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Texas Rodeos

They say everything is bigger in Texas. And, that includes rodeos.

Drawing roots from Spanish conquistadors and Spanish-Mexican settlers, Texas rodeos are special.

Even if you’re not there for the rodeo, there’s something you’ll enjoy – shopping, food, music, etc. Rodeos in Texas often feature carnivals, live concerts, stock shows, vendors, and of course Texas barbecue.

There are big rodeos all over Texas – more than we can cover in detail below. You can see a lot of other rodeos, too. These rodeos include the WCRA World Championship in Amarillo and PRCA rodeos like the Mesquite Championship, Cowtown, XIT Rodeo & Reunion, and more.

To see some of the most famous rodeos in Texas, you’ll want to make plans for January, February, March, or April.

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Starting the year strong, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo runs for 23 days in January and February. It includes several rodeos: Cowboys of Color Rodeo, Best of the West Ranch Rodeo, Best of Mexico Celebracion, Bulls Night Out Extreme Bull Riding, a PRCA ProRodeo, and Texas Champions Challenge. 

Younger cowboys and cowgirls can participate in a PRCA Rodeo Camp and compete in a North Texas High School Rodeo Association (NTHSRA) Rodeo for scholarships.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is one of the biggest rodeo associations. It sanctions rodeos across the country and hosts finals annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Beyond rodeos, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo includes an All Western Parade, live music, and a carnival. Mariachi and fiddle competitions are also part of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

“Best of the West” Ranch Rodeo

Teams of ranch hands compete in various events. Awards for individual team members include Top Ranch, Top Hand, and Top Horse. These competitions also typically include mutton bustin’ for the youngest future cowboys and cowgirls.

Best of Mexico Celebracion

This one-day event highlights charros, Mexican horsemen and horsewomen. You’ll see trick riding, folklorico dancers, and mariachis.

Cowboys of Color Rodeo

Focused on highlighting cowboys of color, you’ll see bull riding, steer wrestling, and tie-down roping.

Bulls Night Out Extreme Bull Riding

Bull riding always draws a crowd at a rodeo, and you can see two nights of just bull riding at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

Texas Champions Challenge

Gathering qualifying contestants from Rodeo Austin, Rodeo Houston, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo, you’ll see bareback riding, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, women’s breakaway roping, and bull riding.

PRCA ProRodeo Tournament

Most nights of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo are dedicated to a PRCA ProRodeo Tournament. You’ll see all kinds of rodeo events.

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

In February, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo offers a carnival, fair, and concerts. And, you’ll get some shopping in with fantastic vendors. Rodeo events include mutton bustin’, youth rodeo, rodeo qualifiers, and a ranch rodeo.

Beyond the rodeo, you can enjoy livestock shows and auctions, horse events, a junior shoot-out, a calf scramble, Western Art competition, and cook-off events.

Rodeo Austin

One of the top 10 ProRodeos, Rodeo Austin runs for two weeks in March. It also hosts BBQ Austin complete with BBQ contests, stock show, carnival, fair, and classes.

At Rodeo Austin, you’ll see bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, bull riding, and bullfighter performances. Kids can participate in mutton bustin’ to give their own rodeo performances, too.

Rodeo Austin also hosts several concerts, so you’ll want to check out what artists they’re bringing to town this year.

You can also participate in the Rodeo Gala, Cowboy Breakfast, Sporting Clays, and the Kick Open the Chutes party.

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Also in March, you won’t want to miss the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in March. There’s music, concerts, a carnival, a kickoff parade, and World’s Championship BBQ contest. 

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo began in 1932, so it is a long-standing Texas tradition. Over the years it has awarded scholarships to Texas students.

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo also hosts RODEOHOUSTON Super Series, a 20-day tournament highlighting bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing, and breakaway roping. This tournament is sanctioned by the PRCA.

In addition to RODEOHOUSTON, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo hosts concerts. It has brought big names to perform on its stage, including Elvis Presley, Reba, Taylor Swift, and George Strait. Concerts follow each evening of rodeo performances.

San Angelo Rodeos

The San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association hosts several events throughout the year: a livestock show, rodeos, the Cinch Chute Out, and the Cinch Roping Fiesta. The San Angelo Rodeo and Tejano Day (Mexican Rodeo) typically occur in April. The Cinch Roping Fiesta generally occurs in October. And, the Cinch Chute Out in February.

Cinch Chute Out

The Cinch Chute Out is an exclusive competition: only 10 contestants compete against each other in different roughstock events.

San Angelo Rodeo

A tradition since 1934, the San Angelo Rodeo draws an enthusiastic crowd. Part of the PRCA and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), it’s open to cowboys and cowgirls from around the world.

It also hosts mutton bustin’ competitions for kids.

Tejano Day (Mexican Rodeo)

Tejano Day celebrates the traditions of charros – Mexican horsemen and horsewomen. Currently produced by the Jerry Diaz Family, you’ll see expert horsemanship in the arena.

Cinch Roping Fiesta

Since 1954, the Roping Fiesta celebrated roping skills of all kinds. You’ll see many different kinds of roping. Sometimes the events vary year to year. You’ll often see steer roping, tie-down roping, team roping, calf roping, double mugging, and breakaway roping.

Mesquite Championship Rodeo

From June to August, you can see rodeo performances every Saturday night just outside of Dallas at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. The rodeo is sanctioned by the PRCA, so you’ll see bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing, and more.

The Mesquite Championship Rodeo also hosts a summer concert series, so you can also enjoy great musical performances.

State Fair of Texas Rodeo

At the State Fair of Texas Rodeo, you’ll see bull riding, wild cow milking, and more. Rodeo performances happen every Saturday and Sunday of the fair. You can see the

• United Professional Rodeo Association (UPRA) Big Tex Rodeo Series Championship,
• State Fair of Texas Youth Rodeo Finals, 
• State Fair of Texas Ranch Rodeo, 
• Mexican Rodeo Fiesta, 
• State Fair of Texas Presents Pro Rodeo Rough Stock Kickoff, 
• Cowboys of Color Rodeo, and 
• United Professional Rodeo Association (UPRA) World Finals.

WRCA World Championship Rodeo

Hosted in Amarillo in November, you can see incredible ranch rodeo performances at the WRCA World Championship Rodeo. The Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) sanctions ranch rodeos and promotes ranching throughout the United States.

You can get tickets to attend the WRCA World Championship, attend the Youth World Championship, and the after party. You can even get tickets to watch parties at the Grand Plaza.

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