Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

How about a little entertainment Texas-style?

Running nearly the entire month of March, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is the perfect introduction into the raw, rigorous world of competition rodeo. You’ll see all of the iconic sports: bronc riding, barrel racing, calf roping, bull riding, steer roping and more. Despite the show’s immense prestige (over $1.3 million in prize money was handed out in 2008), the events are as real as ever, delightful danger and all.

Of course, the rodeo park is just the tip of the iceberg. Growing year over year into Houston’s preeminent annual event, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo now features concerts, fine dining, kids entertainment, arts and crafts shows, shopping, even a full-size carnival. The concert lineup is packed with country music superstars (this is Texas after all) like Rascal Flatts and the Eddie Van Halen of country music, Brad Paisley (don’t believe me?). The Jonas Brothers will be there, too, so you can even trick your 12 year-old daughter into going.

Unfortunately, here’s the part where you have to make a choice. You see, just a few days before the Rodeo (February 26-28, to be specific), the city of Houston also hosts the World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. One of the largest food competitions in the world, this event is guaranteed to bring out only the very best pit masters, and people lucky enough to be around can reap the rewards with heaping plates of lip-smackin’, finger-lickin’, face-drenchin’ bar-b-que. I get hungry just thinking about it.

World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest
February 26-28, 2009 at Reliant Park

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
March 3-22, 2009 at Reliant Park

At least I can make the lodging choice for you. For downtown Houston hotels near Reliant Park (and both events), choose Crowne Plaza Houston – Downtown. They’re convenient to Reliant Park and currently running specials for each event.

Fun Fact: The founder of the Le Madeleine chain of American-French bistros originally fell in love with French cuisine while visiting the country on a mission to bring the rodeo to France. The rodeo didn’t take, of course. I think the bulls couldn’t stand the smell.

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