Big Week, the days surrounding the annual California Rodeo Salinas, is full of events that kids will enjoy. From a carnival to a stick horse race and finishing each rodeo performance with an autograph party, there are many ways to create unforgettable memories.
The Rodeo Carnival kicks off on Friday, July 12th and is open daily from 3pm to 11pm until Sunday, July 21ST at 295 Sun Way in Salinas. The carnival is presented by Smoot Family Chiropractic and offers affordable entertainment during Big Week. Admission and parking are just $5 and unlimited ride wristbands can be purchased for $25 until July 11th at the Salinas Sports Complex Box Office (1034 N. Main Street, Salinas) or for $35 at the carnival site July 12TH through the 21st. More information is available here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2019/carnival-2019.
The 89th annual Kiddie Kapers Parade will take place on Saturday, July 13th in Old Town Salinas at 7:00pm. Children will walk from the Salinas High School parking lot at 726 S. Main Street to the Steinbeck Center at 1 Main Street in Salinas. The parade is presented by Sakata Seed America and will feature approximately 1,200 children. No pre-registration is necessary and the theme this year is ‘Every Child is a Rodeo Star.’ More information can be found at https://www.carodeo.com/events/2019/kiddie-kapers-parade. Families will also enjoy the Colmo del Rodeo Parade presented by Star Market at 7:30pm immediately following the Kiddie Kapers Parade and following almost the same route. Information about the Colmo del Rodeo Parade can be found here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2019/colmo-del-rodeo-parade-2019.
The McDonald’s Kids Corral is open daily during the California Rodeo Salinas July 18th through the 21st. This area is full of activities for kids to enjoy and there is no admission fee required, it’s included with the price of your Rodeo ticket. The area opens Thursday and Friday at 5pm and Saturday at 12pm and Sunday at 11:30am. Get more information here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2019/kids-corral.
The annual California Rodeo Stick Horse Race is presented by Black Bear Diner and held on Thursday, July 18th with preliminary races on the track before the Rodeo starts and the finals that night during the performance. Kids can sign up on the 18th starting at 4:00pm near the McDonald’s Kids Corral and the preliminary race is at 4:30pm. Children ages 3-8 can participate and must bring their own stick horses. Details are here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2019/stick-horse-race.
On Saturday, July 20th at noon, the Special Buckaroos Rodeo takes place on the track surrounding the arena. Twenty four special needs students from Monterey County will take part in a makeshift rodeo, swinging ropes, riding horses and more all with assistance from professional cowboys and cowgirls, bullfighters and other rodeo personnel. This event is presented by Tanimura & Antle.
SafetEquip sponsors the Autograph Party after each Rodeo performance July 18th through the 21st on the track after the action clears. Kids can get signatures, meet Rodeo Clowns and bullfighters along with contestants. Free posters are distributed while kids are in line. Get more information here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2019/autograph-party.
Children will also enjoy two western actors roaming the grounds greeting guests, performing rope tricks and more July 18th through the 21st. Older children might also like to take a walk through the California Rodeo Heritage Museum open daily during the Rodeo. The California Rodeo Salinas aims to preserve and promote the traditions of the West and getting children involved at a young age helps to further that mission and sustain western heritage.
Most events take place at the Salinas Sports Complex (1034 N. Main Street, Salinas), but locations are noted if the events are held off site. A clear bag policy will be in effect for all event held at the Salinas Sports Complex: https://www.carodeo.com/p/about-us/clearbagpolicy.
Photo by John F. Gay Jr.
About California Rodeo Salinas
The 109th California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 18th-21st, 2019. The California Rodeo Association is a not-for-profit organization that strives to preserve and promote the traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. We support the community and other non-profit organizations through the staging of the annual California Rodeo Salinas and other year round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex. Through donation of our facility, vending and fundraising opportunities during Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association returns almost $500,000 annually to local non-profits. For more information about the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775.3100. ‘Like’ the California Rodeo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or follow us on twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and m