The Clark County Event Center grandstand lights will soon turn on and seats will be filled with cheering fans, but this time it’s not for the county fair.
Stand-alone events through the Family Fun Series replaced the “normal” Clark County Fair, which usually attracts almost half a million attendees.
Rodeo fans have a chance to see bull riders, bronc riders and cowboys in action this weekend on Saturday, Aug. 7.
“Hell on Hooves,” presented by Wild West Events, will give rodeo lovers a chance to watch performances from some of the top rodeo stars. It will also showcase crowd favorites like mutton busting and barrel racing.
There will be 10 spots for mutton busting on a first-come, first-serve basis once the gate opens, stated Tawnia Linde, Clark County Fair director of marketing and sponsorship, in an email. Mutton busting is similar to bull riding, but children try to stay on sheep instead.
It won’t be a separate show this year, but those who sign up will ride throughout the evening in-between other events.
“The Hell on Hooves event for 2021 is the fast-paced action you’d expect from a rough stock rodeo. The event has something for the whole family, including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and barrel racing with fast horses and amazing riders,” wrote Wild West Events promoter Wayne White.
The rodeo athletes are champions from various associations across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California. Members of the Gold Buckle Rodeo Company will compete for different awards during the event.
Doors open for the show at 5 p.m. and the show kicks off at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 7 at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds.
The event center now requires reserved seating for specific shows and events so attendees can choose their spots ahead of time.
Tickets cost $16 for adults over the age of 13 and $10 for children under 12. Parking will cost $6 at the fairgrounds.
Tickets for the rodeo are available on the Clark County Event Center website, ClarkCOEvent
Center.com.
The Family Fun Series also includes a 10-day carnival put on by Butler Amusements and included shows featuring monster trucks.
Last year, all events and activities were paused to observe COVID-19 guidance from Gov. Jay Inslee’s office. Then in May, the board decided to cancel the fair once again.
Officials say the next Clark County Fair is scheduled for Aug. 5-14, 2022.
“We are adding events and shows all the time to our summer calendar. Be sure to visit the website for updates and follow us on our social media feeds,” wrote John Morrison, CEO of the Clark County Event Center, in a news release.
