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Dress in your best pearl-snap shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots, and ride out to celebrate Redding Rodeo Week .
Philanthropic organization the Asphalt Cowboys and the Redding Rodeo Association host a week packed with dinners, dancing, the popular downtown community pancake breakfast and the annual rodeo-themed parade through downtown.
And there will be hoopla surrounding the annual (mock) bank robbery and how to win a reward for finding the "stolen" loot and fingering the Lone Stranger and Sidekick.
Events leading up to the rodeo start Friday, May 10, and continue through the rodeo's last day on Saturday, May 18.
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Don't have time to do everything? Here's a list of five no-miss rodeo week events, including family-friendly gatherings.
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Cowboy Chili Cook-off, Street Dance and Quick Draw Contest
The Asphalt Cowboys kick off rodeo-themed celebrations with their Cowboy Chili Cook-off, Street Dance and Quick Draw Contest on Friday May 10 at the Redding Rodeo Grounds 'Buckaroo Flats', 720 Auditorium Drive.
Test your favorite chili recipe against other chefs at the Cowboy Chili Cook-off. There are no restrictions on beans or other ingredients in this 'friendly' competition. The best chili wins. Bring your already-cooked concoction ready for judging to the Asphalt Cowboys’ Clubhouse between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Entrants get table space, but there's no electricity. Go to asphaltcowboys.org to download an entry form. Cost to enter the contest is free; chili tasting cups will cost about 25 cents, according to Asphalt Cowboy Justin Maier.
There will also be burgers and hot dogs, beer, wine and cocktails for purchase from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Show off your speed at the quick draw contest at 6 p.m.: contestants register by 5:30 p.m. No live ammunition permitted. Bring your own pistols and blanks.
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Dance off those extra calories to live music by country-western band Locked-N-Loaded, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Admission to the event is free.
For more information call 530-510-3797.
Redding Rodeo Steak Feed and Dance
The Redding Rodeo Association and R&R Meats host this year’s Redding Rodeo Steak Feed and Dance on Saturday May 11 at the Redding Rodeo grounds, 715 Auditorium Drive.
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Drinks and a mixer begin at 5 p.m.; dinner with fixings is served at 6 p.m. Dance to live music after the meal.
Tickets are $35 for adults. A children’s ‘Mutton Bustin’ Meal’, either a hamburger or hot dog with chips and a soda, is $10. Admission to the dance is free.
Call 530-241-5731 for information; go to reddingrodeo.com/p/tickets--deals to buy tickets.
Four nights of Redding Rodeo
See cultural demonstrations and cowboys showing off their skills starting at 7 p.m. from Wednesday May 15 to Saturday May 18.
The four nightly programs include bull riding, bareback riding, roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing and live music. There’s a different theme each night:
- Wednesday opens the rodeo with Native American night and “Extreme Bulls and Barrels.” The program includes performances honoring North State Native American traditions. Admission is $20.
- Thursday is family night, with acts for all ages, according to the rodeo association. That day is also the children’s Mutton Bustin': 150 junior cowboys and cowgirls riding sheep. Admission is $25.
- Friday is Tuff Enough to Wear Pink night. Rodeo planners pledged $10,000 to help support breast cancer research and awareness. Attendees are asked to wear pink. Admission is $30.
- The finale on Saturday is Armed Forces night. Admission is $35.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Go to reddingrodeo.com/events to buy tickets.
Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast
Join approximately 10,000 of your North State neighbors for the 70th annual Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday, May 17 in downtown Redding.
The city blocks off streets around the Cascade Theatre to make space for this outdoor event’s dining tables and grilling stations.
The Asphalt Cowboys serve up pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee or milk ― rain or shine.
Tickets are $5 in advance from an Asphalt Cowboy, $6 at the door. Call 530-244-1117 or go to asphaltcowboys.org/event/pancake-breakfast for more information.
Redding Rodeo Parade
Started as the Shasta County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Parade in 1949, the Redding Rodeo Parade marches through downtown Redding starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18.
As many as 250 floats, equestrian groups, classic car drivers, marching bands and other entries compete in 52 classes for prizes and trophies.
This year’s theme is Neon Lights and Rodeo Nights.
Arrive early to find a good viewing spot on the sidewalk flanking the route.
The parade starts on California Street at the Tehama Street corner, turns left onto Sacramento Street, then turms left onto Pine Street, right on Yuba Street and ends near the Bank of America at the intersection of Yuba and East streets, said Maier, the Asphalt Cowboys' parade committee chairman.
Admission is free.
Go to asphaltcowboys.org for parade entry forms.
Check back on redding.com for the Record Searchlight's daily coverage of rodeo week events and for clues you'll need to solve the annual Asphalt cowboys (mock) bank robbery.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook . Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding Rodeo week rides into town soon. Don't miss these 5 events
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