The 28th Black Cowboy Festival in South Carolina honored the legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls with trail rides, rodeos, and community celebration.
SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Memorial Day weekend is often called the unofficial start to summer, and across the Midlands, events are underway to mark the beginning of the season.
One of the most unique traditions returned to Rembert, where the 28th Annual Black Cowboy Festival brought together a vibrant community of rodeo fans and trail riders.
Held at Greenfield Park, the long-running event honors the legacy and contributions of Black cowboys and cowgirls to American frontier culture.
“There is such rich history with Black cowboys, especially cowgirls, particularly women of color, that it gets swept under the rug,” said Dee Bonner, a professional cowgirl. “Trail rides on the Southeast, and you can even go on the East Coast or West to California. It’s a very rich culture.”
Bonner said her passion for rodeo was sparked by legendary figures like Joe Robinson, one of the oldest Black cowboys known for his work in the cattle industry, and Bill Pickett, known as the original bulldogger. Those inspirations helped lead her to her first big win.
“Today was actually my first time competing on a padded horse, and I won first place,” Bonner said. “So, this is an awesome event. It’s great to be out here. I look forward to it every year and actually competing more now.”
Visitors traveled from far and wide to take part in the celebration. Coles Dacone, a festival attendee, said he came from Philadelphia.
“From Philadelphia, we heard this is the only all-Black rodeo and it’s held every year,” he said. “So, we were interested in coming here because of the history behind it and this history contained in it, so we came a long for this right here.”
For others, the event was a chance to build new traditions. George Wilson and his son Jawwaad attended the festival for the first time.
“My father’s interest sparked my interest in horses and owning horses and possibly coming to more of these events,” said Jawwaad Wilson.
“I just rodeo and I love cowboys,” George Wilson added. “Played cowboys as a child. That’s all we could play, cowboys, shoot ’em up! But I am pleasantly surprised. It is quite an event—and I will not miss another one.”
The Black Cowboy Festival continues to grow each year, celebrating history and community in the heart of South Carolina.
