101st Annual Livermore Rodeo: Event Schedule

LIVERMORE, CA — The 101st Annual Livermore Rodeo comes to town this weekend, and as usual the event features a busy schedule. Although the official rodeo at Livermore Valley Stadium ( 3000 Robertson Park Road) takes place Saturday and Sunday, there are entertainment opportunities ahead of time. For example, Wednesday is the 38th Annual Livermore Rodeo Team Branding Mixer. Stadium gates open at 4:30 p.m., branding begins at 5 p.m., and live entertainment starts at 6 p.m. Tickets to the branding mixer are $25 for adults, $10 for kids ages 5-13; the event is free for children under 5.

Thursday is Family Night at the rodeo grounds, where gates will open at 4:30 p.m. for local team roping and wild cow milking, along with a performance by the Diablo Ladies Drill Team. Admission to Family Night is $1, and kids 2 and under are free.

Friday marks the rodeo's inaugural Xtreme Bulls Tour; gates open at 5 p.m. and the first bull ride gets underway just after 7 p.m. at Livermore Valley Stadium. Tickets to the Xtreme Bulls Tour are $25 each.

The official rodeo kicks off Saturday with a 10 a.m. downtown parade hosted by the Livermore Rotary Club. Local organizations, schools, businesses and residents will be participating in the event, according to parade officials.

Rodeo events begin at 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, and they are being kicked off by the "Grand Entry," which is a showcase of Livermore Rodeo stagecoaches, rodeo personnel, sponsor flags, the Livermore Rodeo queens, visiting queens, as well as the previous year's queen presenting the American Flag. The rodeos feature the following events:

• Bareback
• Tie DownRoping
• Local Team Roping
• Saddle Bronc Riding
• Wild Cow Milking
• Steer Wrestling
• PRCA Team Roping
• Barrel Racing
• Bull Riding

In between all the weekend's action there will be vendors selling western attire, toys, western art, food and beverages. There will also be a mechanical bull and a petting zoo, along with a Lil' Pardners Rodeo starting at noon both days. General admission tickets will be available at the door both days, starting at $20. To purchase tickets online, click here.