Cowboy Christmas isn’t just for rodeo fans

Santa Claus is bringin' an early present.

You can park for free today at Cowboy Christmas and enjoy the gift extravaganza at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The chubby old guy is taking care of the fee, but he might be doin' it to keep from getting a hernia or beefin' up the shocks on his sled. He figures once you're there you'll find gifts for kids of all ages that should lighten his load.

Cowboy Christmas ain't just for cowboys and folks with horses.

And thanks to all the 44,000 crazy fools that will start runnin' late this afternoon in the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, the fourth go-round of National Finals Rodeo gets an early start at 12:45 p.m.

That means it's a great day to hit Cowboy Christmas that will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day through Saturday.

You always get in for free and don't have to buy something.

It's like goin' to an art and crafts show and Western shopping mall that features unique products, including custom-made jewelry, apparel, boots and spurs, furniture, original art, handmade crafts and home goods, and official Wrangler NFR and PRCA merchandise. 

There's TVs there that will show the NFR live, too.

And food.

But it's the stuff that will knock you for a loop.

Need some lawn ornaments? How 'bout a bronze sculpture of cowboys on horseback that's life-size, weighs 2 tons and costs $175,000. The creator of the limited edition piece, Bradford J. Williams, says you buy it and he'll deliver it.

Williams is a Coloradan living in Prescott, Ariz., and also makes bronze bottle stoppers that are show stoppers for as low as $275. (BradfordJ Williams.com).

You might need a belt. Everyone needs a belt.

Well, leather artist Trajan Vieira makes 'em for Bohlin Co. He has one that he hand-tooled, has four layers of leather and edges tied with kangaroo hide. Its buckle is carved from gold and has rubies. The buckle is $11,000; belt is $2,000.

My favorite was a wood rocker with inlaid turquoise and tooled leather seat and back panels for only $5,300.

But if you ain't Steve Wynn, most of the stuff is for us regular folks.

Wrangler offers a free gear bag if you buy $100 of its merchandise. There's other deals on thousands of boots, shirts and jeans.

The Cowboy Living booth has everything for your home and coffee mugs for $3 and even bath mats for $5.

Man, I'm tellin' you a couple hours at Cowboy Christmas won't be a waste of your time.

Don't forget, ol' Buck wears XL.

And if you want to get him that fancy belt, size 44 should work.