Community & Business
6 July, 2022
Buckle up for an action packed Rodeo weekend
BOOTS, buckles, bulls and a bang for your buck – it’s time for the biggest event in the year for Mareeba when the annual Rodeo kicks off this Saturday.
The event attracts thousands of visitors from the region and from throughout the State as they line up to see some of the best riders around go through their paces.
After a two-year break due to Covid, the iconic event is back and promises to be better than ever, with all the crowd favourites part of a jam-packed program that will take over Kerribee Park from 7.30am and go right into the late evening.
Starting the party will be the ever- popular Mareeba Mazda Downtown Parade on Friday night which will feature colourful floats and all 14 Rodeo Queen entrants who will be showcased to the community as they parade up and down Byrnes Street in the back of utes and other vehicles.
The parade, which starts at 7.45pm is a favourite with locals who get to witness the crowning of the Queen, Princess and Miss Personality on the main stage after the parade finishes.
On Saturday, all the focus will be at Kerribee Park where the dust will be flying as the rodeo action keeps crowds entertained all day and into the evening.
This year, the committee has decided to host the rodeo over one day which will allow patrons to see all the usual events through the day such as barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, ladies and junior events, and then witness the Mareeba Mazda team relay from 7pm and the much anticipated State of Origin competition from 8pm where Queensland riders take on the New South Wales contingent.
Providing some additional excitement will be the Rooftop Express Show which was such a hit in 2019, they are heading back to Mareeba for the 2022 event.
During the day, the agricultural show promises plenty of family fun, with activities to start from 9am with all the usual highlights of show bags, exhibits, sideshow alley and the popular woodchops at 11am.
There is so much to see, with all kinds of exhibits in various categories including flowers, floral art, pot plants, baked goods, sweets and jams, needlework, photography, vegetables, fruit and woodwork, as well as market stalls.
From 8pm until 2am, the Bull Bar will be rocking with live entertainment from Careless, while the Bronc Bar will feature a DJ from 10pm until midnight.
Pre-sale tickets to the Rodeo are available now from the Mareeba Rodeo website for $35 for adults, $10 for children or $88 for a family pass (2 adults, 2 children).
The day pass will allow entry into the Rodeo and both bars.
Tickets on the day are $40 for adults, $15 for children and $90 for a family pass. All tickets include free camping.
The Mareeba Rodeo is one of those must-see events and has a reputation as one of the best in Australia.
It’s just around the corner so get ready to get amongst the fun – buckle up, don your best western gear and join the fun and family entertainment on offer.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
THE Mareeba Rodeo festival is upon us again, and over the last 12 months the Mareeba Rodeo committee and band of volunteers have worked extremely hard to ensure that this year’s event will be one to remember.
For the first time since Covid, we have a full rodeo festival back, including our downtown parade.
As a part of the 2022 Mareeba Rodeo program, we have some exciting entertainment returning like the State of Origin rodeo and the Rooftop Express western show.
We also welcome back our event partner for the Mareeba Rodeo, Ringers Western.
A huge “shout out” to Shane and Jasmin Srhoj for their continued support. I would also like to thank Mareeba Mazda for their ongoing support of the Mareeba Rodeo as they will again be the major sponsor of the Friday night downtown parade where we will see our 2022 Mareeba Rodeo Queen and Princess crowned.
A big thank you to Maximum Pest Management for sponsoring the Saturday night QLD v NSW Rodeo State of Origin for the first time.
We are very fortunate to have so many fantastic sponsors supporting this year’s event and all of these sponsors can be found on our website www.mareebarodeo. com.au I encourage you to support these businesses.
We have secured some of Australia’s best stock and they will be travelling to Mareeba from all parts of the country, and we are also very fortunate to have record nominations with cowboys and cowgirls travelling from all corners of Australia to compete at this fantastic event.
The Saturday night program will be jam-packed and you won’t want to miss a minute of the show. Along with the celebrations in the main arena on Saturday night patrons will have a choice of two bars this year after the entertainment finishes in the main arena.
We have our day bar “The Great Northern Bar” with a live big screen so you won’t miss a minute of the action whilst enjoying a cold beer or soft drink.
For those that love their country music we will also have a country DJ play all the latest country hits from 6pm until midnight banging out tunes in The Great Northern Bar.
We will also have our regular Bull Bar Cabaret operating with the band “Careless” for those wanting to dance the night away with live music until 2am.
Once again, this year the arena events will be complemented by so many activities such as all the trade displays, the woodchops, the agricultural tent, Melville’s Animal Park, the Ute Muster and sideshow alley.
Mareeba Rodeo is one of the best rodeos in Australia with outstanding facilities, I encourage you all to come out and be a part of this iconic event – The Mareeba Rodeo.
I look forward to seeing you all at Kerribee Park this weekend.
Peter Brown
President, Mareeba District Rodeo Association Inc.
