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If you have just moved here or are new to the area, Prescott is gearing up for one of it's oldest and most loved events starting tonight! - The World's Oldest Rodeo. This traditional event has been held since July 4th, 1888 occurs annually over the 4th of July weekend. It is now in it's 137th year. This year's event takes place July 1 - July 7th at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. Check out the Rodeo schedule and the other Rodeo Events (Rodeo Parade, Whiskey Row Boot Race and the Rodeo Dance) schedule.
Here are some interesting excerpts from the article "A History of the Prescott Rodeo" - by Jim Anderson & Danny Freeman.
The earliest editions of Prescott's rodeo were mostly appealing to the local cowboys and ranchers because it gave them the chance to bring their ranch-bred skills to town for people to see. The fancy rodeo arenas that we know today were simply nonexistent in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Prescott's rodeo "arena" was merely a tract of land, in what was called Forbing Park, off of what today is, Iron Springs Road, very much unimproved, and roped off to keep the broncs from running away after they unseated their riders. Exact numbers of total contestants were often confused but total purses of less than $1,000 were common.
The name, Prescott Frontier Days-a committee of the Yavapai County Fair Association, came into being in 1913, the year the July 4th celebration began at its present location; then the Yavapai County Fairgrounds; today the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. Participation by the likes of Tom Mix and attendance by celebrities such as Will Rogers increased the awareness and popularity of the event. 'Rodeo' is a Spanish word meaning "to roundup", and the word 'rodeo', for cowboy contests wasn't used anywhere until 1916. It was first used in Prescott in 1924.
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