By JENNIFER MAIER / Community Columnist

Cowboys, and cowgirls, from around the area will fill up downtown Columbiana on Saturday, Feb. 20 for the Eighth Annual Columbiana Cowboy Day.

This family-friendly event will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature both a chili cook-off (judging at 12:30 p.m.) and a cowboy bean cook-off (judging at 1 p.m.).

On the lineup for the day’s festivities will be open-fire cooking demonstrations, blacksmith and farrier demonstrations, line dancing, pony rides and a petting zoo.

For those brave enough, you can also try your hand at mechanical bull riding. The Randy Glenn band will perform while anyone interested can line dance in the streets.

At noon, Main Street will clear out for the much-anticipated shoot out in front of the old courthouse. Enjoy this great tradition where the Hatcreek Boys will portray legendary Wild West characters such as Annie Oakley and Wild Bill Hitchcock.

Visitors can also spend the day enjoying the various vendors that will be on hand. A tack sale will be held by the Outback Riders, where horseback riding equipment will be for sale.

Columbiana Mayor Stancil Handley said Cowboy Day is a great event for families and the community.

“An event like this is something we like to have because it stresses the importance of our heritage,” he said. “There are no motorized vehicles in the parade. They are all animal driven or ridden. In the past we’ve had mules, steers and even a camel.”

Handley pointed out that much can be learned from the demonstrations of the blacksmiths and farriers. “A lot of this is disappearing as we become more urban and less rural,” he said. “It’s a glimpse back into our past. The petting zoo is a chance for children to touch an animal, which is a real treat for them. And for them to see that way of life is important.”

The city of Columbiana also benefits from events like Cowboy Day.

“It is always a value to city of Columbiana, which is the county seat, to have people come here to be entertained and see what we’ve got,” Handley said.

The parade will begin at 2 p.m., with horses and wagons to line up at 1 p.m. at Old Mill Square, which is the old Summer Classics property.

Also, don’t forget to check out the 29th Annual Cattleman’s Rodeo on Feb. 26 and 27 at the Shelby County Exhibition Center. Gates open at 6 p.m. and rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m.