Rodeo Events in Texas

Look to Texas when you want to see real cowboys demonstrate a cattle rancher's most vital skills in a rodeo. Some historians credit Texas for establishing the first rodeo, in Pecos in 1883. According to legend, a group of Pecos cowboys got together to see who was the best roper and rider. Today, some Texas rodeos remain legendary, like the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, while others are annual occasions for local residents to celebrate the Texas culture.

  1. Bandera

    • The annual "Celebrate Bandera!" weekend is one of the top 101 Western events, according to "American Cowboy Magazine." The weekend-long rodeo in the city of Bandera gives visitors a taste of cowboy life with competitive barrel racing, roping, bull riding, arts and crafts, historical re-enactments, antique chuck wagons, music, gunfights, horses, longhorn cattle drives and an American Indian powwow. The event starts with an opening ceremony, parade and longhorn cattle drive down Main Street. The weekend ends with the Invitational Rodeo Finals, which include the National Professional Bull Rider's Challenge. Every event held at Celebrate Bandera! is free to the public, but stagecoach and pony rides may have fees.

      Celebrate Bandera!

      P.O. Box 2825

      Bandera, TX 78003

      830-796-4447

      celebratebandera.com

    Austin

    • Stop at the annual ProRodeo, the sixth largest indoor rodeo in the world, held every March in Austin. Since 1938, the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, a volunteer organization, has promoted Rodeo Austin to support scholarships for Texas youths. The ProRodeo remains the largest and most popular event for the charity group. Rodeo spectators enjoy ProRodeo's bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, bareback riding, team roping and saddle bronc riding. Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo hosts other events in Austin throughout the year, including indoor and outdoor concerts, barbecue cook-offs, horse shows, livestock shows and other rodeos. Ticket prices for ProRodeo range from $20 to $37 as of September 2010.

      Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo

      9100 Decker Lake Road,

      Austin, TX 78724

      512-919-3000

      rodeoaustin.com

    Fort Worth

    • Head to the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo if you want to participate in a piece of rodeo history. Held at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center, around the corner from the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, this rodeo started in 1896. In 1918, the Fort Worth made history by creating the first indoor rodeo. In 2008, the event was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. The Forth Worth Stock Show and Rodeo now runs every year, from January to February, and begins with the "All Western Parade." This Fort Worth tradition draws more than 100,000 people each year to watch the livestock walk through downtown Fort Worth. The rodeo offers 30 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) competitive events and six specialty events. More than 1,000 professional rodeo athletes compete for cash prizes in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

      Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

      P.O. Box 150

      Fort Worth, Texas 76101

      817-877-2400

      fwssr.com