Keremeos Rodeo Contributed
Te 74th annual Keremeos Elks Rodeo will be a three day event, held May 19, 20 and 21. Te first two days of rodeo will feature all eight regular and three junior BC Rodeo Association events, while Monday will feature barrel racing and BC professional Bull Riders. Te Victoria day long weekend celebrations include a breakfast at the rodeo grounds on Saturday morning and food concessions and beer garden throughout the weekend; a steak barbecue in the park on Sunday aſter the rodeo that is prepared by the local cattlemen, and pancake breakfasts Sunday and Monday mornings, hosted by the Firemen. Te annual parade will also be held Monday morning. Tere is free dry camping along the edges of the East Parking lot, and dumpstations nearby. Te Keremeos Rodeo is a celebration of local heritage
- the way it used to be when ranching communities got together. Rodeos and horse racing here, date back to the turn of the 20th century when ranching was the primary activity of the South Similkameen Valley. Te Valley Pioneer’s sons would compete to gain bragging rights; local rancher, Francis Xavier Richter’s son, Hans, was probably the first to assemble a string of unruly broncos and travelled for many miles putting on rodeos and wild west shows in many parts of B.C. and neighbouring provinces. Tese shows, and other impromptu events in different locations throughout the Keremeos area, eventually led to a permanent location established by the Keremeos Rodeo and Racing Association in 1938. With the help of the newly formed Elks lodge in 1944, and with its financial backing, it just became known as Keremeos Elks Rodeo. Tis was originally a one-day event held on Empire Day, which later became known as Queen Victoria day - the 24th of May. The Rodeo Grounds are across the Similkameen
river from the Keremeos town site. Keremeos is located on highway #3, just a half hours drive west of the Okanagan valley - and with the same warm dry climate. Vineyards and orchards are prominent here, with ranch land taking up the outlying areas. When the rodeo occurs,
apples are still in bloom and the ranchers are taking up their first cut for haying season making this a beautiful time of year.
Ride May to October
Kettle Valley Steam Railway 1-877-494-8424
www.kettlevalleyrail.org Summerland, BC
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