Saddle up your horses, shine your boots and get out that cowboy hat because the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at Reliant Stadium is here again.
The rodeo features everything from barbecue to parades, horse shows, bull riding, calf scrambles, carnivals, concerts and a variety of other activities.
Get ready to taste the best barbecue around at the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. You can almost smell the competition while driving down loop 610 near the Fannin Street exit – or at least the barbecue.
The Downtown Rodeo Parade complete with trail riders, floats, commercial wagons and university and high school marching bands kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Houston down Memorial Street onto Texas Avenue.
The Top Hands Horse Show is at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. It showcases popular breeds of horses including Arabian, Paint and Quarter horses in competitions of jumping and speed.
There are also special days, such as Go Texan Day on Friday, Black Heritage Day on March 7 and Go Tejano Day on March 16.
Go Texan Day celebrates the Wild West, so boots, spurs and a cowboy hat would fit right in.
Black Heritage Day is a day set aside to celebrate culture and achievements with special festivities, exhibits and vendors. John Legend, R’B singer-songwriter, will perform at 6:45 p.m.
Go Tejano Day celebrates Hispanic heritage with Tejano music, a mariachi competition and numerous other special events filled with music and dance.
Go Tejano Day performances include Los Texmaniacs, 7 to 8 p.m., Avizo with Ram Herrera and Jimmy Edwards, 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. and Reflejo, 9:45 to 10:45 p.m.
Concerts are always fun, especially at the rodeo. This year country music fans will enjoy Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Pat Green and several others.
The rodeo may be out of the typical college student’s price range, but it’s worth it for all the events, activities and vendors it offers. Even if you’re not a fan of the Wild West, it’s still worth a trip.
The 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo looks to be a great time for cowboys, city folks and even those who are new to Texas. Get ready for a stampede of fun.
