The love of cowboys, cowgirls and the western way of life is alive and well in Montana, and Kalispell is no exception. From ranches to farms and country living to a love of the West, there are numerous ways – including rodeo – to experience the Montana way of life in the northwest corner of the state. 

Rodeo was recently designated as the official state sport of Montana and plays a key role in celebrating the state’s heritage, while keeping the spirit of the West alive. On a visit to Big Sky Country, you’ll find rodeos everywhere, from our smallest communities to larger cities. Modern-day rodeos got their start in the late 1800s, with a history and heritage that dates back to influences from Spanish conquistadors and vaqueros. Truth be told, rodeos combine many cultures and influences and was thought of as an equal-opportunity sport, with many women competing in the same event as men, including bronc riding. Rodeos, especially professionally, were streamlined in 1929 with the creation of the Rodeo Association of America and later the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), which began in 1939 and adopted the PRCA name in 1975. 

Today, popular entries in rodeo include bull riding, bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing, to name a few. 

Here in Kalispell, there are several rodeos that take place. To make it easy for planning your trip to coincide with one of our kick-up-your-heels events, here’s an overview of our rodeos. 

Kalispell Professional Bull Riders. Watch some of the top professional bull riders in the world go up against the toughest bulls in the country at the Majestic Valley Arena on May 29, 2025, during the Kalispell Professional Bull Riders.

Montana High School Rodeo Finals. Taking place June 2-7, 2025, at the Majestic Valley Arena, the Montana High School Rodeo Finals is hanging its hat here for a few years. This June, 200 of the state’s best rodeo athletes will gather in Kalispell to compete to take home the top honors in their events. 

River Weed Rodeo. This event is proof that we can turn just about anything into a rodeo around here. Set for June 27, the River Week Rodeo doesn’t involve livestock and rodeo athletes, but it is a great way to keep the riverbanks along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River free of noxious weeds, as volunteers float the river and pull weeds. 

NW Montana Fair & Rodeo. A tradition for over 120 years, the NW Montana Fair & Rodeo is held every August and has three nights of PRCA rodeo action where cowboys and cowgirls enter to win money and qualify for the National Finals Rodeo. This year’s event takes place August 12-17, 2025, and also includes a concert and carnival. 

Brash Rodeo Summer + Winter Series. A family-run rodeo, the Brash Rodeo series has bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, steer riding, breakaway roping and team roping. During the summer series, events are held May 24-September 6 at the Blue Moon Arena, while the winter series runs from mid-November through the end of March at the indoor Majestic Valley Arena. 

And, if this is your first rodeo, here are some helpful tips on what to expect. 

  • Animals are a part of rodeo and you’ll see some of the most athletic horses, bronc and bulls in the arena. Rodeos have a livestock provider who is experienced and knowledgeable in the best way to care for their stock. 
  • Plan for the weather. Almost all rodeos in Montana are held outdoors and they’re very rarely canceled due to weather. Be sure to dress appropriately, from sunscreen to jackets and beyond. 
  • They’re a great place to dress up! The West has been having a moment the last couple of years, with people around the world embracing many of the styles worn by cowboys and cowgirls. Feel free to dress the part and embrace the rodeo lifestyle; this is also a great way to express yourself. Attire includes cowboy boots, jeans, denim skirts, bolo ties, pearl snaps and cowboy hats. 
  • There are two kinds of events: timed and roughstock. During roughstock events, a rider must stay on for eight seconds to receive a score. For timed events, the rodeo athlete always wants to be the fastest. Each event has different rules – brush up on them prior to attending the rodeo as that knowledge can provide insights you wouldn’t otherwise have. 
  • Bullfighters are some of the best athletes around. While they don’t get talked about much, during bull riding you’ll see men down on the arena floor; their job is to protect the cowboy if he falls off or dismounts the bull. You’ll see bullfighters jumping in front of bulls and distracting them to allow the cowboy to get out of the arena safely. 
  • Bullfighters and rodeo clowns are not the same. Rodeo clowns are usually there to entertain the crowd and you’ll hear them bantering with the announcer in between events and more.