Kids ages 3-8 can be part of a free kids’ rodeo on Saturday, August 3.
Photo by Paul Cooley
GERRY — The Gerry Volunteer Fire Department has always taken pride in making their professional rodeo a family affair, and the upcoming 79th consecutive rodeo continues that tradition as there are a number of special activities planned for the kids.
The fun can begin in the midway, which opens at 5 p.m. each of the four days of the rodeo, Wednesday through Saturday, July 31-Aug. 3, with events such as pony rides, face painting, and sand art. Kids can enjoy their favorite treats with cotton candy, ice cream, fried dough, French fries, taffy, snow cones, and candied apples. Souvenirs such as t-shirts, cowboy hats, toys, and much more are available at the Toy Barn.
The exciting rodeo action featuring eight traditional competitive events — saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, breakaway roping, and the dangerous bull riding — aways thrills the fans, particularly the young ones, as more than 230 cowboys and cowgirls from across the nation compete for $50,000 in prize money. That action begins at 8 each evening.
The kids can wrap up their exciting evening with a meet-and-greet affair just outside the arena entrance as they can get photos and autographs for free with the professional cowboys and cowgirls and the Miss New York rodeo queens.
Saturday will feature a free kids’ rodeo in the rodeo arena where kids 3-8 can put on their Western wear dress up and play rodeo related games such as stick-horse races supervised by the real cowboys and cowgirls. Each participant will receive a back tag and prizes will be awarded for the best dressed little cowboy and cowgirl. No animals will be used. The event begins at 4 p.m. with registration beginning at 3, kids must be accompanied by an adult.
The rodeo also features the famous barbeque beef dinners that are served each day from 5-8 in the air-conditioned dining room where fans will consume about 3,000 dinners over the four days of rodeo. Special dinner prices are available for the kids. Additional information is available at the rodeo website www.gerryrodeo.org or by phone at (716) 985-4847 or 1-888-985-4847 and at the Country Fair Stores in Gerry or Fredonia. Reduced pre-sale tickets available at those sources through Friday, July 28.