The ranching legacy in the Wasatch Back and Eastern Utah dates back to the 1800s, when pioneers settled in the mountainous terrain and lush valleys. Cowboys on horseback herded cattle while their families worked the land, establishing deep agricultural heritage roots to the area that remain strong to this day.
Visitors and locals looking to experience the spirit of the American West this summer will certainly find adventure at one of Utah’s charming fairs or rodeos.
Summit County Fair Traditional, Small-town Entertainment
The Summit County Fair is a week of old-fashioned fun happening August 3-10.
The event brings families, friends, and visitors together to honor the community’s agricultural history while also providing entertainment and exhibits for all fairgoers.
Located just outside of Park City in Coalville, the fair has cowboys and bucking broncos, beauty queens, and 4-H exhibits such as home canned goods, flowers, vegetables, and more.
The fairgrounds are a feast for the senses with a carnival midway full of fun games, tasty treats, and live entertainment. Guests ages 21 and older in search of an ice-cold libation can also enjoy the beer, wine, and spirits garden.
Other fair activities include a professional rodeo, a demolition derby, and of course, a parade. Also planned are the Miss Summit County Pageant, art showcases, floriculture exhibits, live performances, a little buckaroo rodeo, plus plenty more.
The Summit County Fair is free to attend, but tickets are required for two of its most popular events:
The action-packed demolition derby is slated for 7 p.m. on the fair’s opening night. The event, which usually sells out, gives spectators a thrilling experience as they watch drivers deliberately smash and crash into each other. A grand-prize winner is crowned only after one vehicle is left operational. Tickets range between $22 and $24. A Kids Power Wheels Demo Derby will be held during intermission.
Fairgoers will also need a ticket if they want to experience the PRCA rodeo, which will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10. The event offers an inside look into the Western way of life with newcomers and veteran cowboys competing. There will be plenty of exciting rodeo events to witness, including, bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping, and steer wrestling. At $15 for an adult or $9 for children ages four to 14, tickets sell fast. Discounted tickets are also available for fence line seating. Children 3 and under are free.
For more information, visit www.summitcountyfair.org.
Oakley Rodeo: Experience the Spectacle
If you don’t want to wait until August to dawn your country attire, the annual Oakley Rodeo might be your ticket for Western entertainment.
Spectators can experience all the offerings of a small-town rodeo, specifically one that’s considered among the best in the West, including, bullfighters, clowns, professionals, up-and-coming acts, as well as a special performance involving horses.
Four rodeo performances run Wednesday, July 3 to Saturday, July 6. Gates open at 6 p.m. with a pre-show at 7:20 and fireworks every night as long as conditions permit.
Oakley Xtreme Bulls, a new event, will also be held at 7:30 p.m. on July 8. The PRCA-sanctioned event features 40 world-ranked bull riders competing for a $35,000 prize.
Visit oakleycity.com/rodeo for more information.
Kick the Dust up Elsewhere in Utah
Utah is full of county fair and rodeo action allowing visitors to don their cowboy hat and boots all summer.
Duchesne County hosts an annual fair and rodeo each summer, running August 5-10. Attendees can expect livestock shows and carnival rides as well as exhibits that showcase the rich rural history of the region. There will also be a car show, cornhole, cowboy-mounted shooting, lawnmower races, parade, petting zoo, juggler, and pig wrestling. It’ll also have a concert and live entertainment (past years have featured country line dancing, a hypnotist, and a magician).
Duchesne is an hour and a half drive east of Park City and is surrounded by plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities including Starvation State Park and Nine Mile Canyon for fishing, boating, and ATV activities.
For more information about the Duchesne County Fair, visit duchesnecountyfair.com.
If you plan to visit Dinosaur National Monument, Flaming Gorge, or float the Green River on the eastern border of Utah outside of Vernal, consider planning your trip around the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo June 13-15 or the Uintah County Fair August 14-17.
Celebrating 100 years of rodeo action, Vernal’s Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo was sanctioned as a professional rodeo in 1950 and expects to host over 600 professional rodeo contestants from around the world, with World Champions in every event. Award-winning rodeo clown and NFR barrelman, John Harrison, will entertain the crowd and provide comic relief. For tickets and additional information, visit www.vernalrodeo.com
The Uintah County Fair features livestock shows, horse pulls, a car show, a cornhole tournament, and so much more over 3 days. Information about the Uintah County Fair can be found at westernpark.org/uintahcountyfair.