Over the summer I had the opportunity to go to my first ever live rodeo. I have grown up watching rodeos from home since I was little, so it was very cool to see it happen in person. On Saturday July 12, I went and saw Bulls Bands & Barrels at the Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania. They like to use this quote, “This ain’t your grandpappy’s rodeo.” They are exactly correct; it is way more fun and entertaining. This is a weekly competition that travels over the USA from February to August bringing viewers an experience of a lifetime.
Bulls, Bands & Barrels is a live action western sports group that travels and competes. It features professional bull riding and fighting, barrel racing, and a live concert afterwards. Bull riding is where the rider of the bull tries to stay on the bull as long as possible to earn the best possible time. Bull fighting is where a professional tries to intimidate the bull and make them go after the professional but staying safe at the same time. Barrel racing is when a horse and its rider compete by going around three barrels that are placed in a triangle for the fastest as well.
After both of those events have concluded and there is a winner for that day there is a concert that follows. Different country artists perform at different shows depending on the location of that week. Some artists that performed this year were Riley Green, Kameron Marlowe, and Gavin Adcock. When I was there I saw Ella Langley and Hudson Westbrook. They both were very good, and I am so glad I was able to see Ella especially since she is one of my favorite country artists. Overall, this was such a fun thing to do over the summer and I hope to be able to do it again.
For more information visit bullsbandsandbarrels.com.
