Eighth of Ten Top Rodeos

PRCA Top 8/10

California Rodeo Salinas – Salinas, Cal

In 1872 the Monterey County Agricultural Association constructed a race track, grandstand, stables, bar and restaurant on 69.4 acres donated to the City of Salinas by Eugene Sherwood and Richard Hellman of San Francisco. Here a few races were held but over time that come to an end. On the verge of losing the facilities a bronc riding was held which later, with a lot of hard work and many hours, turned into what today is known as the California Rodeo Salinas. Over Today, the California Rodeo Salinas is the largest and most popular rodeo in California. It is one of ten rodeos shown on Fox Sports Network, ESPN, and the Outdoor Living Network each year. Its popularity increased as more people watched, and today, 40 million people watch the action from their homes. Celebrate 100 Years of Tradition as the annual California Rodeo Salinas kicks off on Thursday July 15th. The best cowboys and cowgirls will keep the arena busy as they compete for big prize money and coveted gold buckles. The week will start off with a Professional Bull Riding followed by four days of thrills and spills along with rodeo action. Action will be up close on the Toyota Tundra Instant Replay Screen during the 4 day show featuring bull riding, trick riding, clowns, the One Arm Bandit and more. Here at Salinas it is all about the long scores and hard running cattle. This is the only rodeo where your header and heeler come out of the same box.

Other rodeo activities to enjoy over the four day show are the Salinas and Monterey Chamber Mixer to kick off the Biggest BIG Week ever, Monster Truck Jam featuring some of the biggest mud-slinging trucks ever.

The annual dinner dance, Spurs and Stilettos: 2010 Centennial Gala. Cowboys Cabaret consisting of poetry and wine tasting featuring poet Baxter Black and Dave Stamey opening with acoustic guitar.
Kiddie Kapers Parade to be followed by the Colmo Del Rodeo Parade which will grace the streets of Old Town Salinas and commemorate what was once the greatest parade of the West!

Accommodations are easy to find as Salinas has over 25 different hotels and inns some in the newer part of Salinas and some located in Old Town Salinas.

The official website of the California Rodeo Salinas is - http://carodeo.com/

CPRA Top 8/10

Dawson Creek Agricultural Fair, Rodeo & Exhibition– Dawson Creek, BC

It was said the west was wild and the north would never be tamed. Up in the northern part of British Columbia is a place called Dawson Creek. Here the two come together in a spectacular event know as the Dawson Creek Agricultural Fair, Rodeo and Exhibition. It is the wildest, the craziest and fun filled weekend you could ever imagine. With 36 World Professional Chuckwagons and 16 Western Chuckwagons running daily heats at the event this weekend gets pretty exciting. Also, the rodeo is a Canadian Tour Rodeo and co-approved by the PRCA so a lot of your top Canadian and American cowboys are going to be entered and competing here. Now that is not something you do not get to see every day. An event featured at this rodeo is wild horse racing where a three man team tries to saddle and ride an untamed horse around the arena and across a line. This event is brought to you by the Canadian Wild Horse Racing Association. Alongside this is the Kids Wild Horse Racing where the younger generation has a three person team and gets on ponies trying to ride the longest. This always is a fan favourite and brings a roar from the crowd. During intermission there will be contract acts form trick riders and ropers to horseback drill teams.

Later on after the dust settles and the cowboys are back on the trail to the next rodeo, the festivities will still not be over. Nightly there is live entertainment and a cabaret, so you can dance, drink and socialize late into the night. Every evening once it gets dark fireworks will be set off for young and old to enjoy. Also, on the grounds is the great Westcoast Amusements with their Ferris wheels, Skytron, Salt and Pepper Shaker, Haunted House and other rides and games for the kids to enjoy. Along with the rodeo is the largest Agricultural Fair to date in the Peace Region. Here there are different categories and divisions to be watched and judged. Some divisions include Handicrafts Division, Heavy Horse Division, Light Horse Division, Home Arts Division, Horticulture Division, Photography Division and Grain and Forage Crops Division. Here the locals bring homemade baked goods, furniture and a friendly smile.

For accommodations while you are stating in Dawson Creek there are three RV parks that have very reasonable rates. Along with nine different hotels and inns to call home for the weekend. Location and Numbers can be found on this website - http://tourismdawsoncreek.co/accomodations.php





The official website of the Agricultural Fair, Rodeo & Exhibition is - http://www.dawsoncreekfair.com/