The 75th Santa Maria Elks Rodeo begins this Thursday, May 31.
The four-day event includes bull and bronc riding, roping, steer wrestling, bareback riding, barrel racing, mutton busting, and a parade on Saturday.
Organizers say they’ll have some of the top cowboys in the country competing and they’re expecting big crowds. The rodeo has had record-breaking attendance numbers over the last four years.
"It’s really a time of celebrating the Western heritage and tradition, you know. It’s about cowboys working hard, it’s about family values and it’s about really taking care of one another in the community," said Johnna Clark, Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Media Director.
The rodeo takes place at the Elks Unocal Event Center. Tickets bought at the gate are $20 for children ages 3-12 and seniors 62+. Tickets for ages 13-61 are $28. Discounted tickets can be purchased online.
The festivities begin with the Minetti Mini Rodeo for local schoolchildren Thursday morning. The first public rodeo performance is at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s parade starts at 9 a.m. and makes its way down Broadway from Fesler Street to Battles Road, ending at approximately noon.
No parking will be allowed on Broadway after 6 a.m. Saturday between Main Street and Enos Drive. Broadway is expected to be reopened to through traffic by 12:30 p.m.
