The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival was held at Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studios in Placerita Canyon on April 30 and May 1. Several thousand people visited to listen to Western music and see some of the lost arts demonstrated.

Images by Will Davison

Janet Squires, the author of the Gingerbread Cowboy, read from her book

Even cowgirls like tattoos

The history main street of Melody Ranch was the perfect setting. Weather was good, too.

Three words: biscuits, gravy, cobbler.

A fan talks with performer Don Edwards

Some Western sleight of hand in the saloon

The Crosstown Cowboys entertain

Some fascinatin’ lasso work has this girl mesmerized

Blacksmith Bryan Jones works on a horseshoe for a guest who gives him a helping hand

Gunslinger Joey Dillon keeps the crowd in awe with his fancy flipping

Goodbye for another year. See you in 2012!