Where: Houston, Texas
What: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Rodeo (and More!) Houston
A two-word moniker simply can’t do justice to the breadth of entertainment, horsepower, and Western culture offered by Rodeo Houston, aka the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. For more than 80 years, the event has evolved to offer something for literally everyone. Horse show? Got it. Livestock exhibition? You bet—they even call it the biggest in the world. Rodeo? Of course! Country-music concerts? Every night after the rodeo.
The Facts: 33K | Number of volunteers it takes to pull off the 20-day event.
Don’t Miss This
explore.
Your budding agriculturalist won’t want to miss 1. AgVenture, featuring many species of livestock at all life phases, or 2. The Junction, where she can blow off some energy on rides and play games.
eat.
Along with typical fair fare and taco trucks, visit 3. The Chuck Wagon for a sliced-beef sandwich with chips and beans or 4. Champion Wine Garden to sample wines from the event’s international wine competition.
do.
After walking the expansive NRG Park, drive 25 minutes north to Humble for a trail ride at 5. Cypress Trails Ranch. Rides vary from one to three hours long on horses provided by ranch owner Darolyn Butler, a gold medalist and international endurance riding champion.
Last year, more than 2.5 million people set foot on the NRG Park grounds to take in all that Rodeo Houston has to offer.
The unique tournament-style rodeo, called the Super Series, runs 19 rounds and awards $50,000 to the winner of each event. An invitation-only Super Shootout puts competitors on teams of eight contestants.
You’ll find horses of all breeds and disciplines competing in the horse show as cutters, mounted shooters, and ranch sorters mingle with mules, donkeys, Quarter Horses, and Paints.
Major music acts take the stage each night, but shows sell out fast, so get your tickets early.
Socially Minded
Each year, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo awards more than 750 educational scholarships to Texas students, plus graduate assistantships and educational grants. All grants—totaling $55 million awarded to 100 organizations—must benefit youth, support education, and expand agricultural horizons and/or preserve and honor pioneer heritage and culture.
