We post this as a courtesy for the non-profits we support. (WE DON’T RECOMMEND SCHEDULING ANY EVENTS DURING HOUSTON RODEO) Save this date, and plan around.

This Event Reminder and Save-The-Date is Sponsored by:

Are you wondering what day the Houston Rodeo Cookoff is for 2025, we got you covered. HLSR is thrilled to announce that the 93rd Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will be held March 4 – 23, 2025! The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest presented by Cotton Holdings will be held February 27 – March 1, 2025. The location for the Houston BBQ Cookoff will be in the NRG Stadium Parking Lots.

You can buy tickets ahead of time to enter the Cook-Off Grounds, but most tents tickets for entry are given to their sponsors for their guests to enter the rodeo cookoff tents with free passes.

Are you Wanting to Know How Much are Tickets to The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Houston Rodeo Cook Off?

Tickets
BAR-B-QUE CONTEST ADMISSION
Adult (13 & over): $26 | Child (3-12): $10 | Age two & under: Free
Concerts at The Garden Stage, sponsored by Miller Lite
Admission to Carnival (NOT valid for rides or games)
Admission to Saloon & Chuckwagon
Complimentary sliced brisket, beans and chips

GROUNDS SEASON PASS
Grounds Season Pass: $57
Daily admission to World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest
Daily admission during the run of the Show, with access to all public activities at NRG Park, NRG Center & NRG Arena
Admission to Carnival (NOT valid for rides or games)
NOT INCLUDED: Rodeo & concert in NRG Stadium, Rodeo Uncorked! events

Public Venues
With a Bar-B-Que Contest ticket, visitors may enjoy The Garden Stage, sponsored by Miller Lite, which presents some of the best names in Texas country music. The Garden Stage is located in the center of the contest grounds.

A delicious complimentary sliced brisket plate with chips and beans awaits guests at The Chuckwagon, and next door visitors can enjoy the Rockin’ Bar-B-Que Saloon, which features live and DJ music. At the saloon you can find an outdoor patio area.

The Carnival is available for people to enjoy throughout the day and night.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage, and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $575 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 93rd Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will be held March 4 – 23, 2025! The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest presented by Cotton Holdings will be held Feb. 27 – March 1, 2025. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com

CONCERT LINEUP

Mark your calendars for Jan. 9! The 2025 RODEO HOUSTON Entertainer Lineup is officially locked in and the wait to find out who’s taking the Star Stage next is almost over.

GENRE Calendar Coming Soon..

March 4 Opening Day
March 5 Armed Forces Appreciation Day to Honor Brave Men and Women for their Service in U.S. Military.
Free NRG Park Admission on Armed Forces Appreciation Day for the following:

• Actively-serving military members in uniform and with a current military ID, plus four of their family members
• Spouses of actively-serving military members currently deployed with a dependent ID, plus four of their family members. Admission provided at the NRG Park entrances on Armed Forces Appreciation Day only
• Rodeo/Concert tickets sold separately

March 7 Black Heritage Day
Day-long festivities include live entertainment on the Junction Stage from Houston’s finest bands, choirs, dance teams, cheerleader teams, and fine arts groups; special entertainment at the Champion Wine Garden and in The Hideout; and historical and educational displays around the grounds of NRG Park.

March 10 First Responders Day
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo salutes the various public law enforcement, firefighters, EMS and other emergency services agencies in the Houston Metropolitan Area on First Responders Day.

• Free NRG Park admission to the grounds for all first responders with a badge, plus four of their family members (admission provided at the NRG Park entrances on First Responders Day only)
• Special equipment and services displays
• Rodeo/Concert tickets sold separately

March 12 Community Day 2025
The Rodeo will host Community Day, providing additional discounts for guests coming to NRG Park on the middle Wednesday of Rodeo. The celebration includes buy one get one rides and games in the Junction and community activations.

• Free admission for all guests to the Grounds until noon
• Buy one, get one rides and games in the Junction Carnival area until 4 p.m.
• Discounted food and beverage offerings at the Junction until 4 p.m.
• $3 mini corn dog at McKinney Corn Dog
• $3 mini popcorn at Kid Shack
• $3 small sour apple lemonade at Squeezers

March 13 Volunteer Appreciation Day
The Rodeo is turning the spotlight on its unsung heroes like never before with the inaugural Volunteer Appreciation Day. The party will start bright and early with the “Boots and Bubbly Brunch” and other events include a volunteer talent show, and a special presentation inside NRG Stadium, including a Rodeo volunteer who will sing the national anthem.

March 16 Go Tejano Day
Go Tejano Day festivities include live entertainment on The Junction Stage and in the Champion Wine Garden, and the Mariachi Invitational Semifinals in The Hideout. Enjoy Fiesta Charra in the NRG Center Main Arena, a colorful exhibition of traditional Mexican folk dance, music and horseback riding.

Get ready for 2025: Rodeo announces Pre-Rodeo Events – Are you wondering what are the dates for the Pre-Rodeo Events?

Festivities include World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, Rodeo Roundup & Go Texan Day, Trail Rides, Rodeo Run and the Downtown Rodeo Parade

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is excited to announce its dates and details for key events held during a weeklong celebration leading up to the 2025 Rodeo, scheduled for March 4 – March 23.

2025 SCHEDULE OF PRE-RODEO EVENTS:

World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings: Feb. 27 – March 1

More than 250 barbecue teams will compete in the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27 – Saturday, March 1. Over the course of three days, teams from across the state of Texas and the world will compete for champion titles in the following categories: Brisket, Ribs, Chicken, Go Texan and Dutch Oven Dessert, and Open Contest. The Jr. Cook-off Contest, for children between the ages of 8 and 14, will be held Friday, Feb. 28.

Rodeo Roundup & Go Texan Day: Friday, Feb. 28

All Houstonians are invited to attend this free event in downtown Houston on Friday, Feb. 28 at Houston City Hall in Hermann Square. Mayor John Whitmire’s Go Texan Day proclamation will kick off the event. Enjoy live music and visit with Rodeo volunteers representing the more than 100 committees to learn more about this annual Houston tradition.

Go Texan Day, the city-wide celebration of Western heritage, will also be held Friday, Feb. 28. As the unofficial kickoff of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, everyone in the Houston community is encouraged to wear their best Western attire. Get ready for Rodeo in your favorite jeans, boots and cowboy hats.

Trail Rides: Friday, Feb. 28

On Friday, Feb. 28, horses and wagons from 10 trail rides will make their way through the city streets to merge and camp one final night at Memorial Park before participating in the Downtown Rodeo Parade on Saturday, March 1. This continues a 71-year-old tradition that keeps Western heritage alive in the nation’s fourth largest city.

Rodeo Run, presented by ConocoPhillips: Saturday, March 1

Rodeo Run will be held Saturday, March 1. The run will precede the Downtown Rodeo Parade and will kick off with the wheelchair race, followed by the 10K and 5K timed and untimed events. Additional details will be announced when finalized.

Downtown Rodeo Parade: Saturday, March 1

The Downtown Rodeo Parade, one of the Rodeo’s most cherished annual traditions in Houston, will be held on Saturday, March 1. Houston is transformed from a bustling metropolis to a down-home celebration of Western heritage. Decorative floats intermingle with thousands of men and women on horseback to fill the streets with hoof beats and marching bands. Enthusiastic Houstonians join out-of-town spectators to line the streets and sidewalks to be involved in one of Houston’s most popular celebrations.

Record-Breaking Purse Ignites Rodeo Revolution $2.5 Million 

In the heart of Texas, where the spirit of the Old West still thrives, a seismic shift is about to rock the rodeo world. RODEOHOUSTON, the crown jewel of the Lone Star State’s cowboy culture, has just announced an unprecedented purse increase for 2025 that’s set to increase the stakes for rodeo athletes across the nation.

Rodeo isn’t just a sport—it’s a living, breathing piece of American history. Born from the gritty reality of 19th-century ranch life, it has evolved from informal competitions between vaqueros to a heart-pounding spectacle that draws thousands.

In 1938, a pivotal moment arrived when the Rodeo was added to what was called the Houston Fat Stock Show. It began with five events, bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling. This move legitimized the sport even more, setting standards and paving the way for today’s thrilling competition which now includes eight events.

Lefty Holman, a saddle bronc rider whose name evokes images of legendary cowboys, knows firsthand the toll this sport takes on its athletes. “We put our heart, our soul, we dedicate our lives to this game,” Holman says, his voice carrying the weight of countless eight-second rides.

Ranked in the top 10 in the world, Holman’s recent second-place finish in RODEOHOUSTON 2024 netted him over $28,000—a substantial sum, but one that barely scratches the surface of the financial demands faced by modern-day cowboys.

Now, RODEOHOUSTON is set to rewrite the rules of the game. With a staggering increase of $355,500, the total official purse for 2025 will reach an eye-watering $2,533,500.

“It’s life-changing money,” Holman declares, his eyes glinting with a mixture of excitement and gratitude. “The Rodeo is changing rodeo for the better in every way possible.”

For athletes like Holman and Jackie Crawford, a breakaway roper with an astounding 23 WPRA World Titles to her name, this increase represents more than just a bigger paycheck—it’s a validation of their sacrifices and a beacon of hope for the sport’s future.

Crawford, who lassoed a whopping $55,250 at Houston in 2024, puts it plainly: “I don’t think people understand just how expensive it is to rodeo. When you have a rodeo that pays what Houston does, it is a huge relief, and it is a huge leg up monetarily for you.”

This bold move by RODEOHOUSTON isn’t just about the money—it’s about propelling rodeo into the spotlight it deserves. “I think it’s going to turn rodeo upside down and make rodeo more of a mainstream sport,” Holman predicts.

For Crawford, a mother herself, the implications stretch far beyond the present. She dreams of a brighter future for her three-year-old daughter, who already shows a love for the sport. “I often kind of dream about what it’s going to be like then,” she says. “I can’t help but think that she’s going to have amazing opportunities, and it’s going to continue to grow from where it is even right now.”

As the dust settles on this groundbreaking announcement, one thing is clear: RODEOHOUSTON isn’t just preserving a tradition—it’s revolutionizing it. With each bucking bronc and every roped calf, the spirit of the American West charges forward into a new era, carried on the backs of these modern-day cowboys and cowgirls.

The message from Houston is loud and clear: Rodeo isn’t just alive—it’s bucking harder than ever.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials proudly announce their 2025 educational commitment of $28,058,754, reaching new heights in support of Texas youth and education programs. This commitment will bring the Rodeo’s total commitment to Texas education to more than $632 million since 1932.

The Rodeo’s 2025 educational commitment will award $14.7 million in scholarships, more than $9.7 million to junior show exhibitors, more than $3 million in educational program grants and more than $481,000 to graduate assistantship programs across Texas.

“As one of the core missions of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, being able to support Texas youth and education is one of our most prized achievements,” said Chris Boleman, Rodeo president and CEO. “It is because of our over 35,000 volunteers, donors, partners, sponsors, and Houston community who support our mission year-round that allow us to continue to grow the Rodeo’s charitable mission, allowing both the organization and Texas students to achieve the extraordinary.”

2025 Educational Commitment:

Scholarships……………………………………………………………………. $14,718,000
Junior Show Exhibitors………………………………………………………… $9,764,100
Educational Program Grants………………………………………………… $3,095,554
Graduate Assistantships……………………………………………………….. $481,100
Total………………………………………………………………………………. $28,058,754

Scholarships

Scholarships include Houston-area Rodeo Scholars, Texas 4-H, Texas FFA, Achievement and Vocational scholarships. More than 800 scholarships will be awarded through the Rodeo’s scholarship programs in 2024. As one of the largest scholarship providers in the U.S., the Rodeo has presented more than 22,000 scholarships valued at more than $305 million since 1932.

Rodeo scholarship applications will be open between Dec. 16, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025. For full eligibility requirements, or to apply online, click here.

Junior Show Exhibitors

Education stretches to the livestock show stage as well. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo supports Texas 4-H and FFA exhibitors who compete in the world’s largest livestock show. Thanks to the Rodeo’s generous donors, who also support the exhibitors’ projects, the participants who place are awarded a guaranteed premium, ranging between $2,200 and $75,000, based on category. These exhibitors include those from the junior show who participate in the 2025 Houston Livestock Show, including calf scramble contestants. Since 1932, nearly $218 million has been committed to exhibitors through premiums and calf scramble certificates.

Educational Program Grants

Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) charities and accredited institutions of higher education that align with the Rodeo’s mission. The Rodeo’s 2025 grant recipients include the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, NASA/Johnson Space Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Schreiner University, Prairie View A&M University, Brookwood Community, The Children’s Museum of Houston, Camp for All, Boys and Girls Clubs, Houston Grand Opera, Houston SPCA, Houston Zoo, YMCA of Greater Houston, University of Houston Downtown and dozens more. To view the complete list, click here. Since the first grant was awarded in 1990, the Rodeo has presented over $92 million in research, grants and educational programs to more than 100 organizations and institutions in Texas.

Graduate Assistantships

Funds are awarded to graduate assistantship programs at 11 Texas universities, with each university responsible for administration and student selection. The awarded universities for 2024 include: Angelo State University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Sul Ross State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University – Commerce, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Texas State University, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University. Since the 1970s, more than $16 million has been awarded to graduate assistantship programs in Texas.

About the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage, and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $630 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 2025 Rodeo is scheduled for March 4 – 23. The 2025 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com or the RODEOHOUSTON app and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.