Fiesta de los Vaqueros

4823 S. 6th Ave., Tucson
520/741-2233, 800/964-5662
www.tucsonrodeo.com [1]

COST: Most seats $12–21

One of the Old Pueblo [2]’s most popular annual events (local school kids get two “rodeo days” off every year), the Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Celebration of the Cowboys) began way back in 1925 and is today one of the top 25 outdoor rodeos in the nation.

Something like 50,000 people head to the south side over eight days every February (usually beginning around February 20) to watch the dramatic bull riding, steer wrestling, women’s barrel racing, and more, and to eat a few tons of barbecue beef and pork.

The rodeo typically draws more than 600 contestants, among them the best riders, ropers, and cow-wrestlers in the world, who compete for $320,000 in prize money.