Payson Pro Rodeo

For over 140 years the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo has never missed a beat. In Payson, Arizona, their August rodeo is steeped in tradition that holds the title of “best small town rodeo in the world.”

BY KRYSTA PAFFRATH

Let’s head to the northern Arizona town of Payson, the home of the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo. The keyword there is continuous, every year for 140 years straight, there has been a rodeo in this quaint little traveler’s town. Starting in 1884 the Annual World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo is a world-famous event that will celebrate its 140th consecutive year in 2023 on August 18-19.

Named the country’s Best Small Rodeo (according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), the Payson Pro Rodeo Committee continues to attract the best of the best from all over the world to compete for substantial prize money over the course of their two-day performance.

The wild west weekend kicks off with the Women’s Cactus Series Barrel Racing on Thursday, August 17th at 6 PM and it only costs one can of food for admission. Then the Payson Pro Rodeo performances start at 7:00 PM Friday and Saturday night and at 1:00 PM Saturday afternoon. Gates open 2 hours prior to the performances. Friday is the Tough Enough to Wear Pink night that helps raise funds for local breast cancer support groups. Saturday afternoon is Family Day with prizes for kids. Saturday evening is the Patriot Performance that honors our returning, fallen, and wounded veterans, with a special tribute during the Payson Pro rodeo.

Tickets are available online at paysonprorodeo.com. Tickets will also be available at the gate, but some performances sell out early so make sure to plan ahead!

Following each performance on Friday and Saturday night, make sure to stick around for the Boots and Bling Dance featuring the Western Fusion Band. The fun starts as soon as the last bull bucks. Admission is free for rodeo attendees or you can pay the $5 cover charge. Don’t forget about the Rodeo Parade held on Saturday, August 19, starting at 9:00 AM, on Historic Main Street in Payson, Arizona. The Parade is sponsored by The Rim Country Kiwanis of Zane Grey Country. It includes clowns, rodeo queens, and their courts, the Payson High School Band, local floats, riders, first responder teams, and many other great entries from all over Arizona. Join in the fun when real cowboys and cowgirls strut their stuff, along with floats, cars, tractors, team bands, and units of the El Zaribah Shriners. The parade will go east from Green Valley Park along Main Street to Sawmill Crossing. Announcers along the parade route will keep you posted on the coming entries and provide music for your entertainment. So, bring your “mountain” chair, water, and the kids, and enjoy a great morning with some fabulous entertainment, antique cars, clowns, and horses, and help Rim Country celebrate The World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo.

Come join the fun and experience the place where rodeo began over 140 years ago in Payson, Arizona’s Cool Mountain Town! For more information, please call 928-295-8109 or visit PaysonProRodeo.com.

Founded in 1882, the town of Payson AZ was first known as Green Valley. In 1884 the town’s name was changed, honoring Illinois Representative Lewis E. Payson. “Arizona Charlie”, Abraham Henson Meadows, was one of the organizers of the first Payson Rodeo, along with John Collins Chilson. Early Payson rodeos weren’t held in fancy arenas. In fact, the original venue was a meadow near the intersection of Main Street and Highway 87/The Beeline. Wagons and later autos created barriers to line Main Street to form the ‘arena’.

When rodeo first came to Payson, it provided local ranchers and cowhands a chance to get together and compare their roping and ranching skills during the annual “downtime” before the big fall roundup. There were only a couple of events in those early rodeos, but it was not long before cowboys from all over the state and beyond were showing up to compete in new events like bronc busting, bull riding, and steer roping.

Through the years, the show still packs just as much of a punch. Payson Pro Rodeo is still providing one of the best shows in the West and deserves the title of “Oldest Continuous Rodeo” being dedicated to providing 140 years of rodeo every year to fans across the country.