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Several annual events this weekend feature fine craftsmanship in themed shopping opportunities held at unique venues. The left pictures show the types of Western-themed items sold at Santa Ynez Vaquero Show & Western Collectable Sale November 9-11. 25 artists from throughout the United States come to this one-of-a-kind event at Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Quality Western artwork, apparel, memorabilia, as well as hand-tooled leather saddles, braided vaquero-styled riatas, bridles, reins and horse tack sales help benefit the museum.

Nearly 200 miles south of the Central Coast town of Santa Ynez on the same weekend you can browse and buy incredible artwork, jewelry, apparel and other items sold by Native American artisans from throughout the U.S. at American Indian Arts Marketplace November 10-11 at Autry Museum of the American West in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The Marketplace features 200 Native American artists from more than 40 nations.

If performance art is your preference, head to Loomis for the Cowpoke Fall Gathering November 8-11. It’s set in the Sierra foothills where the leaves are changing colors to rich reds and yellows right about now. Cowboy music, poetry, yodeling and other Western merriment takes place in the historic Blue Goose Fruit Shed, where you usually can buy items sold by renown “cowboy poets.”