Tucson Rodeo Gets Underway: What You Need To Know

TUCSON, AZ – It's the 93rd annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros and it gets underway. The Celebration of the Cowboys – also known as the Tucson Rodeo – is one of the top 25 rodeos on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association calendar.

It starts this weekend and continues through next.

The festivities take place at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds with the gates opening at 11 a.m., and events beginning at 12:30 p.m..

Each day stars with four-to-six-year-olds participating in RAM Mutton Bustin' and six-15-year-old cowboys and cowgirls going head to head in the Justin Junior Rodeo.

The pros get started at 2 p.m. with events like bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, team roping, women’s barrel racing and bull riding.

More than 700 professional cowboys and cowgirls competing for a share of a $460,000 purse.

The best cowboys and cowgirls participate in six rodeos this weekend and next.

Tickets are $15-$31 and can be bought at www.TucsonRodeo.com.

One of the highlights is the annual parade, which organizers say is the longest non-motorized parade in the world. More than 150 western-theme floats and buggies, Mexican folk dancers and marching musical groups parade in front of an estimated 150,000 spectators.

It takes place Thursday morning.

Organizers say that a portion of the rodeo proceeds benefit a University of Arizona scholarship fund and community groups including Downtown Lion’s, 4-H and Rotary Clubs.

They say that the rodeo also contributes over $20 million to the local economy with 40 percent of attendees coming from outside the state of Arizona. Spending to feed and care fo more than 1,000 horses and other livestock at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds also contribute to local businesses.

Check out TucsonRodeo.com for more than information.

Photo: Louis Serpa via Tucson Rodeo.