Two bull riding performances, Judd Mortensen, BullBiz’s own Tonka Baj, ringside BUCKLE Boxes, live country music, ranch rodeo, barrel racing, and three days of Western action are coming to the Northern Gila County Fair, October 1–3, 2026.
If you love the sound of the chute gate cracking open, the roar of a crowd, and the kind of Western weekend that makes you want to pull on your boots and hit the road, Payson, Arizona needs to be on your calendar this October.
The 72nd Annual Northern Gila County Fair & BUCKLE Festival, October 1–3, 2026, is bringing three packed days of rodeo action, live country music, livestock, Western competition, and family entertainment to Arizona’s Rim Country.
And at the center of the action is BUCKLE Fest Bull Riding.
Two Bull Riding Shows. One Big Western Weekend.
Bull riding fans will have two chances to catch the action at the Payson Event Center:
Friday, October 2 at 6 PM
Saturday, October 3 at 12:30 PM
This isn’t the kind of event you watch quietly from the stands. Expect dirt flying, bulls bucking, cowboys chasing eight seconds, and a crowd that’s going to be on its feet.
With Judd Mortensen helping bring the bull riding action to Payson and Tonka Baj of BullBiz behind the microphone as announcer, BUCKLE Fest is setting the stage for a bull riding experience built for true rodeo fans.
Tonka brings the energy, personality, and knowledge of the sport that can turn a great bull ride into an unforgettable show.
And when those chute gates swing open in Payson, you’ll want to be there.
“There is nothing better than watching high-energy live bull riding in the pines. You don’t want to miss this event!”
Patrick O’Donnell
Founder & CEO
Cowboy Lifestyle Network
Want to Get Closer? Get a BUCKLE Box.
There are rodeo seats. And then there are BUCKLE Boxes.
BUCKLE Boxes put fans ringside, right against the action, giving groups one of the most exciting ways to experience bull riding at the Northern Gila County Fair.
Feel the ground shake. Hear the cowboys in the chutes. Watch the bulls explode into the arena just feet away.
These premium ringside boxes accommodate groups of 10 and are an incredible option for businesses, clients, employees, friends, and families looking for something far beyond the typical corporate outing.
For Arizona companies looking for a memorable corporate sponsorship and client entertainment opportunity, this is it. Trade the conference room for ringside seats.
But there’s a catch: BUCKLE Boxes are limited and available only while they last.
Bull Riding Is Just the Beginning
Come to Payson for the bulls. Stay for an entire weekend celebrating the Western lifestyle.
The Northern Gila County Fair & BUCKLE Festival is building a weekend where rodeo fans don’t have to choose between great competition, great music, and a traditional county fair.
It’s all here.
The Western action includes Ranch Rodeo, the Colten Boyle Barrel Race, Mutton Bustin’, Goat Roping, Junior Livestock events, and the Junior Livestock Auction, along with agricultural exhibits and the traditions that have made county fairs part of rural Arizona for generations.
Whether you’re cheering on a bull rider chasing eight seconds, watching a young cowboy or cowgirl compete, or seeing ranch hands put their real-world skills to work in the Ranch Rodeo, this weekend is about keeping Western traditions alive.
When the Rodeo Ends, the Music Starts
Don’t head home when the dirt settles.
BUCKLE Fest keeps the party going with a country music lineup throughout the weekend featuring:
Kristen Merlin from NBC’s The Voice
Moonshine Mafia
Western Fusion
Rim Country Band
That means you can spend the day watching rodeo and livestock competition, grab some fair food, catch a concert, and come back the next day for another round of bull riding.
This isn’t just a bull riding ticket. It’s a Western weekend in the Arizona mountains.
Why Payson?
Part of what makes BUCKLE Fest different is where it happens.
Payson sits in the heart of Arizona’s Rim Country, surrounded by pine country and generations of ranching and rodeo tradition. In October, the cooler mountain air makes it the perfect excuse for bull riding fans from Phoenix, Prescott, Flagstaff, and across Arizona to turn the Northern Gila County Fair into a weekend road trip.
Bring the family. Bring your rodeo crew. Bring your company.
Just bring your boots.
Homegrown Traditions Since 1955
The Northern Gila County Fair celebrates its homegrown traditions dating back to 1955, and BUCKLE Fest is taking that tradition into its next chapter.
BUCKLE stands for:
B – Bull Riding
U – Unity
C – Culture
K – Kids Rodeo
L – Live Entertainment
E – Experience
That last word may say it best.
This isn’t about coming to Payson to watch one event and leave. It’s about the experience.
It’s bull riding under the Arizona sky. It’s kids getting their first taste of rodeo. It’s livestock barns and barrel racers. It’s country music after dark. It’s businesses entertaining clients ringside. It’s families making memories and a community celebrating the Western way of life.
Get Your Tickets Before You Get to Payson
With two bull riding performances, concerts, rodeo events, and three days of entertainment packed into one weekend, presale tickets are the way to go.
And if you want one of those coveted ringside BUCKLE Boxes, don’t wait.
Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Northern Gila County Fair & BUCKLE Festival
October 1–3, 2026
Payson Event Center | Payson, Arizona
BUCKLE Fest Bull Riding:
Friday, October 2 – 6 PM
Saturday, October 3 – 12:30 PM
Featuring: Judd Mortensen and BullBiz announcer Tonka Baj
PLUS: Ranch Rodeo • Colten Boyle Barrel Race • Mutton Bustin’ • Goat Roping • Junior Livestock • Live Country Music • Fair Exhibits • Family Entertainment
GET YOUR PRESALE TICKETS & BUCKLE BOXES NOW
If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to get out of the city, head for Arizona’s high country and spend a weekend where the bulls buck, the music plays, and the Western lifestyle is still alive and well.
Payson is calling. We’ll see you ringside.
Last Updated on 09/14/2026 by Peter Varlet
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