66th annual North Washington Rodeo kicks off Aug. 18
Normally sleepy Washington Township is set to come alive next week for the 66th annual North Washington Rodeo, a five-day Western-themed event starting Tuesday, Aug. 18, and lasting through Aug. 22.
Each year, the rodeo’s most important function is to provide much-needed funding for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department. Event organizer Dave Hazlet estimates last year’s event raised roughly $130,000 for the fire department.
But the rodeo is more than a fire department fundraiser. It’s a major event on the rodeo calendar. More than 200 horsemen are expected to appear at this year’s rodeo. According to Hazlet, many of them are riding for major stakes.
“The contestants that are coming to this rodeo are riding to earn points to qualify for the International Finals Rodeo in January,” Hazlet said. “Our rodeo is big enough that if they win North Washington, they’re going to make the finals.”
Fans can expect to witness eight different disciplines of rodeo each night: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping, breakaway roping, cowgirl barrel racing and bull roping. Rodeo events start at 8 p.m. each night, with the gates to the arena opening at 6 p.m.
As usual, the rodeo will be preceded by a kick-off party starting at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at the arena. Local country musician Gary Burk III, who also performed at last year’s kick-off party, will headline the event.
This year, the North Washington Rodeo is bringing a new twist. All five days of the rodeo will feature special intermission performances by Steel Rodeo, a group of motorcycle trick riders led by professional freestyle motocross rider Kenny Bartram.
“We’re going to park a couple tow trucks and inflatable ramps and they’re going to be jumping motorcycles over top of the trucks,” Hazlet said. “I talked to the committee at a rodeo out in Eastern Pennsylvania and every one of them said, ‘You’ve got to do this in North Washington.’”
Tickets for each night of the North Washington Rodeo are on sale through TicketSauce. Admission is $17.98 each for adults and $9.50 for children 4-12.
Each day of the rodeo will be preceded by dinner in the fire department’s social hall. The meal will start at 4 p.m. and last until either 7 p.m. or the food runs out.
