For this one weekend, at least, the fictional Absaroka County, Wyo., will enjoy some peace if not quiet.

But Buffalo, Wyo, will revel in its annual celebration as the alter ego of the fictional Durant, Wyo., the Absaroka County's seat of government from where Sheriff Walt Longmire tries to keep law and order, wrestle with his personal angels and demons after the murder of his wife, navigate the politics and business of whites and Native Americans, put forward a firm chin wield a dry wit.

Hail to the third annual Longmire Days, when Buffalo shuts down and parties down from Friday to Sunday in honor of local author Craig Johnson's bestselling literary creations that give the world a glimpse into our state's psyche on the A&E Channel every Monday evening with "Longmire."

"When people come and ask me about different things in Buffalo, I definitely bring up this Longmire series because it is something that has kind of become part of Buffalo's identity as being often known as Durant, Wyoming," said Ali Bentley of the town's Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber is expecting between 7,000 and 10,000 visitors to swell Buffalo's usual population of about 6,200. Hotels and campgrounds are sold out, and chamber of commerce staff kept fielding questions the day before the Durant transformation.

Longmire Days, Bentley said, features autograph sessions on Friday and Saturday mornings, screenings of the television shows, an Indian Pow Wow, a street dance, a pancake breakfast, a car show, a question and answer session with the actors and Craig Johnson, a motorcycle poker run, a children's show, a Cowboys vs. Indians softball game, and a jazz show.

So while you're having fun, please note:

  • Sheriff Walt Longmire (played by Robert Taylor) can set aside his quest to find his wife's killer and dealing with crazy survivalists.
  • Deputy Victoria "Vic" Moretti (played by Katie Sackhoff) can forget about her many love interests and complex crimes she needs to solve.
  • His daughter, lawyer Cady Longmire (played by Cassidy Thomas), can quit worrying about whether her client Henry Standing Bear has violated his probation.
  • Henry (played by Lou Diamond Phillips) can tend bar at his Red Pony Bar ("and Continual Soiree").
  • Ferg (played by Adam Bartley), the frumpy, well-meaning deputy can spend some time with his family.
  • And Deputy Branch Connally (played by Bailey Chase) can put his alleged peyote-fueled paranoia on hold.

But when the fun is over in Buffalo on Sunday, they'll be back at work in Durant come Monday.

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