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Rodeo , parade and more highlight frontier town’s annual event
April 15, 2011 (Lakeside) – Rodeo has been a tradition in Lakeside since the first rodeo was held back in 1920. Since then, Lakeside Western Days has broadened to encompass a series of eventsApril 15-17 celebrating the community’s Wild West heritage.
Each day’s rodeo performances include seven events: saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and barrel racing. Other events, including Saturday’s Western Days Parade sponsored by the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, are also slated.
Rodeos began as a way for cowboys to show off their prowess back in an era when roping and riding skills were keys to earning a livelihood. Today, participants in the Lakeside Rodeo help raise funds for the El Capitan Stadium Association, which donates more than $100,000 each year to the community for Lakeside schools, youth sports groups, and other local programs.
Western Days kicks off on Friday, April 15th with events including roping, barrel racing, rodeo performances and a BBQ at the Lakeside Rodeo grounds, as well as cowboy poetry at the Lakeside Library.
On Saturday, April 16th, Lakeside’s Western Day Parade rolls out along Woodside and Maine Avenue, preceded by a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Lakeside Historical Society at the Historical Church on Maine Street. After the parade, more rodeo performances will take place, as well as stick horse races for young cowboys and cowgirls ages 3-6.
Sunday rounds out with Cowboy Church at the rodeo grounds, a complimentary breakfast, and another full day of rodeo performances.
Other highlights of the weekend include appearances by the Victorian Roses Riding Society, Hole in the Wall Gang staging reenactment of a shootout, Rainbow Riders Mountain Drill Team, rodeo clown and barrelman Kevin Higley. In addition, Miss Rodeo Lakeside 2011 Elisa Swenson and Jr. Miss Rodeo Lakeside Rachel Owens-Sarno will reign over the events.
The Lakeside Rodeo Grounds are located at 12584 Mapleview Street in Lakeside, one block east of Highway 67. Tickets range from $10-$15 for adults, $5 for children. No video cameras are allowed inside the rodeo grounds.
For more information, tickets, and a complete schedule of events, visit www.lakesiderodeo.com.
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