Santa Maria Elks Rodeo & Parade is here and we are proud to help sponsor it! Santa Maria Valley has a long history of cattle ranching, contributing to many traditions here: Santa Maria style tri-tip barbecue, western and adobe style and architecture, stables, barns and farmland galore, plus the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.
This rodeo has been running in Santa Maria for over 75 years, and is a classic competition involving working skills of the American cowboy. These contests rose out of the cattle herding profession and is now a growing, and very demanding sport. Contestants can be local, regional, or national (those attempting to compete at the National Finals Rodeo at the end of the year in Las Vegas).
In Santa Maria, the Elks Rodeo & Parade is one of the most fun times of the year! It’s a chance for families to get together, relax with musical entertainment as well as the rodeo, watch their kids ride the sheep, plus dance the night away at the rodeo’s outdoor honky tonk. If you’ve never been to a rodeo, this Labor Day weekend is a perfect opportunity to get involved and learn all about it.
The 2023 rodeo will be 4 fun-filled days from Thursday, June 1st through Sunday, June 4th at the Elks Unocal Event Center, right on the 101 freeway in southern Santa Maria. Each day, the arena opens at 5pm (4pm on Saturday, 12pm on Sunday) and features a concert, rodeo performances and then a rodeo dance, or on Sunday, Mariachis and Margaritas. Each day there is also a Street Fair with live music, food, western shopping and local services. (Come see us there and get information on our new home communities on the Central Coast.)
Elks Rodeo at Santa Maria
Each Rodeo performance features; Mutton Bustin’, six adrenaline-rushing PRCA events including Bull Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc Riding, Team Roping, Bareback Riding, and the excitement of the WPRA Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping. This year’s rodeo will also include specialty acts like the Flying Cowboys, Junior Breakaway Roping, Elks Team Roping, and more.
Learn more about what these events are here.
Never heard of Mutton Bustin’? This is an event where local kids have a unique opportunity to try their hand at some real rodeo action, riding a mutton (sheep) in the rodeo arena. The event is open to all children ages 5 to 7, weighing under 60 pounds. Each chosen contestant will have a chance to perform in one of our Rodeo events held during the four days of. It’s one of the most popular events, as friends and family cheer on the kids. There is a winner each day, who receives a custom-made silver belt buckle.
Friday night is when you get to see the Rodeo Queen crowned, which is a fundraising competition. Each candidate raises money for her chosen local charity, to help give back to the youth in the community, and the young lady who raises the most money wins.
Saturday has an extra event: the rodeo parade is held Saturday morning at 9 am, with over 200 entries featuring Marching Bands, Floats, Clowns and Equestrians!
Get more information about all the events at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo & Parade. See awesome photos from a previous rodeo.
Rice Ranch is located in the historic, western town of Orcutt, nestled among 580 acres of open space and hiking/biking trails. Next up are Meadow View Townhomes, which offer luxury living with peace of mind, plus country club living with private access to our Summit Club. It’s Santa Barbara County’s only master-planned community—location, luxury, lifestyle.
