Tucson Rodeo - February 19-27, 2011
Ride ‘em cowboys and cowgirls
At Tucson Rodeo Grounds, February 19-27, Tucson's Celebration of the Cowboys (La Fiesta de los Vaqueros) includes the Tucson Rodeo and the Tucson Rodeo Parade - a revival of Southern Arizona's Old West heritage. Catch seven rodeo performances, two children's contests, a horse-drawn parade, and cowboy dances daily. Watch contestants fight for eight seconds on a spinning bull, team-ropers streak from the chute, and barrel racers charge at break-neck speed toward the time line. Or marvel as young buckaroos test their skills at Dodge Mutton Bustin' and Justin Junior Rodeo events.
Rodeo action begins at 12:30 p.m. daily. Tickets are $16-$26. Reserved seats are available in advance on the Tucson Rodeo website or by calling (800) 964-5662.
The dust settles some at the Coors Rodeo Dance, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. daily, when boot-scooters and line-dancers can either strut their stuff, or kick back and enjoy country music provided by The Greg Spivey Band and The Jack Bishop Band. Admission is $5.
The dust settles some at the Coors Rodeo Dance, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. daily, when boot-scooters and line-dancers can either strut their stuff, or kick back and enjoy country music provided by The Greg Spivey Band and The Jack Bishop Band. Admission is $5.
The Tucson Rodeo Parade gets rolling at 9 a.m. on February 25, streaming more than 150 Western-theme floats and buggies, horse-drawn coaches, outfitted riders, Mexican folk dancers and musicians, and marching bands along a three-mile route. Grandstand seating is $7/adults and $5/children.
After the parade, round-up the family and tour the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, which displays more than 100 buggies and wagons, and a collection of Old West artifacts as well as a replica of a territorial Tucson streetscape. Admission prices are adults/$10, seniors/$7, children/$2.
Some visitors wear shorts and soak up Tucson's warm February days. But for those hankering to go cowboy, there are hats - priced from $5 to $500 - and boots and bolo ties, and even saddles, and more available from vendors at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds.
Some visitors wear shorts and soak up Tucson's warm February days. But for those hankering to go cowboy, there are hats - priced from $5 to $500 - and boots and bolo ties, and even saddles, and more available from vendors at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds.
