2018 John Wayne Birthday Celebration Headliner Announced

If John Wayne had been a western singer, he’d have been Red Steagall. Born and raised in the Panhandle Plains of Texas, Steagall champions the rugged spirit and traditions of his forbears, the same spirit exemplified by John Wayne throughout his entire motion picture career.

It’s our great honor–and pleasure–to announce that Red Steagall will be headlining our 2018 John Wayne Birthday Celebration, May 25 & 26, in Winterset, Iowa.

Steagall’s award-winning RFD-TV television show, “Somewhere West of Wall Street,” is only the latest of his noteworthy accomplishments. He is also the host of “Cowboy Corner,” an hour-long syndicated radio program which airs on 170 stations in 43 states.

In his 45-year entertainment career, Steagall has enjoyed tremendous success as a hit-making singer and songwriter, movie actor and producer and record industry executive–he discovered and launched the career of Reba McEntire and was present in the studio with John Wayne during the recording of Duke’s patriotic album, “America, Why I Love Her.”

Steagall has performed at countless rodeos and western music festivals. He was also invited to perform at the Reagan White House. For the past 27 years he has hosted his own Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards District. His many awards include being honored by the Texas legislature as the Lone Star State’s Poet Laureate and induction into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Please be on hand to help us welcome one of the most esteemed Westerners of our time.

To learn more about Red Steagall visit www.redsteagall.com.

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Original Cowboy

Just when we didn’t think it could get any better, we learned this week that actor Robert Carradine will be joining us for our 10th Anniversary John Wayne Birthday Celebration. Carradine, of course, starred as one of the young waddies who went up the trail with John Wayne in The Cowboys (1972).  Among his countless other screen roles, he also appeared with his brothers David and Keith in The Long Riders, alongside Lee Marvin in The Big Red One and, so memorably, as geeky Lewis in Revenge of the Nerds. Robert’s father, John Carradine (pictured here with his son and John Wayne on the set of The Cowboys) famously shared the screen with Wayne in such classics as Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and The Shootist.

Breakfast at the Firehouse

The Winterset Volunteer Fire Department invites one and all to Breakfast at the Firehouse on Saturday, May 27 from 6am-11am. A John Wayne Birthday Celebration tradition. this popular event has been satisfying hungry visitors and home towners alike since 2007. Featuring pancakes, eggs, sausage and beverages, the food is great, the service superb and it’s a real bargain at $6 per person (children 3 and under are free.)  The firehouse is one block east of the courthouse square on Court Avenue.

Country Barn Dance at the Madison County Fairgrounds

Another enjoyable kickoff to the John Wayne Birthday Celebration will be the Country Barn Dance at the Madison County Fairgrounds. Last year’s wingding was a huge hit and revelers stayed way past closing to enjoy music, dancing and the camaraderie of John Wayne fans from across the country. Come early and admire the horses which will be participating in Saturday’s parade. Music and dancing will be from 7-11pm on Friday, May 26. Admission at the door is $8. Refreshments will be available.