8
SEPTEMBER 1�8, 2021
BEHIND THE SCENES
FROM THE
COVER
Round-Up gets ready to Let’ er Buck!
By Tammy Malgesini
Go! Magazine
P
ENDLETON — After last
September’s cancellation
of the Pendleton Round-Up —
just the third time in the storied
rodeo’s 111-year history — the
wooden bucking chutes will
again explode open as cow-
boys, cowgirls and spectators
prepare to Let’ er Buck.
Round-Up week gets under-
way Saturday, Sept. 11, with the
Main Street Cowboys Dress-Up
Parade at 10 a.m. The Kick-Off
Concert is at 7 p.m., featuring
headliner Billy Currington and
opener Shy Carter (tickets are
$40-$150).
Also leading up to the main
event is the PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Tour ($31-$53). The last stop
before the Wrangler National
Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, it
boasts a payout of $110,000.
Spectators will be treated to
the top 24 bull riders in the
country Sept. 13-14 at Happy
Canyon Arena.
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Drummers perform during the Indian Dancing at the Pendleton Round-Up.
The Round-Up’s main rodeo
performances are Sept. 15-18
($13-$24). It begins daily at
1:15 p.m. with the grand entry
countdown and a booming blast
from the cannon. In addition,
slack ($5) begins each morning
Sept. 13-16.
The festivities also include
the Happy Canyon Indian Pag-
eant & Wild West Show ($13-
$24). Running Sept. 15-18, the
nightly show starts at 7:45 p.m.
And after the stage lights dim,
head over to Goldie’s Bar at the
Canyon for gambling, live music
and adult beverages.
The oldest Indian pageant in
the world, Happy Canyon was
designated as Oregon’s offi cial
outdoor pageant in 2011. Based
on a script written more than a
century ago, the pageant has
added a few tweaks over the
years that heighten the excite-
ment. The volunteer cast and
crew of 400 to 500 includes
multi-generational families.
A senior package for
Wednesday or Thursday pro-
vides tickets to the rodeo, the
night show and a barbecue
dinner for $33. It’s available for
those older than 60.
Other highlights are a pair
of American Indian Beauty
pageants. They are Sept. 16 at
10 a.m. at Roy Raley Park and
Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. on Main Street.
While at Roy Raley Park, be
sure to check out the Indian
Village. Upward of 300 teepees
are erected with tribal members
from near and far taking up
residency throughout the week.
In addition, a vendor area off ers
items crafted by Native Ameri-
can artisans.
And, you won’t want to miss
the Westward Ho! Parade. With
First Friday at Crossroads
23 RD ANNUAL
A rt at the C rossroads
O pen R egional S how
2020 Auburn Avenue
Baker City, Oregon
541.523.5369
www.crossroads-arts.org
Exhibition on display Friday, September 3 through Saturday, September 25
Crossroads is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm
“Diogenes” by Stephen Wadner, Mixed Media, Best of Show 2020
all non-motorized entries, it
gets hoofi ng and rolling — with
wagons, stagecoaches, car-
riages and buggies dating
back to the mid-1800s — Sept.
17 at 10 a.m. Tim O’Hanlon,
Round-Up parade director,
said a dedicated crew meets
weekly to paint, repair and work
on wagons.
“There’s a lot of history in
these wagons,” he said.
Adding to the festivities out-
side the arena, the Main Street
Cowboys host The Greatest
Free Show in the West. Enter-
tainment includes musicians,
comedians, magicians and more
in downtown Pendleton Sept.
14-18. Also, there’s a variety of
craft/commercial vendors and
food booths.
“I encourage everyone to
experience everything that they
possibly can during the week,”
said Mary Catherine Rivera, a
Happy Canyon princess.
For more information or links
to purchase tickets, visit www.
pendletonroundup.com.