A Day at the Tucson Rodeo

Tucson Rodeo – Tucson, Arizona

Welcome to the world of Rodeo in Tucson.  Not only is this a huge event consisting of 6 days of action, beauty, and talent but the opportunity to learn more about the rodeo is also available through the museum.  Tickets for the Rodeo range from $12 to $19 and can be purchased in advance or at the gate.

There are seven professional rodeo events included in the Tucson Rodeo.  Of these events, six are sanctioned by the Professional Cowboys Rodeo Association with women’s barrel racing being sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.  The six events that are sanctioned by the Professional Cowboys Rodeo Association are, bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, team roping, and bull riding.

Although some may think that the animals must be mistreated to enter a rodeo, it is the opposite.  These animals are well cared for by those that provide them to the rodeo since they are entered into many different rodeos around the country.  A bucking horse or bull earns half the score recorded by the cowboy, so the better the animal performs, the higher the score. The horses ridden in steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, and barrel racing are those of the competitors and many have been together for many years.  They are a team that works together and train together to be the best they can be.

During the Tucson Rodeo week, there is the largest non-motorized parade in the nation with western-themed floats and buggies, festival Mexican folk dancers, historic horse-drawn coaches, marching bands, and many outfitted riders showing off their beautiful mounts and tack.  The route begins at Park Avenue and Ajo Way, continues south to Irvington Rd, then heads west on Irvington Rd to South 6th Ave.

There are grandstands for viewing which are located on Irvington at South 6th Ave. Ticket prices are:

February Dates       16-17    21-22       23       24

Section B                     $22         $23       $24    $26

Section A                     $20         $21       $22    $24

Section C                     $12*       $21       $22    $24

Section F                     $12*       $19       $20    $22

Sections E, G               $12*       $17       $18    $20

Vaquero Club               $60         $60       $60    $60

Coors Barn Dance         $5           $5         $5      $5

*General admission seating; all other tickets for reserved seating.

Ticket prices include applicable taxes & fees; no added charges for online or phone orders, or when purchased at the gate.

To order your tickets by phone: Call (520) 741-2233, or (800) 964-5662

Ticket office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arizona time.

You can stand (or bring your own chair) along both sides of the route at no charge.  This route is approximately 1 mile long.  There are normally about 200,000 people that come out to see the parade.  For TUCSON RODEO PARADE grandstand tickets, call (520) 294-1280.

The Rodeo organizers do provide shuttle service from area malls so you don’t have to fight the traffic or parking issues.  Take the shuttle, the cost is around a dollar and saves you lots of grief!

Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum is located on the northeast corner of S. 6th and Irvington Rd.  Here you can see over 100 buggies, wagons, and Old West artifacts which will give you a good history of the life of the cowboy in earlier days.  There is also a typical western street with various shops and historical memorabilia of Tucson for you to see.

The Museum is open Monday through Friday during January and February from 9 am to 4 pm and will be opened upon request on Saturdays. If you want to arrange a special time for your tour year-round you can contact the museum directly at 520-294-1280 or 520-294-1289.

The tour lasts about 1.5 hours.  Included in the tour are vehicles manufactured by Ronstadt, Studebaker, Brewster, Healey, and others, and used in films starring Maureen O’Hara, Ava Gardner, and John Wayne are among our offerings. Historic vehicles used by Maximilian, Mexico’s ill-fated ruler, and Howell Manning of the Tucson Manning family.

Location & Schedule

The Tucson Rodeo is held at The Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Ave., Tucson, Arizona.

SATURDAY, FEB. 16, 2013
TUCSON RODEO OPENING DAY

11 a.m. – gates open
11:30 a.m – Canon Rodeo Photography Workshop (reservations only)
12:30 p.m. Dodge Mutton Bustin’ and Justin Junior Rodeo
2 – 4:30 p.m. ProRodeo Competition
4:30 – 8 p.m. Coors Barn Dance ($5 online or at the door)
Tickets: $12 general admission (sections C, E, F, G); reserved seats, section A, $20; reserved seats, section B, $22.  Photography Workshop $85; call for reservations.
SUNDAY, FEB. 17

TUCSON RODEO – SECOND PERFORMANCE SUNDAY, FEB. 17

11 a.m. – gates open
12:30 p.m. Dodge Mutton Bustin’ and Justin Junior Rodeo
2 – 4:30 p.m. ProRodeo Competition
4:30 – 8 p.m. Coors Barn Dance ($5 online or at the door)
Tickets: $12 general admission (sections C, E, F, G); reserved seats, section A, $20; reserved seats, section B, $22. Photography Workshop $85; call for reservations.
MONDAY AND TUESDAY, FEB. 18 AND 19

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, FEB. 18 AND 19
TIMED EVENTS COMPETITION (SLACK), 8 A.M.

Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down, and Team Roping only. Admission: $5 general admission, children 12 and under free. Available at the gate only. Free parking.

Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 18 – 19

For Kids

REACh program for school children – 9:30 a.m. – Noon: Rodeo Education and Children (REACh) is a fun, educational program that celebrates the historic sport of rodeo and the spirit of the American West. This popular program has been offered to Tucson-area elementary schools since1995. There is no charge for the program.

REACh introduces K-6 grade students to all aspects of the exciting sport of rodeo while increasing their awareness of Western heritage and the working cowboy. The instructor uses student participation to demonstrate actual rodeo equipment and rodeo events. Important components of the REACh presentation are its positive and unique substance abuse and gang prevention messages. Students learn to “cowboy up” when faced with difficult choices.

Each program lasts approximately 45 minutes. Penny Conway, the founder of REACh, has presented the program to more than a million children in over 22 states during the past 15 years. She is an Arizona native, as well as a former teacher and rodeo contestant. All of her assistant instructors are also certified, elementary educators.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20
Barrel Racing slack – 10 a.m. to noon.

PARADE FLOAT DECORATING, 4 P.M.
Northwest area of Tucson Rodeo Grounds parking lot

THURSDAY, FEB. 21

TUCSON RODEO PARADE 9 A.M.
Over 200 non-motorized floats are on display along with the one and one-half mile parade route beginning at Park Ave. and Ajo Way, proceeding south on Park to Irvington Rd. Tickets for Grandstand seating at Irvington and South 6th Ave, $7 adults, $5 kids under 13. Call (520) 294-1280 for grandstand tickets.

TUCSON RODEO, THIRD PERFORMANCE
11 a.m. – gates open
12:30 p.m. Dodge Mutton Bustin’ and Justin Junior Rodeo
2 – 4:30 p.m. ProRodeo Competition
4:30 – 8 p.m. Coors Barn Dance ($5 online or at the door)
Tickets: $17-$23

FRIDAY, FEB. 22

TUCSON RODEO, FOURTH PERFORMANCE
11 a.m. – gates open
12:30 p.m. Dodge Mutton Bustin’ and Justin Junior Rodeo
2 – 4:30 p.m. ProRodeo Competition
4:30 – 8 p.m. Coors Barn Dance ($5 online or at the door)
Tickets: $17-$23

SATURDAY, FEB. 23

TUCSON RODEO, FIFTH PERFORMANCE
11 a.m. – gates open
12:30 p.m. Dodge Mutton Bustin’ and Justin Junior Rodeo
2 – 4:30 p.m. ProRodeo Competition
4:30 – 8 p.m. Coors Barn Dance ($5 online or at the door)
Tickets:  $18-$24

SUNDAY, FEB. 24

TUCSON RODEO FINAL PERFORMANCE
11 a.m. – gates open
12:30 p.m. Dodge Mutton Bustin’ and Justin Junior Rodeo
2 – 4:30 p.m. ProRodeo Competition
4:30 – 8 p.m. Coors Barn Dance ($5 online or at the door)
Tickets: $20-$26

Gates open at 11 am most days except for the barrel racing which begins at 8.

Directions
From I-10: take Park Ave. exit South; turn West (right) on Irvington Road

From I-19: take Irvington Road exit East

Each day, following the rodeo, from 4:30 – 8  there is live music, food and cowboys to meet and greet.  Children are most welcome to come.  Cost is $5 per person with children under 13 admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

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