The Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex has been transformed into a rodeo arena for the 27th annual Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo.
And in just one day, rink one of the CMRC will be packed to the rafters with spectators and rodeo animals and athletes.
Three rodeo performances highlight the event, which sees more than 5,000 spectators attend over the weekend, starting Friday evening at 6 p.m., then followed by back-to-back shows Saturday and Sunday, both beginning at 1 p.m.
The rodeo is the second largest in the BC Rodeo Association with 300-plus competitors coming from throughout B.C., Alberta and Washington.
“Ticket sales have been going good,” Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo president Kelly Walls said. “We also have the Cowboy Carnival Friday morning from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. and it’s very popular with the kids.”
The free fifth annual Cowboy Carnival gives younger cowboys and cowgirls a fun chance to try their hands at stick horse barrel racing, dummy roping, bucking barrels and more.
Then, on Saturday evening, the Barn Dance kicks off with the musical stylings of local band One in the Chamber at 9 p.m.
Walls said tickets for the Barn Dance are about three quarters sold out and anyone wishing to attend can get advanced tickets at the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo office upstairs in Boitanio Mall until Thursday at 4:30 p.m., before the office moves to the CMRC Friday morning opening at 10 a.m.
Sunday, BC Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees Bronc Twan and brothers Antoine and Gilbert Harry will be honoured starting at 1 p.m. during the rodeo performance.
There will also be a tribute Saturday to bull rider Ty Pozzobon, Warren Lulua and Lane Setah at the beginning of the rodeo. Spectators will have the opportunity, for $5, to win a signed poster and tickets to next year’s rodeo and Walls said all the money raised from that will go to the Ty Pozzobon Foundation — created to help cowboys in and out of the rodeo arena and create awareness surrounding concussions.
Local competitors Brock Everett (team roping, junior breakaway roping), Allison Everett (team roping), Wade McNolty (steer wrestling, team roping), Paisley McNolty (peewee barrel racing), Brady McNolty (team roping, barrel racing), Terris Billyboy (breakaway roping), Willee Twan (calf roping, team roping), Bobby Twan (barrel racing), Denise Swampy (breakaway roping), Colton Manuel (bull riding) and Blaine Manuel (bull riding) will be in action.
The opening ceremony for each rodeo will feature the Wild West Riders and Stampede Royalty will be in attendance.
For more contact the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo office at 250-398-3334 or drop by during its opening hours from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. until Thursday, then at the complex starting Friday at 10 a.m.
