get a patch of leather for each of the friends you wish to invite. Now in addition to the leather, you will also need to get the contact details of someone capable of printing on these patches of leather.

Once you have all you need, design the front and the back of the leather patches on computer. This design can either be a map or something else appropriate to your party or the era. When it comes to the wording, remember that the cowboys often used slang that we don't use any more today. Here are a couple of ideas for your cowboy vocabulary to be used on your invitations:

• Ace-high: Splendid, good.
• A hog-killin’ time: A very good time
• Bang-up: Excellent.
• Bender: Party, drinking spree.
• Best bib and tucker: Your finest clothes.
• Boss: Someone who’s the best.
• Fandango: A big party.
• Fine as cream gravy: Very good, first class.

When your design is finished, just send it off to have it printed. We would, however suggest that you ask for a sample print first as the final product sometimes differs from the one you had on screen.

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Cowboy Lasso

An invitation that will supply your friends with hours of fun on their own and ensure that they come to the party equipped with some of the necessary tools - the Cowboy lasso.

For this invitation you will need to get your hands on either some real or some fake lassos for each of the individuals that you wish to invite. These can either be bought at the appropriate store in your area or from the internet.

Once you have the lassos, you will need to attach a paper-based invitation. These can either be bought or be made using a computer and a printer. When your invitation cards are done, simply attach them to the lasso using a leather strap and get ready to deliver them.

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Cowboy Hat

Very much like the Cowboy Lasso invitation, this one will require you to get a cowboy hat for each of the people you wish to invite. In addition, you will need to make a paper-based invitation or note to accompany the hat specifying all the details of your party. For some Old West cowboy vocabulary, just have a look on the web or under our Cowboy Leather design.
Cowboy Party Dress Code
Here are the basic elements of a cowboy uniform that you’ll be able to purchase on the internet or in a cowboy merchandise retail store. Just note that whatever you decide as the appropriate dress code for your party, you will have to specify under the “Dress Code” section of your invitations.

• Hat
• Bandanna
• Shirt
• Vest
• Leather cowboy cuffs
• Jeans
• Fur/leather chaps
• Boots
• Spurs
  

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Cowboy Party Decorations

Planning your cowboy party decorations will obviously depend on the venue. Here are a couple of ideas that shouldn’t be too hard to find either on the internet or at the appropriate retailer:

• Straw bales
• Cowboy six shooters
• Steer skull
• Lanterns (remember, electricity wasn’t available in those days)
• Wagon Wheel
• “Wanted” Posters

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Cowboy Party Guest Arrival & Announcement

Although cowboys used slang, their language wasn’t too different than ours. All you’ll need is an outspoken voice and the appropriate accent. When you’ve got that pat, here’s an example of a guest announcement:

“Ladies & Gentlemen, boys and gals, it is my esteemed pleasure to welcome Mr. & Mrs. Kidd to this here lil’ fandango.”

Cowboy Party Favors

Stuck for ideas for party favors?? Well, we’ve made a list of some that won’t be too expensive but that will still be a hit with all your mates. You’ll be able to find these at most cowboy merchandise stores or on the internet.

• Calendars
• Sheriff’s badges
• Lassos (if you aren’t using them in the invitation)
• Cowboy hats
• Jewellery
• T-shirts and other clothing

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Cowboy Party Activities

Cowboy Lasso

For those who used the cowboy lasso invitation, you will be able to use your lassos with this activity. To get started, you will simply need to find a steel or wooden peg to drive into the ground. Once that's done, measure an appropriate distance form the peg and begin your lasso contest.

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Horse Shoe Toss

The horseshoe toss will test your accuracy and throwing ability and will make for a very exciting game. To make it a bit more interesting and fuel that competitive spirit, buy a prize for the person who wins.

To play this game you will need a steel or wooden peg and drive it into the ground. Depending on the space you have, you will want to measure a certain distance from the peg from which the horseshoes can be tossed.

Once everything is ready, gather your friends around and start the activity! Points are awarded for getting the horseshoe as close to the peg as possible in relation to the distance from the peg.

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Rescue That Cowboy!

This game will require you to find a large area suitable for running. Once such an area has been found, divide it in two and mark off a special 'Prison' section at the back of each area. Next up you and your friends will have to divide into two teams and select one person from each team to be the prisoner. These people then have to go wait in the prison section of the other team's territory.

Now, these people will have to be rescued. As such a cowboy or a cowgirl has to run through the opposing team's territory without being caught to reach their fellow captive cowboy/cowgirl. Once this person has been reached, both of them are safe. However, they are only safe in the prison area and have to devise a way to get themselves back to their own side without being caught. If they are caught, both remain in the prison section and will need for someone to come rescue them. One person may indeed rescue more than one prisoner at a single time.

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Shootout

Cowboys were generally peace lovin' folk who only wanted to live on their farms and tend to their cattle. But every now and then they had to have their guns ready against those who wished to do them harm (usually rustlers).

For this activity you and your friends will either have to go to a paintball arena or find a suitable area where you can safely play this game without disturbing others or their property. In addition, be sure to wear the appropriate protective clothing as paintballs can hurts quit a bit!

Now, the game is very simple: the arena or playing area is divided into two, each team having control over one half. A specific section of this half has to be allocated for the purposes of a HQ. The aim of the game is to capture the HQ of the other team whilst holding your own. To this end you and your friends will have to send out teams to gather intelligence on the other team and perhaps a couple of snipers to take out members of the opposing team that could pose a threat. If you aren't too many players, then you could adjust the rules that each person can get hit a total of three or four times before they are out.

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Food & Drink

Cowboys weren’t the most refined people in town and therefore didn’t have a wide variety of foods to choose from. As such your best bet for an authentic cowboy experience is to have yourself a barbecue over an open flame.

But still, we live in the 21st century with all our modern conveniences – so why not update the cowboy menu with a variety of foods. Here are a couple of ideas that you might find useful, both modern and authentic cowboy:

• Beans
• Salads
• Barbecue
• County Stew
• Fried Chicken
• Fried Catfish
• Crackers
• Salads
• Hamburgers
• Pizzas
• Pies
• Roast Beef
• Pasta
• Spanish Rice

Be sure to stock some lemonade, sodas, fruit juices and other drinks to keep your friends from being thirsty.

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