PRESTON – Tickets for the Famous Preston Night Rodeo sold out in less than 48 hours, Rodeo Chairman Kris Beckstead.
“It’s going to be another big weekend with 20,000 people in town to enjoy the rodeo,” she said. ”This will be our 90th year so we are going to have a lot of fun.”
This year’s rodeo begins Thursday, July 31, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 2. That Famous Preston Night Rodeo claims to be the oldest night rodeo on the west side of the Mississippi River.
Each of the three nights of pre-rodeo events start at 8 p.m. after the 6 p.m. parade.
“The 6 p.m. parade start time is new this year,” Beckstead said. “We changed the time to make sure everyone can get over to the rodeo.”
The Famous Preston Night Rodeo started in 1934 and has been going every year since, except for one year during the war and one year during COVID. They claim the rodeo is the first night rodeo west of the Mississippi River.
This battle of livestock and cowboys is Franklin County’s biggest event and celebration of the year. There are three full days of parades, horses, ropes, barrels, and bulls. Year after year there are loads of action, entertainment, carnival rides, food trucks, and sidewalk sales for visitors to enjoy.
This rodeo attracts some of the biggest names in the industry and the Preston Rodeo Committee has increased the seating capacity to over 6,800 people a night.
Tomas Garcilazo and his ten-year-old son will be the specialty act this year. They are well known for their rope tricks.
Each night the rodeo has a theme. Thursday is “Man Up: Domestic Abuse Awareness and Prevention.” Color is purple.
Friday is “Patriot Night.” The Colors are red, white and blue. Saturday is “Celebrate Cowboy Night.”
This year’s Rodeo Parade Grand Marshals are Alan and Nelada White.
JJ Harrison is back as the barrel man and clown. He’s one of the most sought-after barrel men in the rodeo business. He is as much of an improviser and stand-up comedian as he is a barrel man.
Justin McKee will be the voice of the rodeo this year.
The rodeo brings together organizations and entrepreneurs to make the weekend special.
City of Fun Carnival will thrill people with their carnival rides and boardwalk games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the park east of the rodeo grounds.
The Rodeo Days Sidewalk sale will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Benson Park. Expect to find all kinds of clothes, gifts, crafts, food trucks and Franklin County’s best entertainment.
There is a chuckwagon breakfast from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday mornings sponsored by a local church group.
The Annual Preston City Amateur Golf Tournament will be Saturday morning from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Groll Family Fitness is sponsoring a Tri/Biathlon for bike riders, swimmers and runners from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Sign up at grollfamilyfitness.com
For more information on That Famous Preston Night Rodeo, go to prestonrodeo.com.