Get your boots ready, the rodeo is back

HIGH-energy entertainment and world-class rodeo action will be on in Ballarat in January.

The Ballarat Rodeo will be held at the Ballarat Showgrounds on Friday 2 January with bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, and barrel racing.

The gates will open at 2pm with the rodeo action to begin at 5pm.

There is ringside and grandstand seating, attendees can bring their own chair, or standing options are available.

The competition is part of the national Stampede Series, one of Australia’s premier rodeo circuits.

“It’s bigger and better this year as we’ve nationalised the series to Australia’s largest rodeo series called the Stampede Series,” event director Bart Hamilton said.

“Now it’s an actual league where competitors and guests and people that want to see can come to all of our rodeos across Australia.

“With that comes better competitors, better bulls, better broncos.”

There will also be food trucks, bars, kids’ activities, live music from Cush Rider, axe throwing, and an activation from Bundaberg Rum.

“Cush Ryder is playing their final ever show as our live music guest and we’ve got bars, food trucks, and it’s going to be a great carnival atmosphere,” Mr Hamilton said.

Tickets start at $29.90 and can be purchased on the National Rodeo Co website.