As the first stop on the 2014 BC Rodeo Association circuit, the 24th annual Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo promises to attract hundreds of rodeo competitors to the lakecity April 18-20.
Rodeo directors have been busy working around the clock preparing for the action-packed weekend, which features rodeo performances each day, several food and merchandise vendors and entertainment.
In the evenings a beer garden will be opened where guests won’t miss a second of the rodeo as all of the action will be shown on a big-screen TV.
Friday and Saturday evenings following the rodeo dance the night away to the sounds of Rockin’ Chair (April 18) and Lee Dinwoodie (April 19).
Each rodeo performance will feature fan-favourite Canadian pro rodeo announcer of the year, Brett Gardiner, plus the antics of zany rodeo clown and barrel man, Dennis Halstead.
The West Coast Thunder Drill team and Williams Lake Stampede Royalty will also be on hand each day for the grand entry. Opening acts, with the talent of Williams Lake’s Maureen Saunders School of Dance, and the Sassy Six Gun and Porcupine mounted shooting team, will round out the rodeo festivities.
On Friday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., a free-to-enter Cowboy Carnival will take centre stage, focusing on children under 10 years old. The event provides an opportunity to try stick barrel racing, dummy roping, bucking bull barrels, bean bag toss, colouring, meet the clown and much more.
Doors open for the first rodeo performance Friday at 5 p.m., with the action beginning at 6 p.m. Rockin’ Chair is slated to play in the beer garden from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Saturday at 9 a.m. is the rodeo slack performance, which is free to the public. The Lions Club will also host a pancake breakfast in rink two at the CMRC between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Doors open Saturday at noon for the rodeo, with the event kicking off at 1 p.m. The barn dance gets underway following the rodeo at 9 p.m.
On Sunday, the Lions Club will host an Easter Sunday brunch from 9:30 a.m. until noon in rink two at the CMRC, before the final rodeo performance of the weekend begins at 1 p.m.
Close to 5,000 people attend the event annually in Williams Lake.
For tickets, merchandise, and more information visit the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo office located on the upper level of Boitanio Mall until April 17 at noon.