Experience the North Park Never Summer Rodeo

The Neversummer Rodeo is North Park’s biggest event of the year. Taking place on the weekend of the fourth Saturday in June each year, the Neversummer Rodeo has been drawing people from all around the country—if not the world—for generations. This year the Neversummer Rodeo is celebrating its 82 year, and it promises to be one of the best events in the northern Colorado Rockies. It’s a small town rodeo with a lot going on that you won’t want to miss. If you are looking for something to do in Colorado in summer, you don’t want to miss this.

Rodeo in the West

Rodeos originated in the early beginnings of western settlement, dating all the way back to the vaqueros and other horsemen of the Southwest. Cowboys would gather to blow off steam and compete with each other in contests to show off their skills. If you have never experienced a rodeo, the Neversummer Rodeo is a great place to start. This smaller venue has everything that the bigger rodeos have. From barrel racing and breakaway roping to bronc busting and bull riding. It’s all here!

The Neversummer Rodeo not only features talented local rodeo riders, but is also part of the Wyoming ProRodeo Association, Colorado Pro Rodeo Association, and the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association.

Event Schedule

The best way to find out what is going on at the Neversummer Rodeo is to be there. Throughout the weekend, something is always happening at the Jackson County Fairgrounds, so be sure to get your tickets and find a seat. Events begin at 12pm on Friday, June 21 at the Jackson County Fairgrounds with Junior Rodeo events when the Neversummer Rodeo kicks off with talented local riders and ropers. Local team roping qualifiers begin at 4pm along with the Team Roping Calcutta.

Bull riding, bronc busting, breakaway roping, team roping, and more captivate spectators all weekend long, from locals to pro-level entrants. Saturday, the CPRA Rodeo events start at 1pm and conclude with the CPRA slack performance.

On Sunday, CPRA final events begin at 1pm and local Team Roping finals and bonus finals wrap up later in the afternoon. Throughout the events on Saturday and Sunday, the kids can join in the fun with a money catch, boot race, and the ever-popular mutton busting.

What Else is Happening Rodeo Weekend?

Rodeo has always been a time for locals and visitors to North Park to get together. But that’s not all that is happening. 

North Park Pioneer Dinner

The North Park Pioneer Association brings together people who have been a part of North Park history. Dinner starts at Noon on Saturday, June 22. This year recognizes the Thorne/Rich families. Dinner will be catered by the River Rock Cafe, serving up homestyle pot roast with bacon green beans, mashed potatoes, and choice of carrot cake and chocolate cake for dessert.

Neversummer Rodeo Street Dance

The Stockman Bar and Grill will be hosting the Neversummer Rodeo Street Dance. Saturday night, one full block of Main Street in Walden will be blocked off for live music and dancing from 7pm until 1am. Musical guests Chris Shrive and Shane Fabiani will be playing originals and old favorites throughout the weekend. Get gussied up in your best duds and hang out at the Stockman’s beer garden with old friends and new.

Grab some friends and get your picture taken at the Old-Time photo booth, or check out the vendor show where local artisans will be showcasing their creations. From hand-crafted knives and leatherwork, to unique western-inspired gifts and much more!

Cowboy Church

As Rodeo Weekend in North Park begins to wind down, there’s still plenty to do and see. On Sunday, start the morning off with Cowboy Church at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Service begins at 8:30am. 

Neversummer Rodeo Parade

Riders and color guards, fire trucks, and floats throwing lots of candy to the kids in the crowd are just part of the fun. Classic cars, class reunions, and Pioneer families gather at 9am at the Jackson County sheds. Find a place to stand along Main Street in Walden, CO to watch the parade. The procession of riders, cars, fire trucks, and floats heads south along Main St. before looping back around again. The Neversummer Rodeo royalty will be riding in the parade as well, so be sure to wave! 

Sunday Oyster Fry

Head up to the Fairgrounds for an Oyster Fry at the Wattenberg Center at 11pm. If you haven’t experienced the delicacy that is Rocky Mountain Oysters, you are in for a real treat. 

An Incredible Western Experience

Rodeo really hasn’t changed all that much in the West, which isn’t something we can say for much of anything else. Rodeo is a time for people to get together and watch this sport that goes back centuries. Both humans and the animals they ride are incredible athletes and there’s never a dull moment once those gates open. From bull riding and bronc busting to barrel racing and team roping, seeing the Neversummer rodeo may just be the bucket list experience you have been waiting for. 

To learn more about the history and people of North Park, be sure to stop by the North Park Pioneer Museum. A casual, hands-on experience that transports you back in time, guests from all around the world have called it one of their favorite places to visit in Jackson County. The North Park Pioneer Museum is open all week from 10am-4pm until September.

Places to Stay in North Park

The Neversummer Rodeo weekend is North Park’s busiest weekend for visitors, so be sure to book your accommodations in advance as hotels and vacation rentals tend to fill up quickly. There are still other options for the die-hard traveler, such as a stay at a campground, RV park, or a cabin at a town outside of Walden, CO.

Here is a list of hotels and other places to stay in Walden for your visit to North Park, CO. Walden’s central location gives you a great jumping off point for not only North Park, but Snowy Range, Steamboat, Winter Park, and Grand Lake without the traffic! Also check  VRBO, or AirBnB  for other vacation rental listings throughout Jackson County.

• Antlers Inn Call: (970) 723-8690
• North Park Inn and Suites: (970) 723-4271
• Chedsey Motel Call: (970) 723-8201
• Lake John Resort (970) 723-3226
• Powderhorn Cabins, (970) 723-4359
   

Places to Eat in Walden, CO

• Rita’s Cafe: Great place to stop for Breakfast and Lunch. From biscuits and gravy to carne asada loaded potatoes, you won’t leave hungry.
• River Rock in Walden, CO : A sit down restaurant with hot drinks, food, and adult beverages for after a long day on the trails.
• Howling Coyote Mexican Restaurant in Gould, CO: If you are riding trails in Gould, Cameron Pass, State Forest State Park, or Owl Mountain, the Howling Coyote Mexican Restaurant is close to you. Serving up a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the snowmobile season, it’s a must-see place to stop to fill your stomach.
• Rand Yacht Club in Rand, CO: At the south end of North Park on HWY 125 in Rand, CO, you’ll find the historic Rand Yacht Club. Call (303) 909-2719 for hours of operation and to see what specials are on the menu.
• El Toro Tacos: A new taco truck operated by the same folks that run the Howling Coyote Mexican Restaurant, only right here in Walden, CO, on the corner of 5th and Main Street.
• The 10th Frame in Walden, CO: Open Tuesday-Saturday, take a break from riding and enjoy a burger, hot sandwiches, or any number of daily specials. It’s also got bowling and a full bar. A local favorite! 
• The Stockman Bar and Grill in Walden, CO: A local bar and grill featuring an original antique bar from the frontier days, local character, and plenty of good times.
• Four Winds Pizza in Walden, CO: Pizza, ice cream, and antiques. Call (970) 723-8668 for current seasonal hours.

One of Our Favorite Times of the Year

Rodeo comes but once a year, so be sure to mark your calendar for the weekend of the fourth Saturday in June. This year's rodeo begins on June 21st, but there’s so much more to experience in North Park. While people are sweating in front of their air conditioners in the Front Range, up in the mountains, cool breezes from snowy mountains are calling you to come visit. Leave behind the crowds and traffic, the neverending construction zones, and general insanity of the cities this summer. From camping and fishing, to backpacking and off-roading, North Park is an outdoors playground waiting to be explored.