Carbondale
Wild West Rodeo

For 12 Weeks in June through August - Rain or Shine

Family Fun

Carbondale Wild West Rodeo is all about Family!!

The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo is always a great family outing. Childred 10 and under are free. See how to get discounted books of tickets on tab, Join Us at the Rodeo. 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!

New in 2023 ** DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL: This will no longer be allowed. The Sheriff Dept and the Town Police Dept feel that alcohol should be served on-site to be better controlled. In addition, this will help to control any underage drinking. You will be allowed to move about the entire rodeo grounds with alcohol and proper identification (wrist band). 

The CWWRA really had no choice in these decisions. Due to parking congestion, traffic and safety issues, concerns with better monitoring of alcohol use, pedestrian and bicycle safety, etc… the Town of Carbondale and Garfield County Sheriff’s Office recommended changes to the CWWRA board.

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. June 8th all ages will delight in the Latigos Up Drill Team. June 15th Joe Carr, rodeo funny man will bring his rodeo antics to CWWR. The 2023 Independence Day/4th of July celebrations at the rodeo will be JULY 6TH. Finals night at the rodeo is AUGUST 17TH.

Hawaiian Night on AUGUST 10TH 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. We are making changes to the arena side parking also due to concerns in parking congestion, blocking driveways, etc.. Arena side parking will be $50 in 2023. We will be adding more details soon. We hope to have an on-line booking and payment system for the Arena Side Parking.

Kids love participating in the Mutton Bustin’, Calf Scramble, and for those more skilled in the Steer Riding and graduating to Junior Bull Riding. Kids may also participate in the Dally Ribbon Roping as a runner but will need a partner experienced in roping. See more info below. You must call in the Tuesday before rodeo for Steer Riding and Junior Bull Riding. Due to the high demand for kiddos to participate in Mutton Bustin’, it will now be a First Come First Entered by making your way to the Secretary Shed at the rodeo on rodeo night beginning at 5. There is a limit to participants each rodeo night. Please try to alternate weeks when you enter your kids to allow others to have a chance. Please do not call in any longer as the phones are so busy with the other events. We hope this will make it more accommodating for more of our eager kiddos to get to participate in Mutton Bustin’. Remember to check in at the Secretary Shed and get your wrist bands for Calf Scramble the night of the rodeo. See rules near the bottom of this page.

Alpine Animal Hospital “Time to Ride” will feature horseback rides for kids in a special pen, lessons on horse care, and the opportunity for questions and answers. The rides will be offered from 5:30 to 8:00. Riders need to be lined up by the riding pen near the picnic pavilion prior to 8:00. At 8:00, they will not be allowing anyone else to line up, so they can complete the riding activity for those lined up prior to 8:00. Chuck Maker, DVM and Sonia Marzec of Alpine Equine Hospital have graciously pulled together this special activity. Thank you also to Lisa Flynn of Aspen Riding Academy for providing the horses. Laura Martin and Lisa Nieslanik are on deck as well to bring horses if needed. This activity has been a favorite of kids at the rodeo and has brought many a smile to adults as well. Be sure and tell them how much you enjoy Time to Ride.
2021 RFV horse council logo Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council will be frequenting the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo this season. The Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council is a Sponsor of the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo. All ages can learn more about horses from the RFVHC. They are committed to the preservation of our valley’s western culture and the heritage of the horse by helping to keep horses on trails, starting a Hay Bank for horse owners in need, working with RFVHC Directory partners to help equestrians find businesses in the RFV area and more. Join the Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council now to help Create Preservation for a Sustainable, Generational, and Legacy Equestrian Community! http://www.rfvhorsecouncil.org

Based out of the Western Slope of Colorado, Latigos Up Drill
Team was started to satisfy a need to ride consistently, perform,
develop relationships with other equine lovers and grow as
horsewoman.
Our riders’ range in age from 10 years old to the 50’s and all
riding levels. We have a couple mom/daughter duos, a couple
pairs of sisters but consider all our teammates family. We practice
year-round not only on our performance drill, but also on
exercises to get our horses ready to learn the drill.
This talented and dedicated group of riders enjoy a vast range of
equine disciplines like reining, barrel racing, ranch versatility and
cow work. Drill combines the art of riding with synchronization,
control, and timing with the other horses. We combine a series of
weaves, wheels, pass thrus, crosses and other unique
choreography while energizing the crowd with our high octane
music.

June 15th, Joe Car will bring his rodeo antics to the Gus Darien Arena. Joe has been a long loved addition to the rodeo and we are so glad he will be back this year. Joe is a “World Famous” Rodeo Clown and Barrel Man.

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

  • Children must be 3-10 years old.
  • No parents will be allowed to enter the arena.
  • Sign-up will start at 5:30pm and end at 8:00pm at the rodeo secretary shed/registration booth.
  • The parents of children that are signing up must be present when registering.
  • All parents must sign the Entry Application and Release Form along with the Consent of Parent or Legal Guardian.
  • Only children that have been given a wristband at the registration booth will be allowed to enter the arena.

George Hendrix captures the wet and wild June 11 CWWRIn 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:

  • Children MUST be ***older than 3 years of age and under 50 pounds.
  • Change July 29, 2021 — Due to the high demand for kiddos to participate in Mutton Bustin’, it will now be a First Come First Entered by making your way to the Secretary Shed at the rodeo on rodeo night beginning at 5. There is a limit to participants each rodeo night. Please do not call in any longer as the phones are so busy with the other events. We hope this will make it more accommodating for more of our eager kiddos to get to participate.
  • Mutton busters will not be allowed to ride on consecutive weeks unless we do not have enough participants signed up.
  • Only the first ten plus three alternates will be allowed to participate each week.
  • All parents must sign the Entry Application and Release Form along with the Consent of Parent or Legal Guardian.

Events below Require Experience and/or a team with an experienced Roper

Carbondale Wild West RodeoAn 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.

Carbondale Wild West RodeoSteer 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.

Limited to not more than 10 contestants 13 years or under. (*Note: Change in age limit on 06/10/2014.) (*Note: Junior and Open Barrels Rule Change — Effective July 23, 2015. Junior age barrel racers can enter the Open Barrels but cannot enter both the Junior and Open Barrels in the same rodeo.) Youth follow the same cloverleaf pattern as Open Barrel Racers. Watch Junior Barrel Racers give it their all each week. Junior Barrel Racing offers youth the opportunity to hone their skills to become better horsemen and make the move up to Open Barrel Racers. Many of the youth will give Open Barrel Racers a run for their money in this timed event. $20 entry fee. Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm MDT beginning June 1, 2021.
Welcome to the Rodeo

The Carbondale Rodeo Committee is a not-for-profit, volunteer organization committed to keeping the Roaring Fork Valley’s western heritage alive by offering a fun family-oriented event for residents and visitors alike. The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo is held every Thursday from June until late August, rain or shine.

2023 Rodeo Season

The 2023 rodeo season will begin on Thursday, June 1st and continue through Thursday, August 17th. Come down to the rodeo every Thursday evening for 12 weeks with slack at 6:00 p.m. and the main performance at 7:30 p.m.

 

Learn more about the changes and what to expect for the 2023 rodeo season here! 

Get Involved

To volunteer, email Mike Kennedy at:
[email protected]  or call at:
(970) 379-3907

Reserve Arena Side Parking

We are excited to announce the introduction of our premium arena side online parking reservation system new for the 2023 season!

Arena side parking tickets go on sale every Wednesday starting at 12 pm through the rodeo season!

Leaving your vehicles at the arena or on Willow Lane early will no longer be allowed for the 2023 season!!  We hope you'll enjoy the convenience of reserving your premium arena-side parking in advance.  

Purchase your arena-side parking tickets HERE!!