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Florida Rodeos

From beautiful beaches and inspiring natural wonders to vacation resorts and Disney World, Florida is a tourist destination.

Even if you’re going to Florida for the beaches or resorts, you can also include a rodeo on your itinerary.

Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo

Known as the “Granddaddy of ‘Em All”, the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo hosts Spring and Fall Rodeos. The Spring Rodeo is held annually in March and started in 1928. The Fall Rodeo is in October and started in 2013. Both are hosted at the Mosaic Arena, the largest arena in the Charlotte and DeSoto regions.

At the spring rodeo, you can see tie-down roping, team roping, bareback bronc riding, and bull riding. Kids can also participate in mutton bustin’.

At the fall rodeo, you can enjoy country music performances, bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, and more.

Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo

Established in 1994, the Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo showcases bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, barrel racing, tie-down roping, bull riding, and breakaway roping. Kids can even participate in mutton bustin’.

The Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo is also a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo. The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) is a rodeo association of rodeo professionals from cowboys and cowgirls to stock contractors, announcers, and more. The PRCA also hosts annual finals.

If you’re heading to Lake City in March, check out the Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo.

Silver Spurs Rodeo

Dating back to 1944, the Silver Spurs Rodeo is a long-standing Kissimmee tradition. You can enjoy this rodeo in late May/early June or October. You’ll see bull riding and barrel racing at this October rodeo. The rodeo is sanctioned by the PRCA and is the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.

At each rodeo, you’ll also see Quadrille performances by the Silver Spurs Club’s Quadrille team. Quadrille is similar to square dancing on horseback.

The Silver Spurs Rodeo also has a long tradition of giving back to the community. The first rodeo in 1944 supported the WWII war effort. Today, each night of the rodeo supports a Central Florida nonprofit or organization.

The Silver Spurs Rodeo is one of the many events the Silver Spurs Riding Club organizes. It also hosts the Special Rodeo and supports Rodeo Day celebrations. The Special Rodeo is for kids with disabilities to participate in rodeo sports. 

Rodeo is an important part of Osceola County culture, and that’s what Rodeo Day celebrates. Kids get the day off school and learn about rodeo sports.

Saturday Night Rodeo at River Ranch

August through October, you can see the Saturday Night Rodeo at River Ranch every weekend. It’s also known as the Westgate Rodeo and produced by Double K Rodeo Productions.

You’ll enjoy trick riding, barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, and rodeo clowns. THere’s even a calf scramble for kids. You can also take a turn on the mechanical bull and enjoy a dance party after the rodeo.

Other activities at the Westgate Resort include Cowboy Adventure Park, horseback riding, air rifle range, airboat rides, and more.

Florida Rodeo Associations

Florida has several rodeo associations that support rodeo sports. They include the Arcadia Rodeo Association and Southern Rodeo Association. There are also associations that develop rodeo talent and sports participation in youth: Florida Little Britches Association, All Florida Junior Rodeo Association, and the Florida High School Rodeo Association.

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