Pine Country Pro Rodeo
As any tourist will say when entering Flagstaff, Arizona, "Where are the cowboys?" Well, given the incredible history of the settling of Europeans in what has come to be known as the Wild West, thanks mainly to many a cowboy movie, it is no surprise that visitors demand a bit of history in person. In fact, the city's Pine Country Pro Rodeo is the perfect answer.
Dates: June 17, 2011 - June 19, 2011 update info
Time: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Event Cost: varies
Venue: Fort Tuthill Coconino County Fairgrounds - Flagstaff, AZ
Contact: Flagstaff Pine Country Pro Rodeo
Email:
Website: pinecountryprorodeo.com
Event Details:
Since 1982, annual PRCA approved rodeo with a purse of over $50,000. Also includes a chili cookoff, fashion show, parade on Saturday and barn dances.
When thinking about the Wild West and Arizona, one cannot help, but picture the old cowboys riding the open range, battling the desert and covered wagons trudging along to who knows where. One place that makes this vision become reality is Flagstaff and its famous Pine Country Pro Rodeo. Tourists cannot resist a real taste of the excitement, if not stereotyping of what cowboy life once was.
Just 40 km from the Grand Canyon and San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff have maintained its rich heritage. Every summer, the area is flooded with thousands of tourists and Arizonan citizens, all wanting the best seat at the state's most prestigious show on the rodeo circuit.
The town city is suddenly transformed from a modern 21st century hangout to a nineteenth century haven. Locals get right in there. Kids and adults like dress up in their best cowboy/cowgirl gear. Cowboy boots, saddles, chaps, bridles, and the famous Stetson hats adorn passersby. Stores overflow with rodeo gifts, and street parties include even cowboy style fare. If one is looking for a real hearty steak, sizzling ribs, or saloon beer, then there is something for everyone.
Taking place every June, worldwide rodeo competitors – barrel racers, bucking bronco professionals and chuck wagon enthusiasts descend on the city, all hoping for the top prizes and the subsequent status it gives them. Special events raise cheers of joy – bull riding, calf roping and even a bunch of daring clowns trying to avoid the dangerous horns of incredibly muscular beasts. For those who have never been to one, or are more familiar with non-North American activities, it may come across as something that resembles the amphitheater games of ancient Rome, minus of course slaves, gladiator fights and brutalized animals. In fact, animal welfare is strictly maintained.
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