This year's Rooftop Rodeo is set to break records. Monday, Parade Marshall Tommy Caldwell and the countless horseback riders, draft hitches, floats and Rodeo Royalty ushered in, what will undoubtedly be, the best Rooftop Rodeo to date!
With almost 200 more entries than last year the competition will be fierce. 125 of the 662 contestants are National Finals Rodeo Qualifiers, 19 of which are World Champions. This year the rodeo will include 20-time World Champion Trevor Brazile. Brazile is accomplished in tie-down roping, steer roping and team roping. The caliber of contestants this year means more excitement, more entertainment and plenty of family fun.
The rodeo is a great event for the whole family. Catch the rising stars of the rodeo scene during the mutton bustin' and calf scramble events. Dawn a red nose and face paint Wednesday evening for "Dress like a Rodeo Clown" Night. Young cowboys and cowgirls can test their luck and agility in the Cash Catch. Contestants between 8 and 12 will race after bounding sheep turned loose in the rodeo arena. The objective: get close to one the sheep and grab the $5 bill attached to the wool on its back. This event will be just as entertaining to watch as it will be to compete!
First time to the Rooftop Rodeo? Or Maybe your family makes this a yearly tradition and you are interested in what goes on backstage. The Behind the Chutes Tour is your chance to venture out to where all the action happens. Meet the stock contractor, contestants and arena crew as they explain the ins and outs of rodeo. Kids and adults will get the opportunity to participate in mock events, see the livestock and even goof around with the clowns!
On Saturday, get out your dancing shoes and pearl-snaps for the country-western Queen's Dance where everyone dances up a storm. This annual event is held from 9:30 pm to 1:30 am. Admission to the dance is $12 and there is a cash bar. Free local shuttle service (Silver Route) runs until 10 p.m. and taxi services are available for safe rides home.
These fun and exciting events set the stage for the award-winning Rooftop Rodeo, celebrating it's 89th year of boot-stompin', horse-kickin', bull-buckin' cowboy fun... the highlight of the summer rodeo season in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado! For more information about the Rooftop Rodeo, click HERE!