Lake City will be packed with cowboys and cowgirls next weekend for the Top Rail Saddle Club’s 63rd annual Western Days Rodeo. The event has grown year after year since its humble beginnings in 1959 and now draws thousands of fans to the community to one of western Iowa’s premier rodeos. Nancy Janssen, a Top Rail Saddle Club member, says it has become somewhat of a challenge to add unique attractions to their schedule after six decades, but they always find a way.
She adds the club has two shows planned: Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 at 6 p.m. However, the fun gets started on Friday evening as they kick off Western Days with their annual street dance and beer garden.
There are plenty of activities throughout the community next weekend outside of the rodeo. On Friday, the Lake City Pool is hosting a party for swimmers between seven and 19 years old. Saturday features vendors, food trucks, and inflatables around the square from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday morning’s activities begin at 9 a.m. with breakfast at the rodeo grounds, community worship at 11 a.m., and registration for the bags tournament in Goins Park opens at noon. According to Janssen, admission to each rodeo show is only $15 for adults, and kids 12 years old and under get in for just $5. Due to increasing costs, Janssen says they had considered raising ticket prices, but generous support from local businesses helped them keep costs down.
The Western Days Rodeo and festivities run from Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26. The schedule of next weekend’s activities in Lake City can be found included with this story on our website.
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Top Rail Saddle Club Event Page
Lake City Betterment Event Page
