2023 Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo Kicks Off With Pre-Rodeo Festivities

HOUSTON, TX -- Today, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced its plans for key events held during its weeklong celebration leading up to the 2023 Rodeo, scheduled for Feb. 28 – March 19.

2023 SCHEDULE OF PRE-RODEO EVENTS:

World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings: Feb. 23 – 25 More than 250 barbecue teams will compete in the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23 – Saturday, Feb. 25. 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, as well as the Open Contest, where teams may enter their dish of choice, except desserts. The Jr. Cook-off Contest includes children between the ages of 8 and 14 competing with a single steak judged on appearance/presentation, tenderness and taste. The Jr. Cook-off Contest will be held Friday, Feb. 24 at 9 a.m., followed by the Awards Ceremony at 11 a.m. Visit rodeohouston.com for schedule and more information.

Rodeo Roundup & Go Texan Day: Friday, Feb. 24
All Houstonians are invited to attend this free event in downtown Houston at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24 at Houston City Hall in Hermann Square. Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Go Texan Day proclamation will kick off the event, followed by free chopped barbecue sandwiches provided by the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Committee. Enjoy live music, take your photo atop a Texas Longhorn steer 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. 24. 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. Learn more about Go Texan Day at rodeohouston.com.

Trail Rides: Friday, Feb. 24
On Friday, Feb. 24, 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, Saturday, Feb. 25. This continues a 70-year-old tradition that keeps Western heritage alive in the nation’s fourth largest city. Anyone who came out to see the trail rides arrive in Houston are also invited to join the awards presentation in Memorial Park at 5 p.m. Visit rodeohouston.com for more information.

Rodeo Run, presented by ConocoPhillips: Saturday, Feb. 25, 9:10 a.m.
Rodeo Run will be held Saturday, Feb. 25. The run will precede the Downtown Rodeo Parade and will kick off with the wheelchair race, followed by the 5K and 10K elite, 10K timed and 5K timed events. Registration is still open to participate, with a Sleep-In Option as well. Register now at rodeohouston.com.

Downtown Rodeo Parade: Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m.
The Downtown Rodeo Parade, one of the Rodeo’s most cherished annual traditions in Houston, will be held Saturday, Feb. 25. With RODEOHOUSTON® barrelman Leon Coffee serving as the 2023 Grand Marshal, 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. Visit rodeohouston.com to learn more.

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 2023 Rodeo is scheduled for Feb. 28 – March 19. The 2023 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 23 – 25. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.