Every year, Washington rodeos bring thousands of fans to arenas across the state to watch cowgirls lasso runaway calves and cowboys cling to bucking broncos – not to mention steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. This adrenaline-fueled tradition was first recorded in Washington in 1890 when Ritzville residents celebrated the annual stock roundup on Cow Creek.
Today, Washington rodeos are more popular than ever, with events held in scenic destinations throughout the state from spring through fall. Many events are sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the largest and oldest rodeo sanctioning body in the world.
Here are just a few options to explore during your next trip.
Rodeos in Washington
Methow Valley Rodeo
When: Memorial and Labor Day weekends
On an expanse of land between Twisp and Winthrop, the Methow Valley Rodeo brings thrilling events on bulls and broncs. This event also emphasizes competitions for younger participants, with a junior rodeo on Memorial Day Weekend, mutton busting, calf riding, and stick-horse racing for the littlest enthusiasts. Be sure to explore the Old West town of Winthrop with its charming main street boardwalks, boutique shops, and delicious restaurants.
Bickleton Pioneer Picnic and Rodeo
When: Second weekend in June
The oldest ongoing rodeo in Washington has been held annually at Cleveland Park northeast of Goldendale since 1910. Bickleton Pioneer Picnic and Rodeo attendees can enjoy a potluck dinner and even ride a 1905 Herschell-Spillman antique carousel. Beyond rodeo entertainment, grab a cold one at the beer garden and dance to live music.
Toppenish Rodeo
When: First weekend in July
The hamlet of Toppenish, nestled south of Yakima in Washington Wine Country, comes alive for the Toppenish Rodeo. Don’t miss the robust mutton-busting competition, where children ride sheep like bucking broncos. Other highlights include a parade, beer garden, and community pancake breakfast, as well as wild cow milking, barrel racing, bronco riding, and live music. Don’t miss the town’s robust collection of 75+ murals, which are required to be historically accurate and depict the area.
Sedro-Woolley Rodeo
When: Third and Fourth of July
The Sedro-Woolley Rodeo has all the classic competitions and events. Take in Friday Night Lights Barrel Racing, mounted shooting, a Rascal Rodeo, Northwest cattle sorting, a junior rodeo, and more. Free dry camping is available on the grounds. While visiting over the Fourth of July, check out the Loggerodeo competition for chainsaw carving, pole climbing, axe throwing, and crosscut sawing. Not only is this farming community home to one of Washington’s rodeos, it also makes a nice stop on your way to nearby North Cascades National Park.
Cheney Rodeo
When: Second weekend in July
In Eastern Washington, the Cheney Rodeo runs all the crowd-pleasing competitions – from bareback riding and team roping to steer wrestling and bull riding. Music lovers can kick up their heels during live country music performances each night. Don’t miss the parade, food carts, Kids Balloon Stampede, Rascal Rodeo, and Cowboy Church on Sunday. Extend your trip with a visit to nearby Spokane, the state’s second-largest city.
Lake Chelan Pro Rodeo
When: Third weekend in July
Nestled on the southern edge of gorgeous Lake Chelan, the Lake Chelan Pro Rodeo has it all: barrel racing, trick riding, bucking broncos, a parade, and a robust junior rodeo with mutton busting, roping, and more. The event is put on by the Chelan Rustlers Saddle Club, a group of local horse enthusiasts founded in 1953. The Chelan area is also home to dozens of scenic wineries and tasting rooms for those looking to immerse themselves in Washington’s thriving wine scene.
Cle Elum Roundup
When: Last weekend in July
Get ready to hold your breath while watching cowboys ride wild bulls at the Cle Elum Roundup. Less than a 90-minute drive east from Seattle, this town in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains hosts everything from barrel racing to team roping and includes live music, a beer garden, and a kids’ corral. Base yourself at the family-friendly Suncadia Resort and explore the nearby town of Roslyn, which was a filming location for the TV drama Northern Exposure.
Long Beach Rodeo
When: Late July
For more than 75 years, this beachside community in southwest Washington has hosted the Long Beach Rodeo. Tuck into a cowboy breakfast in the morning before the main competitions in the afternoon. Expect bull riding, saddle bronc, calf roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and more. After the rodeo, extend your stay on the Long Beach Peninsula for fresh seafood and family-friendly fun.
Lynden Rodeo
When: Select dates in August
A small town north of Bellingham known for its Dutch roots, Lynden hosts the weeknight Lynden Rodeo in August. In 2023, they incorporated women’s breakaway roping (the fastest-growing event in rodeo) for the first time. Sit on the edge of your seat as nationally ranked cowgirls and cowboys contend with top-tier rodeo stock. Afterward, hit the main street to browse boutiques, bookstores, and enjoy a local eats.
Omak Stampede & Suicide Race
When: Second weekend in August
Although most Washington rodeos provide a hefty adrenaline rush, the Omak Stampede and Suicide Race goes above and beyond. Omak, situated in the Okanagan Highlands on the Okanogan River, hosts both a traditional rodeo and the “no holds barred” Suicide Race. The infamous horse race plummets 225 feet down a bluff into the river, where contestants and their horses swim or wade across before dashing 500 yards to the finish line in the center of the Stampede arena. Additionally, the Colville Confederated Tribes organizes the annual Indian Encampment and Pow Wow. This traditional gathering features an authentic teepee village, dancing, drumming and singing competitions, and stick games – Native American games of chance.
Kitsap Stampede
When: Late August
The Kitsap Stampede takes place in Bremerton on the Kitsap Peninsula west of Seattle during the four-day Kitsap Fair in August. Rodeo events are scheduled during three of the four days of the fair. Between bull riding and barrel racing, rodeo-goers can see livestock shows, watch dancing horses, hear live music, and hop on carnival rides. Afterward, hit the road to explore the small towns, beaches, and forests of the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island.
Ellensburg Rodeo
When: Labor Day Weekend
One of the most well-known Washington rodeos takes place in Ellensburg, a small college town in Central Washington north of Yakima. The Ellensburg Rodeo weekend includes live music, barrel racing, a parade, and daily chute tours for those who want a glimpse behind the scenes of a world-class rodeo. It’s also a stop on the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association’s Xtreme Bulls Tour, where professional bull riders battle for a six-figure purse. In town, don’t miss the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame, a museum that preserves, celebrates, and displays the traditions and history of the Ellensburg Rodeo.
Puyallup Rodeo
When: First weekend in September
The Puyallup Rodeo is part of a grand swath of entertainment and happenings during the Washington State Fair, a 20-day extravaganza in September outside of Tacoma. Think carnival rides, a concert series, fried food, and more. The rodeo draws contestants from far and wide to ride bucking broncos, with and without saddles, as well as other exciting events like breakaway roping and bull riding.
Related: Find more annual events and festivals in Washington.
About the Author
Ellee Thalheimer is a freelance writer and guidebook author based in the Pacific Northwest who has contributed to publications like Lonely Planet Guidebooks, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and Adventure Cyclist Magazine. When she can’t get outside, she writes fiction, drinks local IPAs, and perfects her handstands.