Lyndsay Fogarty
Cowboys are as much a part of Osceola County’s rich history as theme parks and orange groves. The cowboys who herded cattle through the area’s open ranges in the 1800s led the way to the creation of the Silver Spurs Rodeo in the 1940s. Now, the Silver Spurs Rodeo is one of the county’s premier events, and cowboys and cowgirls continue to be drawn to the year after year.
Next month, one of the largest rodeos in the United States is coming to town. From March 21 to March 24, the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo will be held at Osceola Heritage Park in conjunction with the Country Thunder music festival. The rodeo, which is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, will feature champion cowboys and cowgirls from all 12 U.S. circuits, as well as circuits in Canada and Mexico, competing for $1 million in cash and prizes.
“Rodeo is a way of life in Osceola County,” Osceola Commission Chairman Fred Hawkins, who is a former cowboy himself, says of the event. “It’s our heritage. “To build on that and to bring the second largest rodeo in the PRCA – it’s just phenomenal to have it right here in our backyard.”
This family-friendly event not only invites attendees to watch all of the rodeo action inside the arena, but there are also opportunities to meet the cowboys and cowgirls in the fan zone and to camp on property throughout the event. Additionally, since the fan base for rodeos and country music go hand in hand, organizers combined this year’s event with Country Thunder, a three-day music festival featuring the biggest names in country music. So attendees can expect nonstop entertainment all weekend long.
“The pairing of Country Thunder Florida and the RAM National Circuit Rodeo maximizes the value for fans and promises a new level of entertainment for everyone,” Hawkins says. “This is yet another step in making Osceola County a destination for a great country music and rodeo experience.”
<Individual tickets for the RAM National Circuit are available or attendees can opt for the four-day, five-show series ticket that covers the entire weekend. For those interested in Country Thunder, single-day admission and weekend passes are available for purchase.
Country Thunder Comes to The Rodeo
New this year, Country Thunder will coincide with the rodeo on March 22-24, 2019. Here’s the lineup:
March 22
Noah Schnacky
Jimmie Allen
High Valley
Chris Lane
Toby Keith
March 23
Jameson Rodgers
Waterloo Revival
Restless Heart
Maddie and Tae
Granger Smith
Luke Combs
March 24
Runaway June
Mitchell Tenpenny
Lanco
Tracy Lawrence
Luke Bryan
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