The California Rodeo Salinas is only four days long, July 20th-23rd, but activities for children kick off Friday, July 14th and continue for over a week.
The Rodeo Carnival starts Friday, July 14th and is open daily from 3pm to 11pm until Sunday, July 23rd at 295 Sun Way in Salinas. The carnival is presented by Joy-Per’s Shoes & Clothing. Admission and parking are just $5 and unlimited ride wristbands can be purchased for $25* online at carodeo.com or at the Rodeo Ticket Office until July 13th then at the carnival site July 14th through the 23rd for $35.* More information is available here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/rodeocarnival.
The annual Kiddie Kapers Parade will take place on Sunday, July 16th in the Salinas City Center at 3:00pm. Children will walk from the Salinas Recreation Center at 320 Lincoln Avenue to the Steinbeck Center at 1 Main Street in Salinas. The parade is presented by Sakata Seed America and will feature approximately 1,000 children. No pre-registration is necessary and the theme this year is ‘Follow Your Dreams.’ The Grand Marshal is eleven-year-old Olivia Ingram of Salinas, CA who was also the California Rodeo’s delegate to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as part of the Golden Circle of Champions program. Ingram is a cancer survivor, and she is helping to raise awareness for pediatric cancer. More information can be found at https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/kiddie-kapers-parade.
The Mutton Busting takes place July 19th-23rd during the Xtreme Bulls and Rodeo performances and the competition is full. Entries for this sheep riding event are taken on carodeo.com in the spring and riders are selected in early June each year. The Mutton Busting is presented by Pacific Valley Bank.
The McDonald’s Kids Corral is open daily during the California Rodeo Salinas July 20th through the 23rd. This area is full of activities for kids to enjoy with no admission fee required, it’s included with the price of a Rodeo ticket. The area opens Thursday and Friday at 5pm and Saturday and Sunday at 12pm. Get more information here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/kids-corral.
Kids love our rodeo clowns! Rodeo Entertainer Extraordinaire Matt Merritt will be back to wow the crowds daily July 19th through 24th. The Rodeo Clown is sponsored by Elli’s Great American Restaurant. https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/matt-merritt-rodeo-entertainer.
The annual California Rodeo Stick Horse Race is presented by Black Bear Diner and held on Thursday, July 20th with preliminary races on the track before the Rodeo starts and the finals that night during the performance. Kids can sign up on the 20th 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/2023/stick-horse-race.
On Saturday, July 22nd at noon, the Special Buckaroos Rodeo takes place on the track surrounding the arena. Twenty-four Monterey County students with disabilities 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: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/special-buckaroos-rodeo.
SafetEquip sponsors the Autograph Party after each Rodeo performance July 20th through the 23rd on the track after the action clears. Kids can get signatures, meet Rodeo Clowns and bullfighters, queens, and contestants. Free posters are distributed while kids are in line. Get more information here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/autograph-party.
Children will also enjoy two western actors roaming the grounds greeting guests, performing rope tricks and more July 20th through the 23rd (https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/western-actor-performances).
Families should keep their eyes open for Dude, the California Rodeo’s giant cowboy hat-shaped mascot roaming the midway before the performances each day. Dude loves a good photo opportunity.
Older children might also like to take a walk through the California Rodeo Heritage Museum (https://www.carodeo.com/events/2023/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 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 events held at the Salinas Sports Complex: https://www.carodeo.com/p/about-us/clearbagpolicy.
*Tickets subject to applicable fees.
Photo by Mag One Media
About California Rodeo Salinas
The California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 20-23, 2023. 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 over $560,000 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 Instagram or twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and more.
