The Fort Macleod Midnight Pro Rodeo is June 24-26.
Pro rodeo returns to Midnight Stadium this month with an additional night of entertainment.
Pro rodeo made a triumphant return last year to Fort Macleod after a 43-year absence.
More than 4,500 people packed into the refurbished outdoor arena at Midnight Stadium for two rodeo performances.
“Everybody is excited again this year,” Fort Macleod Agricultural Society vice-president Thane Hurlburt said.
Some of pro rodeo’s top competitors will saddle up for the 2025 Fort Macleod Midnight Rodeo’s three performances on Tuesday to Thursday, June 24-26.
In addition to the rodeo action, there will be performances by trick riders, an agricultural show, beer gardens and the Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce’s Battle of the Businesses.
All the action will once again be broadcast on the Cowboy Channel.
Agricultural society members weren’t sure what to expect last year as they organized the rodeo to coincide with Fort Macleod’s 150th anniversary.
To their delight 2,000 people packed the grandstand on the first night of rodeo, and then another 2,500 filed through the gates for the second night.
“The actual attendance, the spectators, blew us away,” Hurlburt said. “Everybody was just ecstatic.”
The Midnight Pro Rodeo made a big impression with on-line viewers, attracting 700 viewers.
“They were quite impressed,” Hurlburt said.
Members of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association will head to Sundre, High River, Bassano and Wainwright the weekend of June 19-22.
Then they will head to Fort Macleod for performances at 6 p.m. June 24, June 25 and June 26, before moving on to the Ponoko Stampede the following weekend.
“Fort Macleod’s timing works out just great,” Hurlburt said.
Competitors in bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, tie down roping, barrel racing, saddle bronc and bull riding will vie for a share of $30,000 in prize money at Fort Macleod.
Looking after the competitors and entertaining the crowd will be rodeo clown Dennis Halstead.
Gates open at 12 noon each day, with the rodeo starting at 6 p.m.
Trick riders Keeley Sutherland and Bella De Costa will perform all three nights.
The slack will be run off starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 25.
The beer gardens will be open from 5-11 p.m. each day of the rodeo.
Tickets are $20 with children aged 12 years and under admitted free of charge.
The agricultural society could still use some volunteers, and there is always room for more sponsors. Contact fmagsociety@gmail.com.
As for the community at large, they’re encouraged to come out to watch some pro rodeo.
