Originally the Ohio Regional Convention of the Wild West Arts Club, the Annie Oakley Western Arts Showcase has become a staple event of western arts practitioners, amateur and professional alike. The event is in its 9th year and is a 3-day gathering that takes place on the grounds of the Annie Oakley Festival in Annie’s home town of Greenville, Ohio. Shows and other official activities are held indoors in the upper level of the Darke County Fairground Coliseum.
Today the event is a relaxed, fun weekend and a great time to pick up new skills, enjoy the company of fellow artists and just have a great time! There is no group affiliation or membership required.
Anyone can participate in the event paying only the fee at the gate to get into the festival, however whip, roping and knife throwing lessons are offered at an additional cost. Everyone is required to pay for entry to the grounds. One ticket for the entire weekend is only $3 per person. The Showcase events include 5 public performances, with exhibition contests held during the Saturday afternoon show. There are no prizes or awards for the contests, but it is a great time to show off what you can do in front of a live audience.
Showcase attendees are free to participate in the performances after a brief audition with the show’s director and a stage briefing to get you up to speed on how the show runs and what is expected. The “big” show is held on Saturday night before one of the largest crowds of the weekend and is hosted by the music and variety group, “The Brothers & Co. Entertainers.”
World-Record Bullwhip Artists Robert Dante (left) and Chris “The Whip Guy” Camp at the 2009 Annie Oakley Western Arts Showcase. Photo by Dan Trout
Previous attendees to the event include some of the biggest names in Wild West Arts, including Chris “the Whip Guy” Camp, Robert Dante, Chi Chi White Cloud, Joe Darrah and many more.
Registration is informal. Just show up. If you plan to participate in the showcase performances, however, please contact the event’s producers to let them know you are coming and what you’d like to do. (Email: gdeer@gldenterprises.net).
