FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2005

CONTACT: Joe Hamm, (800) 999-1876 or joe@deadwood.org

Wild Bill Hickok Days: A true Old West adventure

PIERRE, S.D. – Celebrate the man whose murder made the “Dead Man’s Hand” and Saloon #10 famous during Wild Bill Hickok Days in Deadwood, June 17-19. There’s something for everyone during this fun, fast-paced weekend that features the world’s greatest gun spinner and fastest draws, costumed performers wandering the streets and three nights of free concerts. 

The weekend kicks off Friday, June 17 with the First Gold Hotel and Easter Seals’ Annual Wild Bill Days Celebrity Calcutta (Fast Draw Fundraiser), followed by a performance by the legendary singing cowboy, T.J. Casey. The day wraps up with a free concert by 38 Special. Saturday begins with the Cowboy Fast Draw “World Championships” and ends with free shows by Ambrosia and Survivor. The weekend draws to a close Sunday with gun spinning exhibitions and free concerts featuring Cowboy Troy and country music sensations Big & Rich. HBO’s “Deadwood” cast members, John Hawkes and W. Earl Brown, will also perform with their bands. Old West re-enactors roam the streets throughout the weekend to present the history of Deadwood and its famous characters. All concerts are held on Historic Main Street.

County Music Television (CMT) will film the Sunday night concerts for a one-hour special to air in the fall. The special will also feature Big & Rich visiting several Black Hills locations. The duo has had such hits as “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.” The video for the song “Big Time,” was recently filmed in Deadwood.

“The relationship between the city of Deadwood and Big & Rich is just a perfect fit,” said George Milos, executive director of the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. “They push the boundaries of country music and how it’s perceived, while Deadwood has been known as a town that is always looking for a party.”

Contact the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau at (800) 999-1876 or at www.Deadwood.com for event information. Visit www.TravelSD.com for special vacation packages.

Wild Bill Hickok Days has been designated a “Great Event” by the South Dakota Office of Tourism. The Office of Tourism provides assistance to event coordinators and supports promotional efforts for designated events in order to boost visitor spending and to increase the economic impact in host communities. The Great Events campaign is one component of the 2010 Initiative, which includes doubling visitor spending to $1.2 billion by 2010.  

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