Giddyup! Our own Mary Emmerling rides into town with $500 to spend at the High Noon Western Americana Show.

The High Noon Western Americana Show & Auction is one of Mary’s favorite shows for many reasons. It brings together 200 dealers who celebrate the best of the West, offering up Navajo rugs, vintage saddles, Western paintings, pottery, and more. The show is near Mary’s home, and most importantly, her husband, Reg, actually looks forward to this excursion. After all, the booths are filled with items related to the American cowboy, both those who were real (you’ll find lots of spurs and bits) and the ones who lived on the silver screen. Hollywood memorabilia is abundant, including movie and TV costumes used by famous actors, such as Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood. There’s a wide range of prices available at the show, but you’ll find the most serious action at the Saturday night auction where, a few years ago, a Stetson hat made for John Wayne sold for $75,000.

The once-a-year High Noon Western Americana Show & Auction will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 26 and 27, 2008, at the Phoenix Convention Center, 33 S. Third St., Phoenix, Arizona. Admission is $10 for one day, $15 for two. For more details, visit highnoon.com.