Vegas rodeo season reaches a peak during NFR week, but the city hosts Western events and watch parties year-round. Start with this overview, then dive into the NFR Schedule & Tickets page and recent posts for deeper intel.
Core Vegas rodeo happenings
- NFR perfs (10 nights): Main arena action at the Thomas & Mack Center with nightly standings shifts.
- Cowboy Christmas: Daily expo with Western gear, art, and meet-and-greets; visit early in the day to avoid weekend crowds.
- Jackpots and qualifiers: Team roping, barrel races, and specialty jackpots that fill daytime hours around the perfs.
- Watch parties: Casinos, lounges, and country bars simulcast the perfs with live music and giveaways.
- Concerts and after-parties: Western headliners and DJ nights that stretch late into the morning during Rodeo Week.
Plan by daypart
- Mornings: Breakfast meetups, autograph sessions, Cowboy Christmas runs, and travel logistics for new arrivals.
- Afternoons: Jackpots, Western shopping, poolside watch parties (spring/fall), and arena pre-events.
- Evenings: NFR perfs or featured rodeos; keep transit buffers for rideshare or parking.
- Late night: Line dancing, after-parties, and industry mixers; see Beyond The NFR for venues that lean Western.
What to bookmark
- From Vaqueros To Vegas: A Global History of Rodeo and the Road to the NFR for context on how Vegas became the rodeo hub.
- Inside The Arena: Events, Athletes, And Stock Powering The Las Vegas Rodeo for a refresher on event formats and scoring.
- Lights, Cameras, Bucking Bulls for insights on broadcast angles, sponsor activations, and on-site screens.
- Vegas Rodeo Glossary so guests can follow every announcement and scoreboard call.
Partnership and listings
Have an event, watch party, or hospitality package that belongs on VegasRodeo.com™? Email partners@vegasrodeo.com or call 1-855-BUY-ASSET / 1-855-289-2773 to get it placed.
