It isn’t called Rodeo Week for nothing.
With activities virtually non-stop all week long, Oakdale truly lives up to its Cowboy Capital of the World moniker, with events ranging from the wildly popular Cowgirl Luncheon to the actual competition.
Already hosted, the annual Local Team Roping competition, which took place Tuesday, April 9 at the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo Grounds.
“The top five teams in the local team roping event will compete in the final round for the buckle on Sunday at the Oakdale Rodeo,” said Kevin Fox, spokesman for the sponsoring Oakdale Saddle Club organization.
Today, Wednesday, April 10 brings the 13th annual Cowgirl Luncheon, which sold out almost as soon as the tickets went on sale several weeks ago. Hosted by the Oakdale Cowboy Museum and staged at the Gene Bianchi Community Center, the luncheon has cowboys pouring the drinks and serving up lunch, as well as helping showcase the live auction items, much to the delight of the attending cowgirls. In true Oakdale Rodeo tradition, the luncheon is as much about sipping suds or bubbly as it is about enjoying the view of the cowboys in their jeans.
Barrel racing slack begins at the rodeo grounds on Thursday, April 11 at 4 p.m. with an admission fee of $2, one of the precursor events to the weekend two-day competition.
Oakdale Chamber of Commerce will have a Thursday, April 11 mixer hosted by the Oakdale Cowboy Museum at the museum and they will serve adult sarsaparillas from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This event will also feature the coronation of Miss Rodeo Oakdale 2013, with a farewell from the outgoing queen, Allison Harman.
Friday features a full day of activities with the slack beginning for all timed events at 8 a.m., again with an admission fee of $2. Open roping begins at around 3 p.m. Friday, with a $2 cost to attend.
An event not in Oakdale, but helping to publicize the weekend festivities, KAT Country 103 will host a kickoff party at Rookies Sports Bar & Grill in Manteca (1521 E. Yosemite Ave.) starting at 9 p.m. and will feature a ‘rodeo ticket giveaway blowout,’ according to coordinators. Live music and a rodeo contestants ‘meet and greet’ will be part of the fun.
If you don’t make it to Manteca, the local Bachi’s H?B Saloon in Oakdale will put on their Rodeo Week Velvet Rope Party, but show up early or you won’t get in.
Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 bring the 62nd annual edition of the Oakdale Rodeo, which sees plenty of tourists rolling into town for the weekend. Rodeo admission fee for adults is $15 online or $20 at the gate; ages seven to 12 are $10 and kids under six are admitted free. Weekend RV parking is also available at a special rate; visit www.oakdalerodeo.com for more information or call 209-847-4083.
Saturday will start with the Rodeo parade, stepping off along F Street at 9 a.m.
Grand Entry at the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo Grounds will be at 1:30 p.m., as the 62nd annual Oakdale Rodeo hosts Performance #1 of the weekend. Saturday night will feature a dance at the rodeo grounds, with live entertainment by the California Outlaws and The Catfish Boys. The dance runs from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $10 at the door, for 21 and over only.
On Sunday, start the day with Cowboy Church at 10 a.m. at the grounds on East F Street, then settle in for Performance #2, Grand Entry at 1:30 p.m. followed by the full afternoon of competition.
Featured this year will be barrel man Clint Sylvester in addition to bullfighters Rick Moffatt and Aaron Hargo, along with a full cast of competitors all looking to provide entertainment and earn the top payday and all-around title.
