August Rodeo Events in Texas
If it is not hot enough for you yet, take in a rodeo in August in Texas. Most of the arenas are not air conditioned and many events are held outside. However, there is something about the smell of horses, straw and manure that makes cowboys a little crazy and you might just witness a new champion in the making.
Originally cowboys developed ranching skills such as bronco busting, bull riding, steer wrestling, and calf roping as these skills were needed. What started as a rounding up of cattle to move them to rail heads or to another pasture has now become a professional sport. Rules for handling valuable rodeo livestock are laid out by the American Humane Association.
So get your hat and boots, jeans and western shirt and take a step into the life of a cowboy. It is a dangerous and brutal life and most rodeo riders have most of their bones broken before they retire. I do not think they do it for the money because it is not much. I think it may be that huge belt buckle that draws them in.
Big Bend
August 12-13
Alpine, Texas
Big Ranch Rodeo
Phone: (432)364-2696
Come see working cowboys show real cowboy skills and celebrate the area’s ranching heritage. Includes adult and youth rodeo competitions, parade and cook-off. Sul Ross State University S.A.L.E. Arena, U.S. 90 at Paso del Norte
Central Texas
August 4 – 6
Bastrop, Texas
Bastrop Homecoming and Rodeo
Phone: (512)923-1440
Dances and live music Thursday-Saturday, rodeo, parade, carnival, and arts and crafts fair. Mayfest Hill, Ken Estepp Showbarn, 100 Arena Drive.
August 5, 12, 19, 26
Bandera, Texas
Twin Elm Ranch Rodeo
Phone: (830)796-3628
Watch bull riding and favorite rodeo events. Includes a calf scramble and mutton busting for children. They have added an RV campground, so spend awhile and enjoy the horses, scenery and food. They also have a pool, access to Medina River and horseback riding. $25 per night.
August 5, 12, 19, 26
Pipe Creek, Texas
BR Lightning Ranch Rodeo
Phone: (830)535-4979
BR Lightning Ranch Summer Buckle Series Rodeo and Pipe Creek Stampede takes place every Friday night, June 3 – September 2, weather permitting.
East Texas
August 4 – 6
Lufkin, Texas
Texas Championship Youth Rodeo for Christ (no website found)
Phone: (936)637-3976
200+ athletes, ages 18 and under, will compete in bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing at the George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center at 6 pm each night. General admission is $5. Saturday, 10 finalists in each category will compete in a championship round. Tickets for Saturday are $10. Former lead singer of the country music group Lonestar, Richie McDonald, will perform Saturday night.
August 17 – 20
New Boston, TX
Pioneer Days & Rodeo
Phone: (903)628-2581
Fun for the entire family includes a carnival, art show, car show, bounce park for children, food and quilt show, fiddlers’ contest, food and crafts vendors, a 42- tournament, four-wheeler competition, volleyball, parade and live entertainment. T & P Trailhead Park, U.S. 82 at South Ellis Street.
North Texas
August 5 – 6, 12 – 13, 19 – 20, 26 – 27
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite ProRodeo Series
Phone: (972)285-8777 or (469)939-3677
Rodeo events include tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing. Mesquite Championship Rodeo offers the always exciting action of Professional Bull riding from the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Events start at 730 pm at the Resistol Arena at Rodeo Center, 1818 Rodeo Drive.
August 19 – 27
Denton, Texas
North Texas State Fair and Rodeo
Phone: (940)387-2632
World championship rodeo, music, carnival rides and games, fiddling contest, petting zoos and barbecue cook-offs. North Texas Fairgrounds, 2217 N. Carroll Blvd.
Panhandle
August 4 – 6
Dalhart, Texas
XIT Rodeo & Reunion
Phone: (806)244-5646
Join the reunion and celebrate the cowhands that worked the famous XIT Ranch.Nightly rodeos, dances, free pork chop feed on Thursday, free watermelon feed on Friday, World’s Largest Free Barbecue on Saturday, queen’s contest, street parade, 5K run, tractor pulls and more. Rita Blanca Coliseum & Rodeo Grounds.
August 5-6
Quanah, Texas
Quanah Riding Club Parade & Rodeo
E-Mail: quanahcoc@cebridge.net
Phone: 940-663-2222
Rodeo Secretary 940-839-7751
Rodeo parade Friday afternoon at 430 pm in downtown Quanah. BBQ served from 530-7 pm at Quanah Community Center. Rodeo begins at 8 pm. Special events include a 50+ Calf Scramble, After the rodeo, there will be a dance with The National Swing Band of Texas.
August 11 – 13
Post, Texas
Post Stampede Rodeo
Phone: (806)495-3461
Features a nightly rodeo and a 3 pm parade on Saturday. Post Stampede Rodeo Grounds.
