The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo is always a great family outing. You can bring your picnic meal and enjoy it in the picnic pavillion, graciously donated by the Turnbull family in 2017. Or if you need a break from cooking there are wonderful bbq concessions. From the kids hot dogs at the Slow Groovin BBQ and new in 2021 sister restaurant in Redstone, Propaganda Pie offered Detroit style cheese or pepperoni pizza, (*Don’t worry there’s mouth watering barbecue for the adults too!), to the popcorn skillfully popped and hawked through out the stands and arena side parking by Black Sheep 4-H Club and Roaring Fork High School Volleyball, to the snocones artfully created by Senior Matters; kids and kids at heart can find something to soothe their grumbly tummies. Don’t worry adults are allowed snocones too!! It isn’t a true rodeo in the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo fashion unless you leave with a rainbow, cherry or blue raspberry colored tongue and mouth. Senior Matters offers nachos and baked goods too!
Kids snacks and munchies will provide the needed extra energy as they participate in the Calf Scramble and Mutton Bustin’. There are requirements to participate in the Calf Scramble and Mutton Bustin’ and they are listed below. Time to Ride TBA, featuring horseback rides from our friends and sponsors at Alpine Equine Hospital. The Independence Day/4th of July celebrations at the rodeo will be JUNE 30TH. Tough Enough to Wear Pink night is JULY 14. Hawaiian Night is AUGUST 11TH. Finals night at the rodeo is AUGUST 18TH.
Hawaiian Night on AUGUST 11TH is a great time for kids and adults alike to don the grass skirts and Hawaiian shirts and watch our cowboys, cowgirls and horses rock their Hawaiian attire. Our full schedule isn’t set yet, but we offer specialty acts at several of the rodeos. We will be updating this as soon as these are confirmed. Check back often.
You can also bring your picnic basket and barbecue grill. There are parking spaces against the arena fence and we see many birthdays and family reunions held at the rodeo. If you want to park along the arena fence you need to bring a vehicle and park early Thursday mornings starting at 6:00 a.m. The spaces fill up quite often before mid-afternoon. It is first come first serve and there is an extra $30 charge. There are envelopes at the yellow box located on the white building at the east end of the arena. Fill out your license plate number and place your money in the envelope and drop in the box.
Kids Calf Scramble starts with participants performing warm-up exercises before the race is on. Arena push ups are just the beginning. Not for those afraid to get dirty! Watch as kids 3-10 years old chase a group of calves around the arena to snatch ribbons from their tails! Kids must snatch the ribbons from the calves tail and return to the finish line in the fastest three times. Pre-registration by phone is not required, but parents or guardians must sign a release form starting at 5:30 and kids are given a wristband. Only kids with wristbands are allowed to enter the arena and participate. So don’t disappoint the kids and get to the secretary shed between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Depending on how fast the rodeo is running it might be best to not wait til the last minute to get signed up.
Calf Scramble Rules
In this rodeo event lil’ buckaroos get a turn in the spotlight as they grab wool and ride a sheep! Cheer them on as they try to hang on for as long as they can! Helmets and vests provided.
Mutton Bustin’ Rules– IMPORTANT UPDATE — Effective June 27, 2019, see *** below:
You can watch the Bobby Kerr Mustang Act on YouTube!
Our Independence Day, 4th of July Celebration.
Join us June 30th for a star spangled celebration. You will see a lot of flag waving, pride for our country and patriotic decorations. If you get there early you might even get one of the many hand held flags to wave that we give away.
As tradition, we always give small flags for the waving and showing your pride in the Good Old U.S. of A. Get there early before we run out.
Come on out July 14, 2022 for a Special Celebration!!
BE THERE IN PINK
R & A Enterprises is our Tough Enough to Wear Pink Sponsor. They have been sponsoring our TETWP rodeo for several years now and invite everyone to come out and honor those who have fought the tough fight against breast cancer. We honor all who have fought valiantly this difficult battle, knowing that some continue the fight, some have overcome and some have succumbed. We hope that research can increase the numbers that beat breast cancer all all cancers. A portion of the proceeds goes each year to help fight the fight.
Do you know a family member or close friend whose life was impacted by breast cancer? Chances are you do. You too can join the western community in its efforts to raise funds for the fight against cancer! The Calaway Young Cancer Center at Valley View Hospital will receive a portion of the rodeo proceeds.
Seeking additional sponsors for TETWP! Call CWWRA, President Mike Kennedy at 970-379-3907 for more information.
Join us for a special celebration of cancer survivors at our rodeo on Thursday July 15th at 7:30pm. It’s the western community’s way toward the cure. Come join us in remembering those we have lost to cancer and showing your support of those fighting the fight.
No matter if you want to celebrate the heritage of the Paniolo, remember your last visit or just wear a loud shirt, the Carbondale Rodeo’s annual Hawaiian night, August 11th is sure to be a colorful night. Want to see cowboys in grass skirts? This is the night.
Finals and Awards Night
See who wins the All Around Saddle and the event buckles. It is always a heated competition to the end. The cowgirls and cowboys BRING their all to have the bragging rights and the buckle too!
An exciting team event in which one mounted competitor ropes a calf and the other partner runs out on foot to snatch a ribbon from the calf’s tail. A quick catch by the roper gives the runner an advantage. A circling or windmilling calf can prove a challenge to the runner. One of the rare times you’ll see a cowboy or cowgirl without their boots as they don their fastest running shoes to compete. The runner has to cross the finish line back at the roping box, where the fastest time wins. Entry fee $50 per roping, $25 each roper and runner.
Youth rodeo contestants have been asking for this event and the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo committee heard. Junior Bull Riding was added in 2014. Contestants must be 13 to 17 years old. Limited to 6 contestants plus 3 alternates. Junior Bull Riding is the training ground for youth with the aspirations to compete in the most dangerous event in the sport of rodeo and join the ranks of the Bull Riders. Cheer on these brave young rodeo contestants where an 8 second ride can seem like an eternity. Junior Bull Rider contestants must provide their own helmets and vests. Helmets and vests are mandatory. Entry fee is $35 per event. Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm MDT beginning June 1, 2021. The call-in number is 970 923 9270.
Steer Riding was added in 2011 to give young cowboys and cowgirls the opportunity to ride rough stock. A 6 second ride scores. You will be amazed by the bravery and skill of the young riders. Contestants must be at least 8 years old and not more than 12 years old (updated 2014).
This event is limited to 6 contestants plus 3 alternates. Steer riding contestants must provide their own helmets and vests. Helmets and vests are mandatory. Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm MDT beginning June 1, 2021. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
To volunteer, email Mike Kennedy at:
[email protected] or call at:
(970) 379-3907
Gus Darien Riding Arena
County Road 100
(Catherine Store Road)
Carbondale, CO 81623