Will Rogers Stampede Celebrating 75 Years!

Yeehaw, Y’all!  Dust off your boots and grab your hats, because the Will Rogers Stampede is back and bigger than ever, on Memorial Day weekend 2021, celebrating their 75th anniversary!

Stampede Rodeo Week promises to be filled with fun for the whole family! The events kick-off Friday, May 21, with the inaugural Cowboys 4Kids Golf Tournament, which will be held at Heritage Hills Golf Course. An amazing day of 18-hole golf will be held in partnership with Rogers County Youth Services, with proceeds from the tournament will benefiting their programs, as well as the Will Rogers Stampede. Teams may enter the tournament by calling Visit Claremore offices. The Rodeo events begin Thursday, May 27, with Food Truck Thursday taking place from 6-9 p.m. in downtown Claremore. Commemorative posters, T-shirts, and rodeo tickets will be for sale at the event. At 7 p.m., the Clem McSpadden Tub-Handle Classic Steer Roping will be held at the Stampede Park, and tickets are general admission for $5 each. On Friday, May 28, Rodeo Slack starts at 8 a.m. at Stampede Park, and Rodeo performance at 7 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m.  On Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30, the Rodeo performance will begin at 7 p.m. at the Park, gates open at 6 p.m.  Concessions will be available during the rodeo on Stampede grounds at the Pendleton Saloon, and there will be vendors with items for sale, such as jewelry, leather goods and more. Advanced tickets are on sale at www.willrogersstampede.com. Adults are $15 each, children are $7, and a family four-pack can be purchased for $40.

On Friday and Saturday nights after the rodeo ends, a concert will begin. At around 10 p.m. each night, guests can gather at the concert stage to hear Pumpkin Hollow Friday night, and Wyatt Baker & JR Carroll Saturday night. The concerts are free with a rodeo ticket.

The Stampede is a historic event for Rogers County, beginning in 1947. It is the only 5x PRCA Small Rodeo in the PRCA or in Oklahoma. Tanya Andrews, Director of Visit Claremore, realizes the value that it brings to her community. “Visitors from all over can come to Claremore for the rodeo, and experience all that we have to offer here,” she said. “Come for the day or the weekend, and you’ll find we have wonderful museums, a bike trail, a lake, parks, wonderful restaurants and shopping, and more and we’re minutes from Tulsa. We’re a destination.” The community of Claremore has always embraced their rodeo as well. “It’s entertainment, and people really enjoy it, whether it’s the clowns or the mutton busting, or the grand entrance parade with the national anthem,” she said. “It’s true Americana.”

The Rodeo Arena Cooperative is extraordinarily grateful for their event sponsors, without which any of the events could take place. This year’s event has been made possible by Diamond Level Sponsor, RCB Bank; Gold Buckle Sponsors, Midtown Rentals & Sales, idrive Melton’s, Ira Green Construction, GRDA, Stillwater Milling, RFR Law and Regent Bank; and Silver Spur Sponsors, Pixley Lumber, BancFirst and McFarlin-Ingersoll Ranch.

There really isn’t anything like the energy and excitement of a rodeo, and it’s a thrilling experience that was missed last year. “We hope everybody will come out and celebrate with us,” said Tanya, “It’s really worth celebrating!”

For more information, visit their website or call Visit Claremore at (918) 342-5357.