Big Bear Lake Rodeo

1960 – Rodeos Gain in Popularity

One of the most colorful entertainment features to be  found anywhere is the big rodeo held in Big Bear Lake CA each year on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend under sponsorship of the Las Vaqueros de Las Montanas, Big Bear Valley’s mountain riding club.

The thrilling show, scheduled this year for Sunday. Sept 4, (1960) is invitational to working cowboys of San Bernardino Country only, and contains a wide variety of exciting contests in which cowboys—no less real for being modern range-riders – compete for worthwhile purses and trophies.

Events include ribbon jerking, team roping, calf roping, bareback bronc riding, and that most sensational act – Brahma bull riding.

The younger generation of riders have their opportunity to demonstrate riding ability and good sportsmanship in the annual Junior Gymkhana, also sponsored by the Vaqueros, and tentatively set for Sunday, July 31, this year, beginning at 10:00 A.M. While the Junior Gymkhana is an invitational show for desert and mountain youth, a later gymkhana, tentatively set for Sunday, August 14, is open to all age groups from any locality.

Since the first Vaqueros rodeo was held in 1946, this purely American western entertainment has steadily gained in popularity. Last’s years events were held for the first time on the new Rodeo Grounds of the Vaqueros, on Garstin Road across Highway 30 from the Moonridge Triangle. While the rodeo arena itself is completed, long-range plans for improvement of the area includes construction of bleachers to be added to the limited seating now available. Spectators find it enjoyable to park at the fence, however, and enjoy the show from the comfort of their own cars until bleachers are included in the facilities. More about professional rodeos.