Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lincoln Rodeo Promotes Family-Friendly Atmosphere
LINCOLN — The Lincoln Riding Club extends a friendly welcome to rodeo fans of all ages as the 64th annual Lincoln Rodeo gets underway this week.
Festivities start off at 7 p.m., Wednesday (May 17) with the 2017 Lil Mister and Lil Miss contest. Among the prizes are buckles and stick horses. There are plenty of photo opportunities if one doesn’t mind getting photo-bombed by young cowboys all duded up and adorable young cowgirls displaying their finest hats, boots, spurs and smiles.
Following the contest, kids and adults alike can further hone their social skills by getting down and shaking a leg at a free street dance at the Lincoln Square from 8 to 11 p.m. featuring the live music of Howard Lester and the Boston Mountain Playboys. Concessions are available to curb the appetite of youngsters, and old-timers may venture out onto the street to enjoy a good dance.
On Thursday, rodeo competition gets going in the Lincoln Riding Club arena with stock provided by Hampton Rodeo Company. The rodeo is sanctioned by American Cowboys Rodeo Association and the International Professional Rodeo Association with money earned during the event counting in the standings for both associations. Events include: steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc, team roping, bareback riding, barrel racing, calf roping and break-a-way roping.
Rodeo competitive events for junior cowboys and cowgirls are junior barrels, 14 and under, and peewee barrels, 8 and under. Youngsters can participate in a calf scramble and nightly mutton busting. The newlycrowned Lil Mister and Lil Miss Lincoln Riding Club will lead each nightly grand stick-horse entry beginning at 7:30 p.m. followed by the rodeo performance at 8 p.m. Thursday is family night at the Lincoln Rodeo with kids ages 6-10 admitted for $2. Thursday is also military and first responders appreciation night. Those personnel will be admitted for $4 with proper identification.
The stick horse grand entry kicks off the rodeo again at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. The rodeo parade on Saturday starts at the Lincoln Riding Club Arena just west of town on U.S. 62 with paraders lining up at 4 p.m. The parade begins at 4:30 p.m. traveling into town and around Lincoln Square, which is two blocks north of U.S. 62 downtown and can be reached by turning onto Main Street.