The California Rodeo Salinas Offers Lots of Fun for Children
Photos by Mag One Media.
SALINAS, CA – The California Rodeo Salinas is only four days long, July 21st-24th, but activities for children kick off this Friday, July 15th and continue all week.The Rodeo Carnival starts Friday, July 15th and is open daily from 3pm to 11pm until Sunday, July 24th at 295 Sun Way in Salinas. The carnival is presented by Smoot Family Chiropractic. Admission and parking are just $5 and unlimited ride wristbands can be purchased for $35* at the carnival site July 15th through the 24th. More information is available here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2022/rodeocarnival-2022.
The annual Kiddie Kapers Parade will take place on Sunday, July 17th 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 ‘Bull-ieve in Yourself.’ More information can be found at https://www.carodeo.com/events/2022/kiddie-kapers-parade.
The Mutton Busting takes place July 21st-24th during the 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 21st through the 24th. 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 and Sunday at 11am. Get more information here: https://www.carodeo.com/events/2022/kids-corral.
Photos by Mag One Media.
Kids love our rodeo clowns! Due to an unfortunate accident, Rodeo Entertainer CrAsh Cooper won’t make it to Salinas as planned, but the committee was fortunate to secure Tate Rhoads from Custer, MT to fill in for CrAsh. Tate is a former freestyle bullfighter turned Rodeo Clown who will entertain crowds daily July 20th-24th. The Rodeo Clown is sponsored by Elli’s Great American Restaurant. https://www.carodeo.com/events/2022/rodeoclown
The annual California Rodeo Stick Horse Race is presented by Black Bear Diner and held on Thursday, July 21st with preliminary races on the track before the Rodeo starts and the finals that night during the performance. Kids can sign up on the 21st 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/2022/stick-horse-race.
On Saturday, July 23rd 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.
SafetEquip sponsors the Autograph Party after each Rodeo performance July 21st through the 24th 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/2022/autograph-party.
Children will also enjoy two western actors roaming the grounds greeting guests, performing rope tricks and more July 21st through the 24th. Older children might also like to take a walk through the California Rodeo Heritage Museum (https://www.carodeo.com/events/2022/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 events held at the Salinas Sports Complex: https://www.carodeo.com/p/about-us/clearbagpolicy.