March in Houston means it’s time for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! Since its inception in 1931, the Rodeo has become one of the largest livestock and entertainment exhibitions in Texas, with music legends such as Selena, George Strait, and Beyoncé having performed in years past. But this fun-filled, weeks-long event extends far beyond concerts and BBQ. In 2015, the Rodeo donated $29.5 million in scholarships to the local community and impacted Houston’s aggregate sales by almost $500 million!
We’re getting into the Houston Rodeo spirit by hand-picking our must-see events! Don’t see your favorite event on the list? Share yours in the comments.
In my opinion, country music has a new queen and her name is Miranda Lambert. Since her first album, Kerosene, Lambert has dominated the country music scene, wining the Country Music Award’s Female Vocalist of the Year six years in a row. This Texas native will perform on Monday, March 7.
Get ready to feel the Miami heat with the Latin Grammy award winner, Pitbull. With seven albums under his belt along with two #1 singles on the Billboard Top 100 list and sold-out concerts around the world, his show is sure to be unforgettable. Pitbull is set to perform on Tuesday, March 8.
Your Friday night won’t be complete without being serenaded by country crooner, Darius Rucker. He has come far from his days as frontman of iconic ’90s band, Hootie and the Blowfish, accruing quite the country-music following with hits such as “Homegrown Honey,” “Southern Style,” and “Wagon Wheel.” This Grand Ole Opry inductee will perform on Friday, March 11.
Do not make plans for Monday, March 14. I repeat do not make plans for Monday, March 14! Why, you may ask? Because country music superstar Kenny Chesney will be taking the Rodeo stage. With more than 40 Top 10 singles on the Billboard Country songs chart, this concert convert you to the No Shoe Nation!
Grammy Award winner and American Idol judge, Keith Urban, will close out the Rodeo on Sunday, March 20. Urban went triple platinum with the album, Golden Road ,which produced the single named by Billboard as the biggest country hit of the 2000s, “Somebody Like You.”
Fast speeds, tricky barrels, and a whole lot of girl power are just a couple of reasons to catch 49 cowgirls who will compete in the Barrel Racing event. These women come from all over the country and Canada for the chance to take home the grand prize!
In the Saddle Bronc Riding competition, it takes just one great eight-second ride to become a champion. For the next two and half weeks, you’ll see dozens of men trying to hold onto a 1,200-pound bucking bronco . . . for as long as possible . . . with one hand.
A cowboy’s fate is literally in his own hands. Bull Riding is considered the most dangerous sport in the Rodeo, and it’s where a cowboy is saddled on top of a 1,600-pound bull with only a rope to hold on to. While the bull riders receive a partial score for lasting eight seconds, half the points for this event comes from how furiously the bull is bucking.
Unlike bull riding, Mutton Bustin’ is known to be one of the cutest events at the Rodeo. Kids — age five to six — are perched on top of a sheep, in a bull chute, and try to hang on for an unforgettable ride.
Photo Credits:
Barrel Racing| Houston Chronicle
Saddle Bronco Riding | Houston Chronicle
Bull Riding | Los Angeles Times
Mutton Bustin| Rodeo Houston Facebook
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