Sunseeker's Guide to the Las Vegas 2015 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

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Thursday, December 3 – Saturday, December 12 Viewing parties start at 6 PM each night.

Join us for an exciting FREE NFR viewing party.

Enjoy live entertainment, food and drink specials and an exclusive meet and greet with the Wright Brothers.

See the athletes and get an autograph while you watch the wild rodeo action on the big screens.

acRoSS FRom

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Wrangler NFR opening ceremonies at the Thomas & Mack Center

LAS VEGAS STYLE WESTERN FUN THE WORLD’S BEST COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS COMPETE FOR $10 MILLION AT WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

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he Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, and it has been held in Las Vegas for three decades. As the Las Vegas/NFR partnership enters its fourth decade, the cowboys and cowgirls who ride for glory will also be trying to stake their claim on a total purse of $10 million, the largest in history.

The rodeo is as popular with the fans as it is with the gladiators in the arena. Fans absolutely love the Wrangler NFR for both the competition and the ongoing excitement that surrounds the rodeo action. First held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas in 1985, the Wrangler NFR has become a December tradition in Las Vegas. In 2014, the event reached an all-time total attendance record of 177,565. Overall, the rodeo has sold out for 290-straight go ‘rounds, including this year’s event.

Photos by Steve Spatafore

A main highlight away from the rodeo arena is the annual Cowboy Christmas, a festival-type event that attracts 200,000 plus attendees and 400 plus vendors. Cowboy Christmas, and the accompanying Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunter and

By Brian Hurlburt

Outdoor Christmas Expo, offers just about anything and everything cowboy and rodeo related.

At the arena, rodeo fans are in for greater excitement due to the extensive renovations at the Thomas & Mack Center. About $72 million has been put to work for renovations that will wow fans. The modernization includes increased ADA seating, improved entrances and exits and additional restrooms and concessions. For 2016, the look and feel will be highlighted by a 36,000-square-foot hospitality area that overlooks the Las Vegas Strip.

“In our 30-year run in Las Vegas, the Thomas & Mack Center has been our only home,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. “There are no sightlines in sports as good as those in this arena. The major improvements they are making will greatly enhance the experience for our fans.”

NFR tickets are available through the onsite ticket exchange at Cowboy Christmas.

Cowboy Christmas runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Shuttles to major resorts are available. For more information, visit nfrexperience.com.

Opening ceremonies for the Wrangler NFR 2015 WRANGLER NFR

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WESTGATE LAS VEGAS RESORT & CASINO Presents

THE OFFICIAL

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JOSH THO

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Nightly Live Entertainment in the Westgate Cabaret

RED NECK RODEO • December 3 - 9 SCOTTY MAC • December 10 - 12 Rodeo Viewing, Boot Shines Drink Specials and More!

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Rodeo school is in session when Legendary TV host Jeff Medders talks Wrangler NFR

WRANGLER NFR 101 JEFF MEDDERS SHARES HIS INSIDER’S VIEW ABOUT THE SUPERBOWL OF RODEO

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eff Medders has seen just about everything in the world of rodeo as a television broadcaster for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo since 1991. So who better to give Sunseeker readers a unique analysis (which can be enjoyed by both veteran and novice fans) of the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world?

Sunseeker: What is best way to describe the Wrangler NFR to anyone who hasn’t experienced it?

Jeff Medders: That is a tough question! It has been called the “Super Bowl of Rodeo” and the “Greatest Show on Dirt,” but I’d say the best description is that it is a whirlwind of part cowboy and part Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. It starts fast and gets even faster!

It is the ultimate cowboy party—hard knocks, great rides, fast runs and amazing celebrations.

If you haven’t been to the Wrangler NFR, you need to get it on your bucket list!

Photos by Tom Donoghue

SS: How can someone enjoy the NFR if they don’t know a header from a heeler?

JM: You don’t have to know football to appreciate Peyton Manning. You don’t have to live and breathe soccer to understand the magic that is Messi. Rodeo is the ultimate American sport. You will grasp how tough these competitors are and how skilled they are to reach this pinnacle of their sport. There are no guaranteed contracts and no uber-rich salaries. These guys have to compete and win to get paid, and that motivation and the love they have for their sport provides all the motivation they need.

By Brian Hurlburt

understand it, you realize it’s poetry in motion.

A cowboy matching a highly-skilled bull jump for jump is something to behold.

Spectator tip: Another great tip to attending a “go round” at the Thomas and Mack Center is to arrive early and stay late. Several interactive areas with great food and drink, in addition to live entertainment, are available before and after the performance and both inside and outside of the arena.

To learn more about Jeff Medders, visit geronimotv.com.

Fallon Taylor barrel racing

SS: Describe barrel racing in 25 words or less.

JM: Skydiving without a parachute! Imagine screaming down a tunnel, full speed into a completely blind first barrel. These ladies are part race car driver and part stuntman!

SS: Describe bull riding in 25 words or less.

JM: It’s violent, it’s intense. But when you

Trey Benton III bull riding 2015 WRANGLER NFR

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NEW TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily NEW HALL: SOUTH HALLS - Las Vegas Convention Center

December 3 - 12, 2015

FREE ADMISSION • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC NFRexperience.com

#WranglerNFR for Cowboy Christmas Guests 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. kidsquest.com

DON’T MISS THE NEW RMEF HUNTER & OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS EXPO

December 3 - 12, 2015 (also at the Las Vegas Convention Center)

/LasVegasNFR

It’s beginning to look a lot like …

Wrangler NFR Cowboy Christmas at Las Vegas Convention Center

COWBOY CHRISTMAS, A TRUE WESTERN LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE NEW SIZZLE INCLUDES ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION HUNTER AND OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS EXPO

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owboy Christmas, the original Wrangler National Finals Rodeo gift show held during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, is a certified phenomenon. More than 200,000 fans of the cowboy lifestyle visited this event in 2014, and that attendance figure will surely be shattered this winter in Las Vegas, the home of the Wrangler NFR for three decades.

Several new Cowboy Christmas elements will debut, most notably the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunter and Outdoor Christmas Expo, located with Cowboy Christmas in the events’ new location in the South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The RMEF Show will be open for all 10 days of Cowboy Christmas. RMEF organizers believe it will become the largest and most successful hunting and outdoor-related expo in the United States.

Photos by courtesy of Las Vegas Events

As for the Cowboy Christmas, more than 400,000 square feet of show floor will be covered with the wares of 400 plus vendors from across the United States. They will showcase a unique variety of products including customized jewelry, western wear, boots and spurs, furniture, original art, handmade crafts and pottery. Cowboy Christmas

Boots, boots and more boots are always a part of Cowboy Christmas

By Brian Hurlburt

is also the top spot in Vegas to get your official Wrangler NFR and PRCA merchandise.

Another new show element will be double the shuttle service from Wrangler NFR-partner resorts to Cowboy Christmas. The Cowboy Christmas Express presented by YETI Coolers starts daily at 8:30 a.m. and continues to 4:30 p.m. each day of the event. Shuttles are available from Aria, Excalibur, Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, The Orleans, South Point and Treasure Island.

Dedicated Cowboy Christmas fans will have reason to celebrate, as some of the most popular elements of the show are coming back, and will be bigger than ever. Returning are Rodeo Live presented by RODEOHOUSTON, the Coors Rodeo Saloon, Lucas Oil Rodeo Way committee exhibits, Wrangler Rodeo Arena, NFR Social Arena presented by YETI Coolers, Great Wall of Rodeo presented by Calgary Stampede and several other favorites.

Cowboy Christmas is open Dec. 3-12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info, visit nfrexperience.com.

There will be 400,000 square feet of vendors, interactive events, food, drink and much more.

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The 2014 Rodeo Vegas at The Mirage

LAS VEGAS GOES COUNTRY CONCERTS AND EVENTS TO KEEP FANS ENTERTAINED DURING THE WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

By H. Wadowski and Brian Hulbert

W

hen the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo comes to Thomas & Mack Center Dec. 3-12, the surrounding area gets into the rodeo spirit, hosting plenty of country-themed entertainment to keep cowboys and cowgirls entertained long into the night.

There are so many official and unofficial rodeo parties at major Las Vegas resorts for the total Vegas Wrangler NFR experience. In addition to the special events listed, LeAnn Rimes, Alabama, Merle Haggard, Tanya Tucker, Big and Rich and many other big-time stars will be performing throughout Las Vegas.

One of the most popular places to two-step on over to is MGM Grand (mgmgrand.com/nfr), home to the Crown Royal Gold Buckle Zone.

Located inside the MGM Grand Conference Center, the 40,000-square-foot party features free concerts by some of country music’s biggest names throughout the 10-day event, including Scotty McCreery Dec. 4, Gloriana Dec. 5 and 7, Blackberry Smoke Dec. 6 and 8, Craig Wayne Boyd Dec. 10 and 11 and Craig Morgan Dec. 12.

Concerts start at 10 p.m. with Dee Jay Silver’s “Country Club” After-Party Presented by Roper

following at 11:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. with a live feed of the rodeo beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Rodeo Vegas at The Mirage (mirage.com/nfr) is another popular place to find fans unwinding, as it’s the official NFR after-party of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Held at The Mirage Race and Sports Book, guests can watch some of Nashville’s biggest stars—including Rodney Atkins Dec. 3, the Casey Donahew Band and Kevin Fowler Dec. 4, the Casey Donahew Band and Roger Creager Dec. 5, Glen Templeton Dec. 7 and 8, A Thousand Horses Dec. 9, Easton Corbin Dec. 11 and Joe Nichols Dec. 12—play free concerts each night. DJ HISH will also be spinning every night.

Several popular country acts will be passing through town during the annual event, too.

Rodney Carrington brings his Here Comes the Truth tour to MGM Grand Dec. 3-12 at 10 p.m.; Little Big Town rocks The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. (hardrockhotel.com) Ron White performs at The Mirage Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 10 p.m. and Bill Engvall performs at Treasure Island Dec. 4 at 9 p.m. (treasureisland.com).

For those who can’t get enough rodeo action, the Boyd Gaming Chute-Out (boydgamingevents.com) will make its debut at the Orleans Arena Dec. 10-12 at 2 p.m.

Contestants will include past, current and future rodeo champions competing in such events as bareback and barrel racing.

21-time PRCA World Champion Trevor Brazile will once again participate in MGM Grand’s cowboy autograph signings 8

2015 WRANGLER NFR

Fans can also get up close to their favorite rodeo stars during cowboy autograph signings in the MGM Grand lobby Dec. 4 and 11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Cowboys scheduled to appear include 21-time PRCA World Champion Trevor Brazile and three-time Tie-Down Roping World Champ Tuf Cooper.

RECURRING NIGHTLY EVENTS

SPECIAL EVENTS

Wrangler NFR Countdown Show • Dec. 3-12 (6 to 6:45 p.m., free admission) • Wrangler Network Theatre inside the Gold Buckle Zone at the MGM Grand Conference Center

8th Annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala benefiting the ProRodeo Hall of Fame • Nov. 30 (6:30 p.m., tickets required) • South Point Grand Ballroom

Photo of The 2014 Rodeo Vegas by Brenton Ho/Powers Imagery; Trevor Brazile by Bryan Steffy; Bill Engvall courtesy of Bill Engvall; Little Big Town courtesy of AEG Live

South Point Presents Ram Rodeo Tailgate Party • Dec. 3-12 (6 to 10 p.m., free admission) • South Point Grand Ballroom The Mirage Presents Rodeo Vegas 2015 • Dec. 3-12 (6:30 p.m. to 4 a.m., free admission) • Official Wrangler NFR After-Party of the PRCA with free concerts nightly Gary Leffew’s Legendary Buck’N Ball • Dec. 3-12 (9 p.m. until closing, free admission) • The Orleans Hotel and Casino at Buck’N Ball Saloon featuring live country music, two-step dancing and drink specials MGM Grand Gold Buckle Zone • Dec. 3-12 (10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., free admission) • MGM Grand Conference Center Live featuring free concerts

Wrangler NFR Contestants Welcome Reception • Dec. 1 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m., open to convention attendees only) • South Point Grand Ballroom Hall of Fame Gala Presented by Montana Silversmiths • Dec. 1 (7 to 9 p.m., tickets required) • MGM Grand Convention Center PRCA Annual Awards Banquet • Dec. 2, (6 p.m., tickets required) • South Point Grand Ballroom Wrangler NFR Kickoff Party • Dec. 2 (9 to 10:30 p.m., free admission) • South Point Showroom For more Wrangler NFR After Dark information, visit nfrexperience.com.

National Finals Tonight Show hosted by Don Gay, Joe Beaver and Dan Miller • Dec. 3-12 (10:30 to 11:30 p.m., free admission) • The Orleans Showroom for the recap of NFR with prizes given nightly Wrangler NFR Go Round Buckle Presentations hosted by Flint Rasmussen and Randy Corley • Dec. 3-11 (11 p.m., free admission) • South Point Showroom featuring concerts including Aaron Watson (Dec. 3-6), Curtis Grimes (Dec. 7 and 8) and Cody Johnson (Dec. 9-11) 5th Annual Mechanical Bull Riding Competitions • Dec. 4-12 (5 p.m. to midnight, free admission) • Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall offering $500 in cash and prizes plus a championship buckle for 1st Place winner

Bill Engvall

Little Big Town 2015 WRANGLER NFR

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SOUTH POINT DANCE HALL FREE ENTERTAINMENT

AARON WATSON

December 3-6

CURTIS GRIMES

CODY JOHNSON

December 7-8

December 9-12

Live Entertainment Nitely In The

HOME OF MONTANA SILVERSMITHS GO-ROUND BUCKLE PRESENTATION HOSTED BY

FLINT RASMUSSEN & RANDY CORLEY 11PM NITELY

NFR “Live” Free Every Night On Closed Circuit TV Dodge Ram Viewing Party Nitely In The Grand Ballroom Park Here And Take The Shuttle To The Thomas & Mack

Michael Gaughan’s

“Where All The Cowboys & Cowgirls Stay & Play”

SouthPointCasino.com

Jed Middleton competing in a past World Series of Team Roping event

COWBOY CENTRAL SOUTH POINT HOTEL, CASINO & SPA TO HOST SEVERAL COMPLIMENTARY EVENTS DURING NFR

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ften referred to as “Vegas Cowboy Central,” it should come as no surprise that South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa is one of the hottest places for rodeo fans to be Dec. 3-12 during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Home to the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center and its new Priefert Pavilion, which together offer more than 240,000 square feet of event space, the off-Strip resort will host an array of complimentary events for rodeo fans to enjoy throughout NFR. Fans can attend the official RAM Rodeo Tailgate Party in the resort’s Grand Ballroom nightly at 6 p.m. and watch the live feed of each competition while enjoying some light snacks and refreshments, or catch the live NFR broadcasts at viewing parties inside the South

Photos courtesy of South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

South Point Arena and Equestrian Center

The Western Gift Show

By H. Wadowski

Point Showroom and Grandview Lounge. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the viewing parties, offering guests a front row seat to all of the rodeo action, which begins nightly at 6:30 p.m.; guests must be 21 or older to attend.

Then, following each day’s competitions, the Montana Silversmiths Go-Round Buckle Awards will be held inside the South Point Showroom at 11 p.m. Guests can not only watch as the nightly go-round winner in each of the seven NFR events is presented with a prized buckle, but also review the night’s action with hosts Flint Rasmussen and Randy Corley.

South Point will also host the Art of the American Cowboy exhibit and sale Dec. 6-12. Held in the resort’s Exhibit Hall, guests will have the chance to view works from distinguished Western artists and purchase limited-edition pieces. Additionally, rodeo fans will find an assortment of items related to the Western lifestyle at the Western Gift Show Dec. 3-12. Spanning more than 65,000 square feet across the South Point Arena Concourse and Exhibit Hall, items available for purchase include shirts, jeans, cowboy hats, boots, belts and buckles. Western ranch-style furniture, saddles, jewelry and other items will be showcased as well.

Rodeo fans can even witness some of the best team ropers from across the country battle it out for the championship title during the World Series of Team Roping. Held Dec. 7-12 in the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center, more than 3,000 roping contestants will compete for a share of the $10 million prize pool, making the competition the third richest equestrian event in the world!

For more on everything happening at the resort during NFR, including ticket information for Benny Binion’s Bucking Horse & Bull Sale Dec. 3-5, visit southpointcasino.com.

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Thewest westgets getswild. wild.

The

Bill Engvall Bill Engvall December 4

December 4 in the Treasure Island Theatre in the Treasure Island Theatre

|| December 7 – 12 LoCash December 7 – 12 LoCash Inside Gilleyʼs Saloon with special guests

Inside Gilleyʼs Saloon with special guests

| Rainey 7–9 RaineyQualley Qualley |December December 7 – 9 | Olivia 10 – 12 OliviaLane Lane |December December 10 – 12

SALOON • DANCE HALL • BAR-B-QUE SALOONgilleyslasvegas.com • DANCE HALL • BAR- B - QUE gilleyslasvegas.com

treasureisland.com treasureisland.com

Guests can test their strength and stamina on Gilley’s mechanical bull

A RODEO FAVORITE ENJOY SOME HONKY-TONK FUN ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP AT GILLEY’S SALOON, DANCE HALL & BAR-B-QUE

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t should come as no surprise that one of the most popular places for rodeo fans to hang out at during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the same place cowboys and cowgirls go to kick up their heels when they’re on the Las Vegas Strip: Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & BBQ at Treasure Island.

Home to the world-famous Gilley Girls (sexy servers donning bikinis, chaps, cowgirl boots and cowboy hats), Gilley’s will once again be hosting live country entertainment throughout the 10-day

Photos courtesy of Treasure Island

LOCASH performs Dec. 7-12 at Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & BBQ

The Chili Cheese Fries and Tots at Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & BBQ

By Heather Turk

event as well as an NFR Bull Riders autograph session on Dec. 8 at noon. Guests can put the dance hall’s 1,000-square-foot dance floor to use when country music duo LOCASH (formerly known as LoCash Cowboys) performs with special guests Rainey Qualley Dec. 7-9 and Olivia Lane Dec. 10-12. A $10 cover fee applies in the dance hall/saloon after 9 p.m.

Visitors can also test out their strength and stamina on Gilley’s mechanical bull for a nominal fee. For those who might need a little liquid encouragement beforehand, Gilley’s will be offering 2-for-1 Crown Royal, Bulleit Bourbon or Crown Royal Regal Apple shots or cocktails daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. as well as buckets of Bud Light (five bottles) for $20.

When it’s time to feed that cowboy-sized appetite, Gilley’s serves some of the best barbecue in town. Guests can dine inside of the Strip-front restaurant and watch passersby through floorto-ceiling windows as they feast upon a menu of mouthwatering dishes, like the tasty Chili Cheese Fries and Tots and the smoked BBQ Short Rib with a Dr. Pepper BBQ glaze. If you opt for one of Gilley’s BBQ Combos, be sure to order the half rotisserie chicken—it might just be the juiciest chicken on the Strip! For cowgirls (or cowboys) watching their figure, the Apple Chicken Salad— Granny Smith apples, grilled chicken, almonds, blue cheese and mixed greens with an agave nectar vinaigrette—is a must. One bite and you’ll be hard-pressed to think of another salad so full of flavor.

Gilley’s also recently introduced a menu of bourbon and whiskey flights as well as a fun VS tasting menu for $15 that pits one bourbon or whiskey against another and leaves it up to guests to decide which one is the best. For more on everything Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & BBQ has to offer, visit gilleyslasvegas.com.

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Montgomery Gentry will headline the 29th annual Downtown Hoedown at Fremont Street Experience Dec. 2

KICK UP YOUR HEELS ON FREMONT STREET DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS ROUNDS UP PLENTY OF FUN FOR THE WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

By H. Wadowski

W

hile the Las Vegas Strip may have plenty of country-themed acts performing during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, downtown Las Vegas is going all-out for the annual event, too.

Tanya Tucker performs at the Golden Nugget Dec. 3

Thomas Rhett performing during the 2014 Downtown Hoedown at Fremont Street Experience 14

2015 WRANGLER NFR

The 12-day event will also include performances by the Voodoo Cowboys Dec. 3-6, Siana King Dec. 7-9, the Tony Marques Band Dec. 7-13, The Experience Country Band Dec. 4-8 and 11-13 and Cash Presley Dec. 3-6 and 9-13 as well as a DJ every night on the Main and 3rd Street stages. Additionally, the fourth annual Downtown Throwdown Barbecue Championships is set for Dec. 11 and 12 on 3rd Street North along the east side of Fremont Hotel & Casino.

Guests can purchase fare from some of the best cowboy cooks as they compete in cook-offs to determine who makes the best barbecue and chili around. For more information on all of the events at this year’s Downtown Hoedown, visit vegasexperience.com.

The Golden Nugget will be hosting concerts by several of country music’s hottest performers, too, in its Grand Event Center. Artists scheduled to perform include Tanya Tucker (“Blood Red and Goin’ Down”) Dec. 3; Trace Adkins (“Ladies Love Country Boys”) Dec. 5; Terri Clark (“Poor Poor Pitiful Me”) Dec. 6; country legend Merle Haggard (“Pancho and Lefty”) Dec. 7 and 8; LeAnn Rimes (“How Do I Live”) Dec. 9 and Alabama (“Mountain Music”) Dec. 10 and 11.

All shows start at 10 p.m. Visit goldennugget. com/lasvegas for ticket information or call 866.946.5336.

With so much to experience, it’s no wonder so many country fans hang out in downtown Las Vegas during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!

Photo of Montgomery Gentry courtesy of Fremont Street Experience; Tanya Tucker courtesy of Tanya Tucker; 2014 Downtown Hoedown by Tom Donoghue

Kicking off Fremont Street Experience’s 12 Days of Country is the 29th annual Downtown Hoedown. Beginning on Dec. 2 and running until Dec. 13, the popular event features top country music talents performing free concerts underneath the neon lights in celebration of the rodeo’s return to Las Vegas. This year’s event will be headlined by Montgomery Gentry. Best known for such hits as “Lucky Man,” “If You Ever Stop Loving Me” and “Roll with Me,” the country music duo is scheduled to perform on the 3rd

Street Stage Dec. 2. Other acts performing on Dec. 2 include “Buy Me a Boat” singer Chris Janson on the 1st Street Stage and Tracy Lawrence (“Sticks and Stones,” “Find Out Who Your Friends Are”) on the Main Street Stage, with Lawrence scheduled to perform at 4:30 p.m.