Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo set for Oct. 16-17

Following a cancellation this summer, the Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo is back on and will occur next weekend at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park. Originally, the rodeo was supposed to occur in July. However, according to Rodeo Committee Chairman Rich Moore, the city was not comfortable with having people gather in such large numbers at that time. The City of Dripping Springs is a partner of the event.

In the past, the rodeo would reach between 1,000 to 2,000 people a night. This year, due to the pandemic, the number of attendees is limited to 622. Along with limiting the number of people, several precautions will be in place in order to maintain the safety of those who join in on the rodeo festivities. These precautions include; face-masks, hand sanitizer stations, extra hand washing stations, seating in every other row and oneway foot-traffic. Online ticket sales are also being encouraged and will be available starting October 10.

Typically, a ranch rodeo would occur during the day, and events are held for kids to participate. However, those will be canceled this year. To adhere with social distancing guidelines, there will also be no dance after the rodeo. Moore said that what would be a weekend-long event under normal circumstances, has been reduced to just the rodeo events on Friday and Saturday night.

Moore noted that rodeo organizers were receiving a lot of feedback from people who wanted to get out and see the rodeo. Also, since the start of COVID-19, contestants have not been able to participate in rodeos. Moore said that those participants who went from competing in a rodeo once or twice in a weekend, are no longer doing so. For this reason, the Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo is expecting a good turnout.

While the rodeo is a time for contestants to compete and for locals to enjoy, the rodeo also benefits our youth and encourages people to take pride in the town they live in.

“One of the biggest reasons we do this is to celebrate the rural heritage of Dripping Springs and to raise money for the kids in 4-H and FFA’s projects,” said Moore.