The rodeo tradition is alive this summer at Estes Park ’s award-winning Rooftop Rodeo, now celebrating its 85th year. Witness bucking broncs, steer wrestling, bull riding, barrel racing, team roping and rodeo royalty from July 12 through 17 at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park .
America’s top cowboys love to return to the Rooftop Rodeo, five-time winner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) "Best Small Rodeo of the Year" Award.
Rodeo week officially starts Tuesday, July 12 at 10:30 a.m. with the traditional Rooftop Rodeo Parade through downtown Estes Park . The theme for the parade is “85 Years of Raising the Rooftop,” and will feature more than 70 entries including bands, horseback riders, floats, covered wagons, clowns, vintage automobiles and rodeo royalty, including Estes Park’s own Kellsie Purdy who is the reigning Miss Rodeo Colorado. The parade will pass along Elkhorn Avenue and continue to the fairgrounds.
For the first time, singing cowboy Ron Ball performs at Performance Park Monday night, July 11th at 7 p.m.
The midway at the fairgrounds opens at 5:30 p.m. every evening. Come early and browse the vendor booths or sign up for the Behind the Chutes tour at 5:45 p.m. and learn about rodeo from the pros. Meet the stock contractor, visit with the rodeo announcer, shake hands with a pro rodeo cowboy and say hello to the clowns. See more than $1 million worth of top-rate bucking broncs, bulls, steers and roping calves up close. Passes for the Behind the Chutes tour are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 11 and under.
Every evening, performances of the six-day rodeo recognize a different group. On Tuesday celebrate Rooftop Rodeo’s 85th birthday. Wednesday, support breast cancer research, awareness and education with “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night.” Thursday is devoted to thanking emergency service workers and first responders in Public Safety Night while Friday is Youth Day. Old Mexico Day/Night will be the feature on Saturday, July 16 while Sunday, July 17 is Patriot’s Night at the Rodeo.
The Rooftop Rodeo Queen and Royalty host the Queen’s Dance on Friday night at the Estes Park Conference Center . At 9 p.m. the country and western group Mad Cow Posse will play for the duded up cowgirls and cowboys.
For more information, contact the Estes Park Convention and Visitors Bureau at 970-577-9900 or visit the Rooftop Rodeo website at www.rooftoprodeo.com.
