Cedar Park Rodeo: Two Nights of Rodeo This Weekend

The Cedar Park Rodeo is back this weekend, and it's one of those Austin-area fixtures that's easy to overlook until it's almost here. Presented by Busch Light, the 2026 edition takes over the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, with two nights of professional rodeo sanctioned by the Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association and the United Professional Rodeo Association. The lineup runs the full gamut: bareback riding, saddle bronc, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, girls barrel racing, girls breakaway roping, team roping, mutton busting, and frisbee dogs.

Timing is the first thing to nail down. Doors open at 6:30 PM on Friday and 5:30 PM on Saturday, with the main rodeo events starting at 7:30 PM both nights. Saturday is the busier evening, with a Mutton Bustin' pre-show and Happy Hour kicking off at 5:30 PM before the main event. If you're bringing kids who want to ride, registration is $35 per contestant with a 55-pound weight limit. On Friday, ten spots open up during the event, with doors opening at 6:30 PM for registration. Saturday is the bigger draw: a pre-show round with room for up to 65 contestants, plus another ten spots during the main show.

Tickets are split between adults and children ages 2 to 12, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Sammy Wallace Memorial Foundation. The early bird deal, which let adults pay the child price, closed back in May, so you're looking at standard rates now. Group tickets for ten or more expire at midnight tonight, so if you're rounding up a crowd, that's the window to close. Otherwise, tickets have been on sale since April through Ticketmaster and the H-E-B Center box office.

Parking is one of the smoother parts of the night. The venue has more than 2,600 spaces, with designated accessible areas in Lots B, F, and G. General lot parking is $15, while Premium Lot B, right by the main East entrance, is $35, and the Premium Circle Lot facing that same entrance is $40. Buses or vehicles taking up more than one space are also $40. Parking is free for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients with valid plates, and you can snag a discount by paying in advance. A few things to know before you walk in: the venue is cashless, so bring a card or Apple Pay, though Apple Pay won't work at the box office or the parking lots. The bag policy leans clear, with clear bags up to 16 by 8 by 16 inches and non-clear bags no larger than 5 by 9 by 2, with exceptions for diaper bags with a child present or medical bags. Everyone goes through security, and there's no re-entry once you're in.

If you're planning to browse, there's a non-food vendor showcase in the hall both nights, with booths running from the time doors open until the end of the event. Between the two nights, the rodeo packs a lot in, so whether you're there for the bull riding or the mutton busting, it's worth picking the evening that fits your pace best.