Utah’s only rodeo to be inducted into the prestigious ProRodeo Hall of Fame (in 2017) and the 2022 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) Large Rodeo of the Year, the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo 2023 will begin July 19 and run through July 24, with the exception of Sunday, July 23.
This rodeo is put on every year to bring the community and the state of Utah together for a weekend of excitement and unity, as well as to commemorate the settlement of Ogden. It attracts more than 30,000 attendees and is consistently ranked as one of the top outdoor rodeos in the country.
Ogden Pioneer Days History
In the mid-1800s, a group of just over 140 pioneers made the 1,000 mile trip across the country to settle in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah. By 1869, nearly 70,000 other pioneers had made their way to the beautiful state.
Established in 1934, the now very large and popular Ogden Pioneer Days was created to celebrate this journey and to aid in securing the city of Ogden’s uncertain future after the Great Depression. Mayor Harman Peery is credited with dreaming up the idea of an event that would bring tourists to and uplift the community. He had high hopes for the rodeo to be nationally recognized: hopes that, although it took some time, have been fulfilled today.
Some of the biggest names in the sport of rodeo have competed in Ogden and taken home the championship title. Just last year, the winners of the event included Stetson Wright, Cole Franks, R.C. Landingham, Logan Cook, Kade Bruno, Trevor Reiste, Bo Pickett, Jake Pratt, Cody Devers, Stetson Jorgensen, Jaxson Tucker, Wyatt Cox, Jordan Briggs, TiAda Gray, Joey Williams and Sarah Morrissey. The 2022 event sold out every night!
What to Expect at the 2023 Event
Each rodeo performance will feature some of the best rodeo action there is, and fans are encouraged to participate in and enjoy each night’s theme and cause. Not only is this a stand-out rodeo, but there are also other events to partake in throughout the weekend of National Day of the Cowboy.
Gates to Ogden Pioneer Stadium open at 5:30 p.m., with the pre-rodeo beginning at 6:30 and each performance starting at 7:30. There will be slack each morning, and the Miss Rodeo Utah pageant is held at this unique event. On Saturday, July 22, Charley Jenkins will perform live in the arena after the performance. Wrapping up the rodeo, Monday, July 24, will include a parade in the community, the Miss Rodeo Utah coronation and a drone show following the rodeo.
Every night, the pre-rodeo will wrap up with mutton busting. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., barrel racers and pole benders will compete July 19. Miniature bull riders will ride July 20 and 21, followed by the Miss Rodeo Utah Freestyle Horsemanship Contest July 22. The final pre-rodeo event on July 24 will be Utah’s Mounted Thunder Cowboy Mounted Shooting.
Schedule
- Wednesday, July 19: (Family Night and Educator Appreciation)
- Thursday, July 20: (Cowboys & Community Care Night and First Responder Appreciation)
- Friday, July 21: (Patriot Night and Military Appreciation)
- Saturday, July 22: (National Day of the American Cowboy)
- Monday, July 24: (Pioneer Day Celebration)
Tickets
The only official sources to purchase Ogden Pioneer Days tickets are ogdenpioneerdays.com and axs.com. Tickets for the first four nights start at $17 for adults and $12 for youth. Box seats for these nights start at $20, and west chute tickets are $30. On the final night of the historical rodeo, ticket prices start at $20 for adults and $14 for youth. Box seats on July 24 are $25-$30, and tickets for the west chutes cost $40.
As we gear up for one of Utah’s most famous events and cherished events, make sure you get your tickets to join us at the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo 2023! What better way to celebrate National Day of the Cowboy than at an award-winning outdoor rodeo with family, friends, and truly spectacular competition.
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