Yee-haw! One of my most memorable July 4 holidays while traveling came two years ago when I found myself near Denver. I met up with my couchsurfing friend Jackie in Greeley, Colorado and we headed to the Greeley Stampede, a cowboy festival at the local rodeo.
Talk about a quirky way to spend a holiday! I’ve never spent a 4th of July in any place like it.
First off, the stampede was apparently sponsored by Hot Pockets, because they were everywhere. They took our picture in front of a Hot Pockets green screen. I happened to be wearing a green shirt, which made for an awesomely psychedelic photo.
The Hot Pockets character also joined some other mascots and local kids in a series of dance routines, including the Macarena, the Soulja Boy, and the Cupid’s Shuffle, which had somehow escaped my radar until I saw the grown man in the frozen meat-pastry costume performing it. That Hot Pocket had some moves!
As we entered the event we saw the roller coasters and amusement park attractions, which I wanted to ride, but they seemed to be designed for younger kids.
Greeley Stampede Food
As for food, the Greeley Stampede had all the crazy fried stuff you’d expect from a cowboy festival. They had Rocky Mountain oysters – you know, fried bull testicles.I didn’t buy any because I was on a limited budget at the time, but I learned my lesson. I’m not going to pass up such a life experience in the future!
They sold lots of fried candies and sweets. I went with the fried Snickers, but the fried Coke sounded really fun too.
Greeley Stampede Entertainment
Then it was on to the entertainment. Outside the rodeo, I was very impressed with Trailer Choir, a country outfit featuring a rocker lead singer, a hottie chick and a 380-pound dancing maniac on harmony vocals. Their song “Rockin’ the Beer Gut” was so catchy, I was certain they were destined for national success. Unfortunately, the girl left the group and they haven’t had a big hit since.
Inside the rodeo was the main performance area. It was all muddy and half the audience wore cowboy hats. The headliners were Bucky Covington and Blake Shelton. I barely knew Blake at the time, but of course now he’s a judge on “The Voice.” He sent us home with a decent set of country tunes, followed by fireworks.
Greeley, Colorado Map
Greeley is north of Denver and east of Rocky Mountain National Park. Click here if you want to see a more detailed map of Greeley, Colorado.
What a way to spend the fourth! Do you have a favorite 4th of July memory?
Can’t believe I lived 90 minutes away from Greely for 10 years but missed this. Really weird food that I don’t think you’d ever see other than in the US of A. A fun post to read.
I wouldn’t have thought to visit Greeley if not for my friend living there, but it was quite an experience!
HA! This post made me laugh. They have these same kind of redneck events in Canada as well. I’ve honestly never heard of fried coke b4! JEEZ! I thought a fried Mars bar was a bit over the top but now this 😛
Ooh, Fried Mars would be good. I want to try all the weird fried items at least once.
Terrific pictures and story and great day – thanks for sharing
Thanks Eileen!
Love your “green screen” shirt in that photo, lol. And we’re doing the redneck 4th of July thing this year as well, though apparently not as hardcore as the rednecks do it in Greeley!
If I had frequent access to a green screen, I would definitely play around with it!
I’ve celebrated 4 July in Oklahoma before… cowboys, rodeos and country music there as well. Don’t remember fried Snickers, fried Coke or hot pockets though. Probably weren’t invented back then 🙂
Sounds like a good time.
Haha, that sounds like a great 4th of July! Love the look of the ‘Trailer Choir’.
They were really fun to watch!
That sounds like such a fun and different way to spend 4th July! “Rockin’ the beer gut” LOL, so funny!
It’s such an infectious song.
Love it — great 4th of July experience! My favorite 4ths were the cookouts and fireworks with lots of family. Don’t have those anymore, but do have the memories!
Yes, I think I’m having a cookout this year. Much more traditional, but not as unique!
Sounds like you have the American way of life down pat, there pal.
Fried this and fried that, top it off with more sugar.
Add some good ol’ country music – does it get any better?
Good story, enjoyed the read.
Cheers,
John D. Wilson
aka The Big Mozey
holy hell! this is just crazypants! i would be so into this- ha ha ha. you know how to have a good time scott 🙂
I felt so American!
I think an anthropomorphized Hot Pocket doing the Macarena is one of the signs of the apocalypse, isn’t it?
I thought so, yet here we are…
Well this just sounds like a great way to celebrate the 4th! How much more Americana can you get than a fair and rodeo? Seriously, Rockin the Beer Gut!!!
I tried deep fried twinkies once. They weren’t bad but I”m not running back for more either.
I haven’t had the twinkies yet. I do recommend the fried oreo, though.