Houston has grown into a remarkably diverse city, but its heritage as a quintessential Texas city is reflected best by the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Unless you are a Houstonian, it’s a bit difficult to explain “the Rodeo,” as Houstonians call it. But it’s an event that lasts almost three weeks each March, involves volunteer efforts of thousands of Houstonians, brings hundreds of thousands of people into Houston, raises millions of dollars for academic scholarships, and provides some of the most interesting and unique entertainment that one could ever imagine.
Started in the early 1930’s in downtown Houston, the Rodeo has grown into a huge event that literally envelopes the entire Reliant Park complex, including Reliant Stadium and the adjacent convention facility. The Rodeo kicks off with 5,000 trailriders descending on Houston’s Memorial Park this Friday, which is “Go Texan Day” in Houston in which most folks go to work in some type of cowboy attire. After a wild night of campfire parties at Memorial Park, the Trailriders ride the five miles down Memorial Drive to downtown Houston early Saturday morning for the annual Rodeo Parade, which is great fun. Then, it’s off to the Rodeo at Reliant Park.
The Rodeo always has a first rate lineup of entertainers who perform after each night of the rodeo event, and this year is no exception. However, this year is particularly special for me in that rising country music star Dierks Bentley is one of the headline performers. Dierks is the younger brother of an old friend of mine, Houston real estate attorney Bart Bentley, who happens to be a pretty fair guitarist himself in the popular Houston rock band, Mid-Life Crisis and the Hot Flashes.
Although my teenage daughters undoubtedly will want to see Dierks’ show at the Rodeo, I most enjoy the Livestock Show in the Reliant Convention facility while visiting the Rodeo. Over the years, I have seen more incredible animals in the Livestock Show than in any zoo that I have ever visited.
Accordingly, if you are visiting Houston during March, do not miss the opportunity to visit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Not only will you be highly entertained, but you will learn more about Texas in general and Houston in particular than you could anywhere else.