Don your cowboy hat, pull up them bootstraps, and head to the fairgrounds: Rodeo Austin returns to the Travis County Expo Center this Friday, March 10, and runs through March 25.
What began as a modest stock show in 1938 has grown into a sprawling two-week event spectacular, featuring carnival rides, live music, and true-to-its-roots barn showdowns. We’re talking pig races, dairy milking, comedy stunt shows, and of course professional bull and bronc riding come rain or shine. Tap into the Texan within you, because what’s more Texan than watching on as kids and teens compete in a cash-prize all-out scramble to catch runaway calves?
On top of sunrise to sundown entertainment for the whole family, Rodeo Austin gives back to the youth through scholarships and agricultural education. As a nonprofit, the rodeo’s central mission has always been to support the youth, hosting over 200 school field trips from across the Lone Star State. Your price of admission (starting at $30 for the ProRodeo and headliners) funds $8 million in scholarships awarded to date and over $1 million for hands-on internships.
Carnival grounds open Friday afternoon, and the rodeo begins in earnest at its evening launch event, Kick Open the Chutes. Billed as a “pre-season party on the dirt,” Chutes promises the perfect opportunity to break in uncreased boots dancing to Texas native country singers Josh Ward and William Beckmann. Beginning March 11, top ProRodeo athletes rope, ride, and wrangle nightly, bookended with chart-topping live acts including country music stars Aaron Watson, Ryan Bingham, and Tracy Lawrence, Norteño bands Ramón Ayala and La Zenda Norteña, and more local talent.
Here’s the lineup of music sets on all stages:
Friday, March 10
Rodeo Austin Arena, 6:30pm: Josh Ward and William Beckmann
Saturday, March 11
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Jenna Paulette
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Michaela Watson
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Briana Adams
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Cole Whittlesey Band
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Aaron Watson
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Monte Good and Jukebox Deluxe
Sunday, March 12
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Mariachi Clasico
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Los Chicanos
Rodeo Austin Arena, 3pm: ProRodeo & Ramón Ayala
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Los Funky Monkeys
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Conjunto Cats
100X Dance Hall, 6pm: Monte Good and Jukebox Deluxe
Outdoor Stage, 8pm: Chris Gonzales & Lone Pistolero
Monday, March 13
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Spiral Maze
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Jake Stringer and Better Than Nothin’
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Case Hardin
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: The Broken Spokes
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Flo Rida
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Ed Johns Band
Tuesday, March 14
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Julia Springs
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Monica Austin
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Braydon Zink + Band
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: The Repeat Offenders
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Randy Rogers Band
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Ed Johns Band
Wednesday, March 15
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: TBA
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Kane Alvarado
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Trenton Fletcher
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Chase the Night
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Carly Pearce
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Monte Good and Jukebox Deluxe
Thursday, March 16
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Jessee Lee
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Cannon Brand
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Jaryn Friesen
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Nathan Colt Young
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Monte Good and Jukebox Deluxe
Friday, March 17
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Allora Leonard
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Andi Holleman
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Mathias Lattin
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Chubby Knuckle Choir
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Russell Dickerson
Outdoor Stage, 8pm: Dry County Band
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Ed Johns Band
Saturday, March 18
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Lake Travis Fiddlers
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: LetFloGo
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Glen Collins & The Alibis
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Jaret Ray Reddick
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Shane Smith & The Saints
Outdoor Stage, 8pm: Ben Kadlecek
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Ed Johns Band
Sunday, March 19
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Round Rock Ballet Folklorico
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Los Funky Monkeys
Rodeo Austin Arena, 3pm: ProRodeo & La Zenda Norteña
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: The Tiarras
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Matt Castillo Band
100X Dance Hall, 6pm: Monte Good and Jukebox Deluxe
Outdoor Stage, 8pm: Los Kid Brothers
Monday, March 20
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Bonnie Lang
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Ruel Thomas & Band
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Don Mabry
Tuesday, March 21
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Cameron Wrinkle
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Jake Bush
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo & Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Ed Johns Band
Wednesday, March 22
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Joe Bob’s Bar & Grill Band
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Ferdinand the Bull
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo Playoffs & Sugar Ray
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Ed Johns Band
Thursday, March 23
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Cheyenne Saenz
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Bailey Rae & Band
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Braydon Zink
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo Playoffs & Flatland Cavalry
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Monte Good and Jukebox Deluxe
Friday, March 24
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Chaely Zigmond
Outdoor Stage, 4pm: Small Town Habit
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: Justin Garner
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo Playoffs & Lainey Wilson
Outdoor Stage, 8pm: TBA
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Monte Good and Jukebox Deluxe
Saturday, March 25
Outdoor Stage, 11:30am: Cole Stephens
Outdoor Stage, 2pm: Madison Rodges
Outdoor Stage, 4pm:Michaela Watson & Band
Outdoor Stage, 6pm: The Western Express
Rodeo Austin Arena, 7pm: ProRodeo Finals & Tracy Lawrence
Outdoor Stage, 8pm: Jessee Lee
100X Dance Hall, 10pm: Ed Johns Band
This article appears in March 3 • 2023.