The American Cowboy will be celebrated at the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan this Saturday ( July 22 ) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Discovery Center will be transformed into Flint Valley, an old frontier town filled with cowboys and cowgirls making their way through the Wild West.

“The Flint Hills Discovery Center is poised in a fantastic position to create hands-on, interactive activities that allow the community to experience a bit of the ranching culture in fun and tangible ways, ” said Brieanna Schmitz, FHDC Guest Services Manager.

Children and adult alike can enjoy activities like pony express races, wagon rides and gold panning. After a bull ride, guests can stop inside a pop up saloon and sip on root beer while listening to live music, and sharp shooters can try their hand with sling shots.

“National Day of the Cowboy is a day set aside to celebrate the contribution of the cowboy and cowgirl to America’s culture and heritage,” said FHDC Director Susan Adams. “The work that these ranchers have done for years, and still do today, is one of the biggest reasons we’ve been able to preserve the last stand of the tallgrass prairie.”

Tickets can be purchased Saturday at the Flint Hills Discovery. Prices are $9 for adults, $4 for youth ages 2 to 17, and and $7 for military, college students, educators and seniors ( 65+ ). Children under 2, and Flint Hills Discovery Center members will be admitted free.