Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Countdown begins to Days of the Old West rodeo

Family Night pricing is Sunday at new arena


Tickets are now on sale for the 64th annual Days of the Old West Rodeo sponsored by the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club at the brand spanking new Hailey Rodeo Park. The new arena has about 500 more seats than the 3,000-seat former arena.

Dates for the three Independence Day holiday shows are Saturday, July 2 through Monday, July 4. Fireworks follow the July 4 show. Be sure to stay after the July 4 rodeo and watch the fireworks from the new bleachers.

Each rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. preceded at 6:30 p.m. by special pre-rodeo events. Tickets are $10 adults and $5 for children 10-and-under.

Family Night is the Sunday, July 3 performance where all kids 10-and-under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Tickets for all three rodeo shows are currently on sale at all Atkinsons' Market locations, plus The Drug Store and the Hailey Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, both in Hailey. Or, contact Sawtooth Rangers treasurer Lorna Hazelton 788-1012.

You can also buy tickets at the gate, but it's best to get them ahead of time. Rodeo tickets are selling fast. Remember, there is no reserved seating this year due to circumstances beyond the Rangers' control, said secretary Madeline Amend.

The Days of the Old West Rodeo is an Intermountain Pro Rodeo Association (ImPRA) event co-approved by the Idaho Cowboys Association (ICA). Stock contractor is Gene King's Red Eye Rodeo Co.

A free-of-charge slack performance featuring timed events for 55 cowboys and cowgirls is Saturday, July 2 at 9 a.m. For the entire three-day rodeo, there are 270 contestants this year.

Be aware that the new arena parking will be used for contestants, only. Spectator parking is available at the adjacent Nelson Field, with the entrance off Main St. at Maple between the old Blaine County Hospital and the building that houses Karen's Pharmacy. Other spectator parking is at Hailey Post Office, and also behind Sawtooth Auto and Idaho Lumber.

Concessions will be provided by the Lions Club. No coolers or outside food should be brought into the arena. And the rodeo will go on, rain or shine. Visit sawtoothrangers.org for more details.

Hometown Bullriding July 4

Days of the Old West events are team roping, breakaway roping, tie down roping, steer wrestling or bulldogging, stock saddle bronc, bullriding, barrel racing, saddle bronc and bareback bronc.

Two of the more crowd-pleasing events are part of pre-rodeo activities starting at 6:30 p.m. They are mutton bustin' for kids (set for the July 2 and 3 shows) and Hometown Bullriding for the braver older ones (at the July 4 Independence Day show).

Sign up for mutton busting' or Hometown Bullriding by calling Rangers secretary Amend at 788-4979.

The coronation of Miss Days of the Old West will take place at 6:30 p.m. July 4 prior to the final rodeo performance. There will be reining and freestyle competition as part of the 6:30 p.m. pre-rodeo activities the first two nights.

Rodeo entertainment and the Grand Entry music will be presented this year by the 25th U.S. Army Marching Band.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.