The Pikes Peak region is rodeo country. The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo has been a community staple since 1936, only missing three years during WWII and one year during the pandemic. Not only does it entertain 30,000 fans, but net proceeds are donated to help support quality of life initiatives for active duty military families in the area.
“The whole purpose of the rodeo is to continue to promote and advance and celebrate Western culture and the Western way of life,” said rodeo board president Chris Whitney. “We’re all about active duty military families while reminding everyone this is not Connecticut and we are the West and we love doing things that are the West.” And a few years ago, when the rodeo partnered with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and became NFR (National Finals Rodeo) Open at Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, our homegrown event became even more sparkly in the eyes of cowboys and cowgirls across North America.
Instead of doing five performances over four days, there are now seven performances over five days. Champions from the dozen professional rodeo circuits around the country, along with champions from Mexico and Canada, all land in Colorado Springs. “We’re playing on a larger stage now,” Whitney said.
“It became a destination rodeo, one of the biggest rodeos in the country. Contestants are vying for a million dollars in prize money. There’s a nice international flavor.
We get top-notch people from all over.” The rodeo starts Tuesda.
