The Jim Bowie Days Rodeo, Parade, and Festival were thought of by several area businessmen during an early morning coffee break at the local Bowie drug in 1967. These men wanted to bring folks to Bowie and began exchanging ideas. Along with groups such as the Jim Bowie Saddle Club, who was the driving force behind the rodeo for the event, and the Bowie Chamber of Commerce, it has become one of the most popular festivals in the North Texas area. But, unlike festivals of today, the Jim Bowie Days Festival had literally no money or sponsors. What you see today is the result of small town community, ingenuity and plain ol’ hard work of good hearted and generous volunteers! This handful of businessmen began knocking on doors and talking at every club or group in small cattle town. The result was the first Jim Bowie Days held in 1967 with a festival, parade and rodeo complete with the first Miss Jim Bowie Days being chosen from 18 contestants. The Jim Bowie Days Rodeo Association continues to knock doors in order to carry on the tradition of our founders.
