Best Small Rodeo in Nation set for July 7-12
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06/22/2009
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Six days of rodeo action are rolling into Estes Park from July 7 through 12 when the town hosts the 83rd edition of the mountain community’s Rooftop Rodeo with 7:30 p.m. nightly performances at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park.
The 2008 Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo was named Best Small Rodeo of the Year by the Professional Cowboy Rodeo Association (PRCA) and attracts over 10,000 people each year.
Bull riding and barrel racing are just a couple of the traditional events that will be seen at the rodeo. Other key-featured events include tie down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding, team roping, and mutton busting for little competitors.
Rodeo Week kicks off at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7 with a parade down Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park’s main street. An evening rodeo performance will be held each night of the six-day event. Pre-show entertainment will be trick-riding and roping provided by the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls from California.
Wednesday, July 8 is set aside for “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night when the cowboys and the audience are invited to dress in their pink finery as part of the national campaign to increase breast cancer awareness.
Other activities associated with Rooftop Rodeo include the Thursday, July 9 Old Mexico Day in downtown Estes Park. Area Spanish-speaking families will present a traditional Mexican “kermes” or outdoor party with music and food. Authentic Mexican dishes such as pozole, fried tacos, enchiladas, gorditas, burritos and cakes will be available.
Also in the tradition of rodeo, the Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo Queen and royalty are hosting a Saturday night dance featuring Woodie Procell and the Snowy River Band at the Estes Park Conference Center, 201 S. St. Vrain Ave. Tickets to the dance that starts at 9 p.m. are $12.
Sunday night’s rodeo is “Kids Night.” Cowpokes and Cowgirls can try their hands at roping, a calf catch, mutton bustin’ and more, including special activities downtown during the day.
No rodeo would be complete without a midway and the Rooftop Rodeo scene opens nightly at 5:30 p.m. On site will be a mechanical bucking bull, face-painting, balloon animals, vendors, food, a display of Dodge trucks and more before each rodeo performance.
There will also be "Behind the Chutes" tours, letting you get up close and personal with the rodeo personnel. Tickets are $10 per person for the tour and are available by calling the events office at 970-586-6104. Tickets for those between 3 and 11-years-old are $5.
Both general admission and box seat tickets are available for each rodeo performance. General admission seats are not reserved and prices are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-11. Box seat tickets are $20 for all ages. Parking is $5. Tickets to the rodeo will be on sale during the day in downtown Estes Park and nightly at the fairgrounds.
The Fairgrounds at Stanley Park are located at 1209 Manford Ave. near the intersection of U.S. Highway 36 and Community Drive. Estes Park is just four miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.
The 2008 Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo was named Best Small Rodeo of the Year by the Professional Cowboy Rodeo Association (PRCA) and attracts over 10,000 people each year.
Bull riding and barrel racing are just a couple of the traditional events that will be seen at the rodeo. Other key-featured events include tie down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding, team roping, and mutton busting for little competitors.
Rodeo Week kicks off at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7 with a parade down Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park’s main street. An evening rodeo performance will be held each night of the six-day event. Pre-show entertainment will be trick-riding and roping provided by the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls from California.
Wednesday, July 8 is set aside for “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night when the cowboys and the audience are invited to dress in their pink finery as part of the national campaign to increase breast cancer awareness.
Other activities associated with Rooftop Rodeo include the Thursday, July 9 Old Mexico Day in downtown Estes Park. Area Spanish-speaking families will present a traditional Mexican “kermes” or outdoor party with music and food. Authentic Mexican dishes such as pozole, fried tacos, enchiladas, gorditas, burritos and cakes will be available.
Also in the tradition of rodeo, the Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo Queen and royalty are hosting a Saturday night dance featuring Woodie Procell and the Snowy River Band at the Estes Park Conference Center, 201 S. St. Vrain Ave. Tickets to the dance that starts at 9 p.m. are $12.
Sunday night’s rodeo is “Kids Night.” Cowpokes and Cowgirls can try their hands at roping, a calf catch, mutton bustin’ and more, including special activities downtown during the day.
No rodeo would be complete without a midway and the Rooftop Rodeo scene opens nightly at 5:30 p.m. On site will be a mechanical bucking bull, face-painting, balloon animals, vendors, food, a display of Dodge trucks and more before each rodeo performance.
There will also be "Behind the Chutes" tours, letting you get up close and personal with the rodeo personnel. Tickets are $10 per person for the tour and are available by calling the events office at 970-586-6104. Tickets for those between 3 and 11-years-old are $5.
Both general admission and box seat tickets are available for each rodeo performance. General admission seats are not reserved and prices are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-11. Box seat tickets are $20 for all ages. Parking is $5. Tickets to the rodeo will be on sale during the day in downtown Estes Park and nightly at the fairgrounds.
The Fairgrounds at Stanley Park are located at 1209 Manford Ave. near the intersection of U.S. Highway 36 and Community Drive. Estes Park is just four miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.
