By Buck Wargo
The BigHorn Rodeo sponsored by the Nevada Gay Rodeo association returns to Las Vegas this Memorial Day weekend with more participants than ever from around North America and enhanced entertainment.
The rodeo runs from May 23 through Sunday at
Horseman’s Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road. Tickets are $20 and $30 for a weekend pass. Children under 12 get in free.
The first day of the event starts at 9:30 a.m. Friday for the rodeo school open to non-members of the association.
The rodeo kicks off at 5:30 p.m. that night for a jackpot barrel race that starts with time-only runs before the races at 7 p.m.
There will be a rodeo idol competition finale at 7 p.m.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Saturday while the rodeo grand entry starts at 4:30 p.m.
There will be live entertainment at the festival pavilion from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m.
On Sunday, the grand entry starts at 1:30 p.m. with the festival pavilion hosting live entertainment from noon until 6 p.m. The Latin band Miguel y Sus Kompaz will perform from 3-6 p.m.
A royalty show goes from 6-8 p.m., and the awards presentation is at 8 p.m.
Rodeo director Douglas Graff said the rodeo is teaming up this year with the Latin cowboys, Moviemento Vaqueros Las Vegas appearing on Sunday.
The rodeo had about 1,500 people attend last year over the three days and a bigger crowd is expected this year because of the Vaqueros. There are 60 contestants lined up so far, which is almost double from a year ago.
“We have bull riding, barrel racing, team roping and everything you traditionally see in a rodeo,” Graff said. “The unique thing about us is people compete in the cowboy or cowgirl they identify with. Anyone can compete. We have several straight competitors.”
There’s an added $5,000 in prize money in addition to regular prize money since it is paid into by contestants, Graff said.
The grand marshal is female impersonator Frank Marino. Las Vegas acts Kenneth Blake will do his Dolly Parton impersonation, while Cher and Celine Dion impersonator Stephen Wayne also will take the stage. Dana Anderson will sing.
“The neat thing about our entertainment is it’s not all drag,” Graff said. “We have live performers, and we have acrobat acts. It’s a variety show on Saturday. It’s a place for everyone. It’s very accepting, and a lot of inclusion at the event.”
Stephanie Danderson, the rodeo’s entertainment director, also said there will be Latin dancers and singers on Saturday, which will be done in three acts.
“This is the first time being a nighttime rodeo because it’s cooler,” Danderson said. “The show is really good this year. We have all the big names within the female impersonation and bar world performing in Vegas that are performing this year. It’s exciting.”
The NGRA held its first sanctioned BigHorn Rodeo in June 1996 after seven men at the Badlands Saloon in Las Vegas were inspired to bring an event to Nevada and formed their association that was initially called the Southern Nevada Gay Rodeo Association. The name was changed to represent the entire state since gay rodeo began in Reno in 1976. It is a member of the International Gay Rodeo Association.
The World Gay Rodeo Finals will be held in Reno in October.
“We are uniquely celebrating 50 years of gay rodeo in Nevada this year,” Graff said.
The goal remains to produce gay rodeo events that celebrate and enhance the Western lifestyle and to raise funds for various local charities such as the Nevada Aids Project, Aids for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN), Golden Rainbow, Reach Out, and others.