Florida Guide > Other Activities
Silver Spurs Rodeo (2)
Billed as the biggest rodeo east of the Mississippi this rodeo is just one attraction you just will not want to miss. It first started way back in 1941 with very humble beginnings as the Silver Spurs Riding club but gradually over the years it’s popularity grew and is it became more popular and attracted more followers it was able to locate to better premises.
I went to the older premises on several occasions. It was an outdoor arena, very rough and ready and very exciting especially when one of the huge mammoth like bulls started to charge the crowds and I wondered if it would have cleared the more flimsy wooden fences they had then. ,
Then in 2002 they tore down the old one and work began on the new all singing and dancing one that they have today.
The $84million Osceola Heritage Park development is now indoor, climate controlled and can be used as a rodeo, or for sporting events, exhibitions and concerts and can seat 8, 300 people.
It is situated just off the 192 east past the Florida Turnpike on the left-very near the St Cloud Flea Market.
It is a great family night out as well as the events, there are pageants, Miss Silver Spurs, they usually have a display by the youngsters of the Silver Spurs Riding Club where the horses dance a quadrille and we have the national anthem which is very stirring and patriotic. In the interval they hold a contest for the children. They release 5 small steers into the area with about 100 children from the audience. These steers have a ribbon tied to their tails and if a child gets one he/she receives $100. I know it amazed me too-but that’s Florida!
The events range from tie down roping a steer-all very quick and efficient, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and of course the one event that the rodeos are famous for are the bronc and bull riding. These two events have me glued to my seat and white knuckled to boot-especially the bull riding. I am just amazed at the riders strength, courage and bravery. These bulls can weigh more than a ton and just to sit on one is dangerous enough. Couple that with the fact that they have to stay there for 8 minutes and only hold on with one hand and you get a recipe for danger but help is always at hand with the trained horseman who are constantly on the lookout to support the riders and the brave (or stupid) clowns who run around and try to distract the bull once the rider is unseated. I mean –would you do that job?
It has to be one of the best nights for thrills and spills.
Tickets are very reasonable-$15 per adult and children under 10 are free.
Only one drawback. The rodeo only hits town twice a year-in February and October. The February one is usally about the middleof the month and about the same for the October one so not always easy to co-incide your visit-but if you can you will have a great night out.
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