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History comes alive at the Bar U ...
The Friends of the Bar U work in cooperation with Parks Canada to preserve and present the historic ranch. Walk or ride a horse drawn wagon down to the ranch headquarters and tour our historic buildings. Learn about the role the Bar U played in shaping the Canadian west. In addition to scheduled interpretive programs, you may see an old time haying demonstration, a blacksmith or a saddle maker at work. Try your hand at roping, or enjoy a cup of cowboy coff ee around the fi re at Roundup Camp while listening to the stories of the people who made the Bar U what is was; from poets to politicians, outlaws to artists and princes to ranch savvy businessmen.Great family entertainment!
The Bar U Ranch hosts a number of special events during the visitor season and we invite you to come and join us.
 Opening Day/Bar U Brunch
Sunday, May 23th
First day of the Season! Step back in time and immerse yourself in ranching history. Free cake and coffee served at the Cookhouse to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the creation of Banff, Canada's first National Park. While you’re at it, enjoy a special opening day brunch at the Bar U Cafe from 11 am - 2 pm. |
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Bar U Cowboy Beef Stew Cook-Off
Sunday, June 13th
Roundup Camp cooks were men of adaptability, ingenuity and perserverance. Join us for the Bar U Cook Off and test today’s
competitors' versions of beef stew and bisuits cooked over an open camp fire just as it was done on the open range. |
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 Canada Day
Tribute to the Percheron Horse
Thursday, July 1st
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Free admission! Join us for an official fl ag raising ceremony while touring the ranch and taking part in the family activities. Featured is a special tribute to “the gentle giants of ranching”, the Percheron horse. New this year is a 'Percheron Horse Show'. This event commemorates the history of the Percheron's at the Bar U. Did you know that a hundred years ago the Bar U was renowned for having the largest herd of Percherons in the world? |
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 Roundup of Memories
Cowboy Poetry, Music & Storytelling
Sunday, July 11th
1:00 pm
A crackling campfire, cowboy coffee and the chuckwagon by Pekisko Creek. Wecome to Roundup Camp for an afternoon of westerm entertainment, as local ranchers, historians, poets and musicians honour a way of life. |
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 Polo at the Bar U
Sunday, July 25th
1:00 pm
The “Sport of Kings” has been played around the world for centuries. Re-live the Bar U’s polo history as local cowboys play traditional players on the original Bar U polo field. |
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 Bar U Legends
Sunday, August 1st
1:00 pm
John Ware, Alberta’s celebrated black cowboy, Harry Longabough, aka “the Sundance Kid”,
Edward, Prince of Wales, ... the list goes on. Join us at Roundup Camp for an afternoon of storytelling featuring some of the legends to have passed through the ranch gates. |
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 Friends of the Bar U Annual Trail Ride
Saturday, August 7th
Support the Friends of the Bar U Historic Ranch Association on their annual day ride into original Bar U grazing lands. Everyone welcome. Ride your own horse or take a seat on a horse-drawn wagon.
Call 403.395.3330 or 403.395.3879 for information. * Pre-registration required
2010 Trail Ride Location: Bar S Ranch, Nanton
Directions:
From the Bar U Ranch NHS, go S on Hwy 22 approx 9 kms, turn east on 786 Ave (Williams Coulee Rd). Go E 10 kms, turn sharp right at Bar S Ranch sign on pile of rocks.
From Nanton, go W on Hwy 533 for 5 miles, continue straight on Williams Coulee Road for another 12 miles, turn left at Bar S Ranch sign. Proceed to buildings. |
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 Old Time Ranch Rodeo
Sunday, August 15th
1:00 pm
Rodeo competition demonstrating traditional ranching skills when cattle ranged by the thousands and men on horseback rode herd. Join us for an exciting afternoon of Broke Horse Racing, Team Sorting, Branding and Doctoring, and Wild Cow Milking, as teams of working cowboys from southern Alberta ranches compete for silver Bar U belt buckles, and bragging rights! |
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 First Nations Day
Sunday, August 29th
1:00 pm
We commemorate the contributions of Aboriginal people to ranching life, when natives took on traditional cowboy roles becoming a signifi cant part of the ranching community. Stony Nakoda elders, drummers, artists and speakers gather at Roundup Camp to tell the stories of their forebears. |
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 Chore Horse Competition
Sunday, September 12th
1:00 pm
A glimpse back in time to when horsepower meant exactly that. When teams of draft horses pulled mowers, rakes, hay wagons and ploughs breaking the earth. Watch teamsters guide their teams through a timed course of skill-testing manoeuvres. |
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* All Special Events begin at 1:00 pm and are subject to cancellation and/or rescheduling due to weather conditions. |
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The Bar U Ranch Cafe |
| The Bar U Cafe features a special menu selection on most events, a concession stand on site and cowboy coffee is served at Roundup Camp. Except for Canada Day, when admission is free, regular admission rates apply for all events. As weather can quickly change in ranching country, all events are subject to cancellation and/or rescheduling depending on conditions. |
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