Pendleton Round-Up
The Pendleton Round-Up is a major annual rodeo in the northwestern United States, at Pendleton in northeastern Oregon. Held at the Pendleton Round-Up Stadium during the second full week of September each year since 1910, the rodeo brings roughly 50,000 people every year to the city. The Pendleton Round-Up is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado, inducted the Pendleton Round-Up in 2008.
The Round-Up was incorporated as a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit organization on July 29, 1910, as the "Northwestern Frontier Exhibition Association". The rodeo was primarily a creation of local ranchers led by Herman Rosenberg.
The Pendleton Round-Up has received the PRCA Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award twelve times: 2003, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Bronc rider Bonnie McCarroll died in a rodeo accident at Pendleton. The PRCA, formed in 1936, initially scheduled no events for women as a result of her death.
History
The first Pendleton Round-up was held in 1910, born of a "communistic" desire to establish a city park for Pendleton. It was an immediate success, and grew in scale dramatically in each of its first several years.The only cancellations happened in 1943, 1944, and 2020.
Events
There are 11 events in which cowboys from all over the United States and Canada compete. The All-Around Cowboy is awarded to the competitor who wins the most money in the required number of events.- Bareback riding
- Saddle bronc riding
- Tie-down roping
- Team roping
- Steer wrestling
- Barrel racing
- Breakaway roping
- Steer roping
- Bull riding
- Indian relay races
- Wild cow milking
Round-Up week
Every Round-Up week begins with the Dress Up Parade, on the Saturday before the rodeo, in which different groups throughout Eastern Oregon, including Boy and Girl Scouts, Pendleton High School Band, the Children's Rodeo, and many local businesses, build floats and compete for 1st place.The [Happy Canyon Indian Pageant and Wild West Show] was designated the state's official outdoor pageant in 2017.
Friday of Round-Up week is the Westward Ho! parade, in which every entrant must be in a non-motorized vehicle, most of which are authentic covered wagons and horse-drawn buggies, though some choose to ride horseback or walk.
Since 2021, the Monday and Tuesday before the rodeo begins, the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale takes place at the Happy Canyon Arena. Previously, the Professional Bull Riders held an event at said venue the Monday and Tuesday before the rodeo began for several years.
Wednesday is when both Round-Up and Happy Canyon begin.