North Washington Rodeo is riding into town
Butler County’s annual rodeo returns Tuesday.
Branded as one of the largest rodeos this side of the Mississippi, the North Washington Rodeo returns for its 63rd year in a tradition that the people of Butler County have come to love.
The North Washington Rodeo Arena will be packed for the occasion as contestants come from all over the world.
If you’ve never attended the event before, we encourage you to make the trip to the arena, located at 2225 Oneida Valley Rd., Petrolia. You won’t be disappointed.
And if you want to make a day of it, you can get a dinner in the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department’s social hall behind the rodeo arena before the show kicks off.
Plus, you’ll be supporting a good cause. The week of rodeo activities — which runs from Aug. 15 to 19 — serves as a fundraiser for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department.
In the past, the week would start with a parade. This was canceled in May 2022 due to a lack of volunteer resources, and the parade won’t make a return this year. But we are happy that the kickoff party, launched in August 2022, will return.
The parade was a long-loved tradition. Maybe it will return down the road, but for now, we’re grateful for those who have stepped up to offer resources — both money and time — to make the kickoff party happen.
The Rodeo Kickoff Party runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the rodeo arena.
The rodeo is a wonderful event for the community. Be sure to support the North Washington Rodeo in its 63rd year.
— TL
