The National Western Stock Show & Rodeo is a Denver tradition, honoring the country's rich Old West heritage, Jan. 6-21, 2018.
Held every January at the National Western Complex, it's the world's largest stock show, involving more than 15,000 animals. Enjoy rodeos featuring top-notch bull riders, horse shows, livestock competitions and auctions. And don’t miss acres of shopping at Colorado’s largest Western trade show. Make a night of it! Take advantage of great hotel deals.
All events take place at the National Western Complex, unless otherwise noted.
PRCA RODEO
Bulls and broncs, cowboys and cowgirls -- rodeo's biggest superstars perform amazing feats of athleticism during each performance of professional rodeo. Events take place throughout the Stock Show.
MEXICAN RODEO EXTRAVAGANZA
Filled with cultural pageantry, the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza features Mexican-style bull riding, bareback riding, trick roping and mariachis, all choreographed by Jerry Diaz, a fourth-generation champion charro.
AN EVENING OF DANCING HORSES®
The wine and roses event of the National Western Stock Show, An Evening of Dancing Horses®, brings the best equestrian talent together in front of live music from the Denver Brass. Enjoy an evening full of formal dressage, reining, liberty and other talent from around the world.
WILD WEST SHOW
See how the West was won when Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane ride into the Events Center during two Wild West Shows. Patterned after the great Buffalo Bill shows of yesteryear, the show features features nonstop action, including a six-horse stagecoach holdup, dance hall girls and a moving tribute to the American Indian.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE RODEO
Black cowboys and cowgirls headline the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo's Martin Luther King Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo. Champion black rodeo athletes compete in the Pony Express relay, ladies' steer undecorating and more traditional rodeo events.
HISTORY
The Stock Show's history stretches back to the early days of the 20th century, with the inaugural event taking place in 1906. It was a big hit from the very beginning -- attendance was estimated at 15,000 with stockmen visiting from Omaha, Kansas City, Chicago and some eastern cities. By 1909, the Stock Show was attracting in excess of 100,000 spectators. In 2008, the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo recorded the event's biggest opening-day in history with an attendance of 44,616 and the biggest single-day attendance on January 19 with 68,610. Previous records for opening-day and single day attendance were 41,637 set in 2006 and 68,357 set in 1999, respectively.
The National Western Stock Show, one of Colorado’s preeminent tourist destinations, is held every January for 16 days. A nationally recognized Western heritage and entertainment event, the stock show hosts one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, one of the country’s largest horse shows and Colorado’s largest Western trade show, attracting more than 650,000 visitors each year.
