Dublin’s rich rodeo history will be on full display Saturday, Sept. 2 starting with a country and western themed parade in downtown to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum.
A grand country and western parade will start at 9:30 a.m., following the traditional router from the Memorial Stadium, down Travis through downtown on Patrick Street.
Lilly G’s Rick Taylor expects it to be a nice sized parade with riding clubs from all over Texas, sheriff’s posses, families of rodeo museum honorees, stage coaches, wagons and more registered for the procession. Those wanting to enter the parade can do so through Friday by calling Taylor at (254) 459-0141.
Vendor booths, activities and nonprofits will be set up at Wright Park and the Public Library Lawn and open at 10 a.m. for people to visit after the parade.
The museum will induct the 2021 and 2022 honorees into the Honor and Memorial Walk inside the museum entrance at 11 a.m.
This will be followed at 11:15 a.m. with the branding wall ceremony in which new brands will be seared into the cedar wall.
At 11:45 a.m. those who have preregistered can take home a piece of history as cedar blocks on brass plates will be emblazoned with the Lightning C Ranch outside.
A BBQ street taco lunch will follow at noon with plates set at $15 each. Each meal includes four tacos, beans and rice, dessert and an iced tea. Tickets can be reserved by calling (254) 445-0200.
At 1 p.m. winners will be announced in the Country and Western Photography Contest held in partnership with the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council (CTFAC).
Winners will be announced in the gallery installed at 113 E. Blackjack and a free public viewing of the works will follow until 4 p.m.
The schedule includes a break for guests to explore Dublin’s museum’s and downtown businesses before the old school auditorium on Camden Street opens up at 4 p.m. for a free showing of the recently remastered documentary, “From Dublin To Madison Square Garden,” telling the story of the World Championship Rodeo and Dublin’s inextricable ties to it.
The event will be capped off with the Everett Colborn Memorial Bull Riding competition at Dublin City Park at 7:30 p.m. Taylor is expecting an exciting event as the slate of riders are full, drawing in people from as far away as South Carolina, New Mexico and Louisiana, all vying for the payouts with $1,500 added in to increase the winnings.
The gates will open at 4 p.m. with vendors on-site and concessions to sate guest’s hunger. The event itself will kick off with a special dedication followed by the start of the riding. Halftime will feature the return of Jeff Jackrabbit Harris with a special routine. This will be followed a Bull Poker event (if enough brave souls sign up from the audience) in which a bull is turned loosed in the arena where people are seated around a table. The last to leave their seat will claim a cash prize.