Cloverdale’s famous rodeo and fair returns May long weekend.
After three consecutive events were cancelled, the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair stormed back last year in 2023 to a resounding success. (The event was cancelled because of COVID in 2020 and 2021 and because of structural problems with the Stetson Bowl in 2022.)
This year looks to be even better than last year, said Kathy Sheppard, president of the Cloverdale Rodeo Association.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to rodeo,” Sheppard told the Cloverdale Reporter. “And we’re very proud of our theme this year as it speaks to the deep history of our rodeo and country fair, but also to the myriad of ways Cloverdale has put its unique stamp on the event.”
That theme, “An Original Kind of Country” embraces the evolving identity of rodeo, added Sheppard
The 76th Cloverdale Rodeo and the 133rd Country Fair will be held on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds on “Rodeo Weekend.” The first Cloverdale Rodeo was held in 1945 and the first Country Fair was held in 1888.
The familiar May long weekend event (May 17-20) unofficially opens with the Cloverdale Bed Races Thursday, May 16, at about 6 p.m.
The rodeo parade will begin at 10 a.m. on May 18 (Saturday morning) and will include floats, marching bands, dance groups, clowns, cowboys and cowgirls on horses, and some classic automobiles.
The rodeo will feature roughstock rodeo events—bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding—along with ladies barrel racing, specialty acts, mutton bustin’, and rodeo clown acts.
There will be five rodeo performances in the Stetson Bowl for the 2024 rodeo: May 17 @ 7:30 p.m.; May 18 @ 2 p.m. and @ 7:30 p.m.; May 19 @ 2 p.m.; and May 20 @ 2 p.m. (finals).
“We have champions from our event last year and previous years,” explained Sheppard. “We have CFR and NFR champions and contestants. And we have new contestants too.”
She said the rodeo competitors are all very successful athletes.
“Rooted in tradition, the rodeo has evolved over the years to present rodeo events that align with the community’s ever-changing identity,” added Sheppard. “Ninety-six of the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls will compete for over $300,000 in prize money.”
Rodeo Weekend also promises visitors a whole slate of other events too, including: live entertainment, food trucks, midway rides and games, along with a multitude of other feature attractions.
The West Coast Lumberjack show is returning this year, along with the livestock display, the freestyle skateboarding competition, and the “Buckaroo Barn” in the Cloverdale Rec. Centre (formerly called the Kids Zone). New features include Flying Pig Races and the Extreme Dog Show.
Country music star Chris Buck Band and star rock ‘n’ rollers 54-40 will be the rodeo’s musical headliners. Chris Buck will play the Longhorn Sunday night (May 19) while 54-40 will play the Lordco Outdoor Stage—also Sunday night.
Tickets for the rodeo are on sale now. Visit cloverdalerodeo.com/tickets to grab some.