There’s something timeless and sacred about a homegrown rodeo. It’s a tradition that draws you back year after year, hand in hand with family and friends. You grow up chasing autographs from rodeo queens, swapping stories with neighbors in the bleachers, waking up hoarse from hours of cheering for your favorite athletes, legs tired from dancing the night away at the after-rodeo dance… These memories have meaning and find their way stitched into the fabric of a community. It may be the same dusty arena beneath the same familiar sky, but there’s magic in a rodeo brought to life by the passion of a small community.
2025 Gilbert Days Rodeo
Friday, November 21st | 7pm
Saturday, November 22nd | 5pm
Sunday, November 23rd | 2pm
Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre
20464 E Riggs Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
As someone who grew up attending such a rodeo, there’s no event in November I hold more dear to my heart than the Gilbert Days Rodeo.
Where It All Began
While Gilbert’s ranching and rodeo roots stretch back for decades, it was in 1978 that a group of local ranchers, businessmen, and entrepreneurs came together with a shared mission: to preserve and promote Gilbert’s Western heritage for generations to come. That vision gave rise to the Gilbert Promotional Corporation (GPC), which has served as the driving force behind the beloved Gilbert Days Rodeo for the past 47 years.
Entirely volunteer-run, the GPC has remained steadfast in its commitment to celebrating family values, keeping the spirit of the west alive, and uplifting the Town of Gilbert through community outreach and service projects. At the heart of it all is the highly anticipated Gilbert Days Rodeo.
Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future
Once hailed as the “Hay Shipping Capital of the World,” Gilbert, Arizona has transformed from a quiet agricultural town into one of America’s fastest-growing communities. Though its rural fields have given way to a thriving suburban landscape, Gilbert continues to honor its ranching and farming roots through its dedication to producing one of Arizona’s most beloved rodeos, the Gilbert Days Rodeo.
What to Expect in 2025
With less than a month to go until the arena lights blaze and the dust starts flying, there’s still time to grab your tickets and gear up for an unforgettable weekend at the 2025 Gilbert Days Rodeo. Three action-packed rodeo performances are just the beginning, so saddle up with CLN, and we’ll show you the ropes!
The Rodeo
The Gilbert Days Rodeo proudly serves as a stop along the Grand Canyon Professional Rodeo Association (GCPRA) and International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) circuit. Bringing in top-notch rodeo and equine talent year after year, Gilbert Days is a must-see for the avid rodeo fan and newcomer alike. Whether the 2025 Gilbert Days Rodeo is your first or your thousandth, you’re in for a weekend packed with thrills, spills, and unforgettable rodeo action.
The Gilbert Days Pony Express
Kicking off the festivities is the annual Gilbert Days Pony Express Ride, held November 14th and 15th, this event is a living tribute to the Old West. Riders saddle up and journey from city to city, delivering mail across Arizona in a reenactment of frontier tradition. The ride begins in Gilbert with a ceremonial send-off, then winds through Sacaton, Stanfield, Casa Grande, Eloy, Coolidge, Florence, and Queen Creek. A lesson in history, the Gilbert Days Pony Express Ride is a longstanding tradition honoring and preserving Gilbert’s past and inspiring Gilbert’s present and future generations.
The Lil’ Dudes Rodeo
Before the main rodeo kicks off each day at Gilbert Days, the spotlight shines on the youngest wranglers in the family during the Lil’ Dudes Rodeo. Children ages 4 to 7 can showcase their courage and cowboy spirit in the crowd-favorite event, Mutton Bustin’. Meanwhile, the older kids, ages 8 to 12, can test their skills and bravery in the thrilling Steer Riding competition.
Live Music and Entertainment
Rodeo isn’t the only thing Gilbert Days has to offer! Multiple food and drink vendors will keep bellies full, while artisan and handcrafted goods vendors keep shoppers happy. When the dust settles after the Friday and Saturday night rodeo performances, the celebration continues at the Gilbert Days After Party & Concert. The best part? It’s completely FREE! Bring the entire family and dance the night away to live music by the Josh Roy Band.
Lasting Legacy
As the Gilbert Days Rodeo Princess in 2011 and Gilbert Days Rodeo Queen in 2017, my journey with the Gilbert Days Rodeo has been nothing short of extraordinary. From countless hours spent at the rodeo park, pushing cattle during weekly ropings to chasing barrels under the Thursday night arena lights, those experiences weren’t just routines, they were the heartbeat of my upbringing. Growing up alongside the rodeo instilled a deep sense of pride, grit, and community spirit.
In a town that continues to grow and evolve, the Gilbert Promotional Corporation has masterfully preserved the charm of Gilbert’s simpler past while breathing fresh energy into its future. Their dedication ensures that the legacy of rodeo lives on, not just as an event, but as a cherished tradition woven into the fabric of our community. We hope you will join Cowboy Lifestyle Network and the Gilbert Promotional Corporation at this year’s Gilbert Days Rodeo!
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