It's Time for Howard Days!

 Updates for Howard Days on this page are closing out now as we saddle our pintos and head for Texas. All the info you need to know is right here and the updates will happen on our Facebook page.

Hope to see you at Howard Days - we guarantee a great time!

One Week until Howard Days!

Howard Days is one week away now, so here are some reminders of what you will experience at the Robert E. Howard Museum in Cross Plains, Texas, next Thursday, Friday & Saturday, June 11-12-13.

The REH Museum is the center of activity for the weekend. Starting on Wednesday June 10, Howard Fans will be arriving in Cross Plains. The Museum is the logical place to meet up, so drive on by and see who's hanging out. The adjacent Pavilion is always open and it's a natural place to congregate and make plans; maybe a drive to Brownwood to see Bob's grave site or grabbing a lunch or dinner bite in Cross Plains is in the offing. Or, just sitting around shooting the breeze - always a fine endeavor!

The "family reunion" feel certainly begins as we meet up with our Howard Family and Friends, to catch up and enjoy the company of folks from all over the world who have gathered in Bob Howard's name. This, of course, is the main activity for the entire weekend!

Thursday the 11th finds us enjoying the officially unofficial start to Howard Days. Brand new to the event is the Emerging Writers Workshop, held for pre-registered aspiring writers at the Cottonwood Downtown Cafe. Stop by and listen in while enjoying some of the great beverages served there and slide down to the Cross Plains Senior Center for a bit of lunch and to 32 Degrees Ice Cream Shop for a tasty treat.

The Robert E. Howard Museum will be open from 12 to 4 on Thursday, so you can visit early and tour the house and grounds and meet and greet old & new friends in the Pavilion. The Gift Shop is also open. Again, the Pavilion is the focal point now for gathering for the weekend - everyone who shows up is SO glad to be there! Restaurants like Mexico City, Bubba's BBQ, Backwoods Grill and Jeans Feed Barn are waiting for your business and the chains Subway and Dairy Queen are always happy to see you! There are several new variety shops in town now, as well. (We always like to buy a new pocketknife at Higginbotham's!) Howard Days attendees are always very generous in supporting the Cross Plains economy!

The Friday and Saturday activities are well-detailed and documented on this site: there are tours, panels, readings, a souvenir postal cancellation stamp, original Howard manuscripts on display, a Banquet and Silent Auction, a showing of The Whole Wide World, a dealer's area with cool stuff, a REH Poetry Reading - all for you to enjoy yourself while you soak up the hot sun and the warm hospitality.

The festivities begin in a week! The excitement is growing as we look forward to The Best Two Three Days in Howard Fandom! See y'all soon!

The Cross Plains Library!

This year at Howard Days, the Cross Plains Library is hosting a fund-raiser BBQ dinner on Saturday June 13, at the Pavilion at the Robert E. Howard Museum. If you sign up by June 6th the cost is only $25. There will only be 100 dinner boxes provided by the Mexico City Cafe, so don't miss out on some great Texas vittles! The info you need can be found here:

And, as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Howard Days here in 2026, we can remind you of the importance of the Cross Plains Public Library as they celebrate their 47th year!

The very reason there IS a Howard Days is because Rusty Burke wandered into the CP Library in March of 1986 as he was planning for a fan gathering to view Bob Howard's house. He met up with two fine ladies who would help him shape the concept of Howard Days. Billie Ruth Loving, a former Cross Plains schoolteacher - and a pupil of Bob Howard's girlfriend Novalyne Price-Ellis when she taught in Cross Plains - was the Librarian at that time. Joan McCowen was a Library Board Member who happened to be at the library the same time. So, the charm of Rusty and the wisdom of Billie Ruth and Joan came together to establish a Robert E. Howard gathering in a tiny town that is now known the world over!

So, when you're at Howard Days, stop into the Library and sign the registry (to give them visitor's credits) and enjoy a visit. The Cross Plains Public Library has received numerous state and National awards over the years and is one of THE places to be at Howard Days! It is home to 29 original manuscripts direct from Bob Howard's Underwood No.5 and several dozen original pulp magazines containing Howard stories, and numerous Howard books and publications - all on display at Howard Days.

There will also be some REH D&D gaming on Friday & Saturday at HD, hosted by REHupan Jeb Boyt. And your donations are welcome, too - let's hope they have more coffee mugs!

So, the whole town of Cross Plains is ready to host the 40th Robert E. Howard Days. How can we NOT take advantage of their hospitality?!

Extra! Extra! New Poster in the Mix!

 Thanks go out to Jason Hardy, who sent us this fantastic poster!

Howard Days 2026 Posters

Thanks to the folks who have created posters for our 2026 version of Howard Days. They all look very spiffy! "Indy" Bill Cavalier always does the "official" poster and this year Staale Gismervik from The World of REH and Teri Brown of the Cross Plains Review have shared their own versions. And we hope Jason Hardy reads this so he can send his version to the Howard Days Facebook page. 

Howard Days starts next week, June 11-12-13 at the Robert E. Howard Museum in Cross Plains, Texas. Hope to see you there!

Y'all come!