Pendleton Roundup 2021

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The annual Pendleton Round-Up is the much-anticipated rodeo and festival that kicks off September 11th-18th, 2021, features a thrilling rodeo, concerts with world-famous musicians, a parade, delicious food, and so much more! There is no question that the wild, wild West is alive and well at the Pendleton Round-Up! Cowboys and cowgirls won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind experience, so mark your calendar today.

History

“Let ‘er Buck!” The frontier exhibition in 1909 started as cowboy racing and bronco busting for the championship of the Northwest as Indians and military personnel spectated. On July 29th, 1910 papers were signed to integrate the Round-Up into a non-profit organization; the original title was “Northwestern Frontier Exhibition Association.” With a long history, it takes place in the second week of September each year and draws tens of thousands of people to the area.

Xtreme Bulls

Monday, September 13th and Tuesday, September 14th night, Xtreme Bulls will be held in the Happy Canyon arena performances begin at 8:00 pm. The toughest sport on dirt brings some of the best bull riders in the world to battle the rankest bulls in the ultimate man v. beast. One of the most exciting live sports to witness as riders attempt to hold on for an 8-second ride.

Rodeo

The Pendleton Round-Up runs Wednesday, September 15th, 2021, and goes through Saturday, September 18th, 2021 and begins at 1:15 pm each day. The events at the Round-Up are Bareback Bronc Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Steer Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, and Tie-Down Roping. Other events include women’s Barrel Racing, Indian Relay Racing, Wild Cow Milking, and Indian dancing. Kicking off the fun, Pendleton Round-Up welcomes Grammy-nominated and country music icon, Bully Currington on Saturday, September 11th.

The Parade

“The Greatest Free Show in the West” cowboys, volunteer crew, are ambassadors who bring all the entertainment like clowns, comedians, magicians, carnival rides, and several musical stages to Pendleton’s Main Street. Two parades make their way down Main Street: The Dress-Up Parade kicks off festivities on Saturday, September 11th, and features rodeo courts and local groups; and the Westward Ho! Parade, Friday, September 17th, features all nonmotorized entries, including horses, oxen, and wagons.

Remember to check local travel mandates before attending and plan on having tons of fun at the Pendleton Roundup 2021!

Peter Varlet

Peter Varlet’s the cowboy critic you love to hate, until he’s right. Born during a thunderstorm in 1972 in Bismarck, North Dakota, he grew up watching his WWII vet dad battle to save their farm from corporate claws. Now, Peter’s the unapologetic voice of Western culture, with a historian’s grip on America’s past, acknowledging both its heroes and hypocrites. His truth to power articles are a no-holds-barred zone for rodeo reviews, cowboy movie takedowns, and ranching tricks that work. He’ll tell you why your country singer’s a fraud and how to fix a fence with only baling wire and spite. Peter despises corporate factory farms taking over and cherishes the DIY grit of real Americans. Politically correct? Nope. Trustworthy? Damn straight. He’s saving the West, one brutal truth at a time.