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Contact: Joan Liess
(520) 881-8256
media@tucsonrodeo.com
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros is an 84-year Tucson Treasure
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (The Celebration of the Cowboys) is Tucson's oldest community event. Centered on the Tucson Rodeo, one of the top 25 professional rodeo events in North America, the event features six days of competition and a parade heralded as the longest non-motorized parade in the world. The rodeo runs February 21 through March 1 at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Ave. Entertainment begins at 12:30 p.m. each day; the pro rodeo begins at 2 p.m.
Created in 1925 as a "Wild West" lure to attract winter visitors to the region, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros was quickly adopted by locals as a way to showcase the city's Western heritage. Visitors from all over the world now attend the rodeo bringing $16 million in economic impact to the community. For the 84th consecutive year, area schools will close on Thursday and Friday of rodeo week so families can enjoy the festive parade and rodeo traditions.
Hollywood found the Tucson Rodeo an ideal winter location when a scene called for rodeo action. Robert Mitchum tested broncs in Tucson in the 1952 classic The Lusty Men. In 1954, the Tucson Rodeo served as a backdrop for the movie Arena and in 1994 was featured in scenes for 8 Seconds, the motion picture depicting the life of late bull rider Lane Frost. See action from the 1996 rodeo in the Showtime movie Ruby Jean and Joe starring Tom Selleck.
Current and former world champions are featured at this Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event. "The entry list for Tucson could be the ‘Who's Who' of pro rodeo," boasts Gary Williams, general manager of the Tucson Rodeo. "In addition to the caliber of competition and the prize money, cowboys look forward to Tucson because the fans are great and the sky is blue. This is the first major outdoor rodeo of the year, so they're ready for sunshine, fresh air and 11,000 fans each day cheering them on," adds Williams. Reserved seating for rodeo performances is $12-$22.
This professional rodeo enlists over 600 contestants from the United States and Canada competing for more than $320,000 in prize money. The Tucson Rodeo gives spectators an opportunity to see real-life cowboys and cowgirls display their ability in the only sport in the world developed from work skills.
The rodeo events include bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and women's barrel racing. Also featured each day is Dodge Mutton Bustin', when four-to six-year-olds test their riding skills on sheep, and the Justin Junior Rodeo for young cowpokes up to age 12.
A treasured tradition of rodeo week, the Tucson Rodeo Parade includes over 200 western-theme floats and buggies, Mexican folk dancers and musicians and is viewed by an estimated 200,000 spectators. The parade is Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. Grandstand seating is $6 for adults and $4 for children.
For rodeo tickets and information, call (520) 741-2233, (800) 964-5662 or visit www.tucsonrodeo.com.
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