What's New at the Houston Rodeo This Year

MARCH 4, 2025

• 10:00 a.m. - Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 2025 Belt-Buckle Giveaway
• 10:00 a.m. - Junction Carnival Opens
• 10:30 a.m. - Choo Choo Soul performs at the Junction Stage presented by Woodside Energy, a singing conductor who teams up with a beatboxer to perform children’s music. Together, they turn ordinary children’s songs into fresh, head-bobbing jams that get kids and parents grooving along.
• Noon - Opening Day Parade
• 1:00 p.m. - Midway Carnival Opens
• 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. - Reputation, a tribute to Taylor Swift, and Rodeo Inspired Friendship Bracelets (pre-packaged kits for kids to make).
• 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. - Transform into a rodeo clown with professional face painting, then top off your new style with a custom-made balloon hat crafted by skilled balloon artists. Leon Coffee will be joining for a photo op with guests at Hall C Lobby.
• At Dusk - Glow Party in the Champion Wine Garden, presented by Frost
• Country star Reba McEntire takes the stage on the Opening Day.

MARCH 12, 2025

• Free admission for all guests until noon
• Buy one, get one rides and games in the Junction Carnival area until 4 p.m.
• Discounted food and beverage offerings until 4 p.m.
• The Houston Grand Opera will perform at 11 a.m.
• Brookwood Bell Ensemble at 1 p.m.
• The Musicians of the Houston Symphony at 2 p.m.
• Houston Area Olympian and Paralympian Belt Buckle Presentation at 5 p.m.
• NASA activation inside NRG Center near Hall A, all day

MARCH  5 & 19, 2025

Free admission for seniors, 60 and over, and children, 12 and under, until noon. (This does not include rodeo/concert admission). BOGO rides and games in the Junction Carnival until 4 p.m. Look for special offers from some food vendors. View more SPECIAL DAYS.

RODEOHOUSTON’s New Barrelman - John Harrison (left) is one of the most accomplished barrelmen in the sport, having made 13 appearances at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and named PRCA Clown/Barrelman of the Year in 2024, his tenth time winning the award. Harrison also took home Comedy Act of the Year for the eighth time in 2023. Originally from Soper, Oklahoma, Harrison and his family, known as “The Clown Family” among rodeo fans and professionals, now travel across the country year-round as a group. Former RODEOHOUSTON barrelman Leon Coffee personally handpicked Harrison, expressing confidence in his ability to captivate audiences at RODEOHOUSTON.

COWBOT, sponsored by Amegy Bank - This AI photo magic feature will allow fans to transform themselves into cartoon cowboys, cowgirls, or Rodeo stars, with their image displayed on the end zone video boards. Fans will also have the chance to have the image sent to them!

Virtual Chuck Wagon - In partnership with Verizon, this innovative experience will be available to all Rodeo guests free of charge and will be located in Hall C, NRG Center. The Virtual Chuck Wagon is an interactive technology experience blending Western heritage and friendly competition into a unique, real-life game simulation for a chance to win fun prizes. Participants will saddle up, hold onto the horse’s reins, and be transported onto the Rodeo dirt to compete in a two-lap virtual whirlwind race. Like the RODEOHOUSTON® Chuck Wagon Races inside NRG Stadium, sponsored wagons will be represented in the virtual experience. Riders can track the day’s winning teams on a leaderboard displayed in the game.

VR Welding Experience - Let the sparks fly—virtually! Turn up the heat and master the craft in this hands-on virtual reality welding experience located outside Hall C, NRG Center.

New Art Installation - A striking 100-foot mural by Houston-based artistic duo Made X Chilly (pronounced “Made By Chilly”) will debut at this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Artists Chelsea Lemmons and Ileana Hamilton, known for their innovative multi-medium approach, will create a large-scale installation across from the popular Mutton Bustin’, area near the Naomi entrance to NRG Park. The mural will be unveiled on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Overdrive - Sit down, hold on tight, and spin out! Get ready for the ultimate spinning action! It is one of the most thrilling and exciting spinning amusement rides, creating an infinite possibility of random movements and appealing to riders of all ages.

Enchanted Castle - Get ready to enter a magical castle of fun! This spectacular new two-story Mirror Maze features a fantasy-themed front with a classic house on the first floor and trick mirrors on the upper floor. Guests finish the fun house after going down the spiral slide. It’s fun for the whole family.

Dragon Family Coaster - A family fun dragon-themed coaster where adults can sit comfortably with their children while moving quickly around the oval-shaped track.

Hip Hop! - This is one of the most thrilling and exciting swinging amusement rides, creating an infinite possibility of random movements made for “adrenaline freaks.” Each ride welcomes 16 people, and they will get a breathtaking ride over 60 feet high.

Heidi Rollercoaster - Ten cars spin out on this spectacular hyper-boost-speed spinning coaster. See the sights at over 42 feet high along 1,400 feet of track of intense wild curves and hills. Enjoy beautiful Bavarian themes and lighting effects.

This year, guests can pick from a collection of farmyard plush toys featuring spotted pigs, brown and white longhorn cows, and black and white dairy cows. The plushies come in various sizes and have a soft, cuddly design that makes them perfect for display or play!

Shop your way through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and let your impulses go with the countless retail vendors. New vendors in 2025: New Shopping All About Dips, Branded Royalty, Crum Art, Ferrell Brands, Hogue Landscape Services, Ida Mae Home, Iron Oak Apparel, Lane Boots, Mi Amor – Just for You, North Carolina Fudge, November Maker, Rockwell Tharp, Ryan House Candles, Spencer’s Custom Wood, Texas Moon Gourmet Toffee, The Hive, Vintage Boho Bags, Weaver Livestock Supply, Yipiokia.

Lane Boots x Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (photo) - Every pair of boots has a story to tell. Step boldly into the spirit of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo through a unique collaboration with Lane Boots. Lane’s co-branded limited edition Lexington boot – only 2,025 pairs made – is a true celebration of the Rodeo’s storied past, its community impact and defining Houston legacy. Handcrafted with attention to every detail, these boots honor the heart of the organization and the pillars of its heritage.

HEYDUDE and the Rodeo are collaborating again on a custom shoe you can view and purchase at their new exhibit location just inside Hall E, NRG Center. Make sure to stop by and look at the new design for 2025! Limited quantities are available.

Official RODEOHOUSTON Merchandise - For your official Rodeo and entertainer merchandise, visit the booth in NRG Center. You can also get 2025 merchandise at rodeohouston.com, including an exclusive line of commemorative Rodeo-inspired threads and limited-edition collectibles, from jackets and pins to tote bags and buckles. There are new categories and expanded offerings such as gifts, bags/purses, jewelry, home décor, Christmas ornaments, more ladies' apparel, pajamas/robes, men’s polos, and jewelry. There is something for everyone!

Shopping hours: NRG Arena | NRG Center | NRG Park - daily, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

 Foodies never get tired of exploring new mouthwatering dishes at the Rodeo. This year, there are more than 30 new items to taste. Try, among others, Coconut Shrimp and Chicken & Waffle Sliders at Darlin’s Fried Chicken, The Midnight Cowboy Corn Dog at CornDog with No Name, Fried Mexican Street Corn and Smokin Tater Bombs on a Stick at Paradise Burgers, Elotes Munchies Nachos and Hippie Cowboy Street Tacos at Taco Love. And this is just the beginning!

For the first time ever, TRUTH BBQ (photo), the nationally acclaimed BBQ hotspot, will be operating inside NRG Stadium at sections 109 and 129. Ranked in the Top 10 of Texas Monthly’s lauded “Top 50 BBQ List” in 2017 and soaring to the Top 3 in 2021, TRUTH BBQ is more than just a restaurant – it’s a destination. While continuing operations at its Brenham and Houston brick-and-mortar locations, TRUTH BBQ plans to serve up jaw-dropping amounts of their signature brisket —10,000 pounds over the course of the Rodeo’s three-week run—to feed hungry Rodeo fans.

In 2025, these new food vendors are also ready to welcome you: Drizzle Cheesecakes, Mamacita’s, Mia Bella’s Coffee, Once Upon a Cone, Palmer’s Hot Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp, Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos, and Taco Love.

Don't miss the new Carnival midway foods, including at Mustards Café (Chili and Cheese Jumbo Corn Dog), Fried A Fair 2 (Ice Cream Nachos: Waffle cone chips topped with ice cream swirls and chocolate sauce), Cowboy Kettle Corn (Dirty Sodas, various flavors) and Biggy’s (Mike’s Hot Honey Turkey Leg, Mike’s Hot Honey Big Daddy Corn Dog, pizzas, and more). And these are just a few! At Candy Factory, try Chocolate Strawberry Cup. This is a viral food sensation in Dubai and London. It is an endless stream of super gourmet European chocolate melted over strawberries.

Berg Hospitality Group returns again to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse. The Ranch provides Rodeo-goers with the option of a casual or formal sit-down dining experience within a handsomely designed 16,000 square-foot, climate-controlled tent on the NRG grounds. The biggest party on the fairgrounds, the venue buzzes with nightly DJs, private event spaces, and a VIP area with reserved seating throughout the Rodeo season.

EXPLORE OUR PAGE DEDICATED TO THE HOUSTON RODEO with more details about this event, and don't forget to check out our blog post about ALL RODEO CONCERTS in 2025.