Lone Star State Kicks Off 2009 Rodeo Season

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that the mistletoe is packed and the New Year has been properly ushered in, the Lone Star State is preparing for the next season worthy of note - rodeo season. Visitors will come from across the country to enjoy this storied Western tradition, filled with sights, sounds, scents, tastes and experiences. With high stakes professional rodeo, concert performances by top name entertainers, carnivals, barbecue cook-offs, live auctions, trail rides and more, the state's rodeos offer something for everyone.

"Visitors to Texas' annual livestock shows and rodeos will enjoy the exciting rodeo traditions and rich Western heritage that are such a big part of theTexas story, while at the same time experiencing a wide array of top musicians, incredible food, and shopping for everything from custom-made boots to jewelry and clothing," said Julie Chase, Director of Tourism for the Texas Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism.

The 2009Texas rodeo season includes the following:

    --  The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (January 16-February 8, 2009):
        America's oldest stock show will celebrate its 113th year in 2009,
        with specialty and professional rodeo events taking place daily (with
        the exception of January 22).  With approximately 900,000 visitors each
        year, this annual event features a carnival midway full of attractions,
        education exhibits, vendors - selling everything from jewelry and belt
        buckles to boots and clothing apparel - livestock shows and sales at one
        of the best equestrian centers in America - the Will Rogers Memorial
        Center.  For more information, visit www.fwstockshowrodeo.com.
    --  The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo (January 31-February 17, 2009):
        Visitors will converge upon the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum
        Grounds for a host of rodeo events, along with a carnival and
        star-studded performances. Entertainers will include Reba McEntire, Gary
        Allan, Allen Jackson, Pat Green, Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Darius
        Rucker, Wade Bowen, the Goo Goo Dolls, Brooks & Dunn, Jack Ingram,
        Montgomery Gentry and more.  Visitors will also enjoy authentic Texas
        barbecue at the 13th Annual BBQ Cook-off and concert, held at Six Flags
        Fiesta Texas on Saturday, January 31, 2009.  For more information, visit
        www.sarodeo.com.
    --  The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (March 3-22, 2009):  Since the
        show's 1932 debut, it has contributed more than $230 million to
        scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior
        show exhibitors, the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence(TM), School
        Art participants, and other educational and youth programs.  Visitors to
        the Reliant Astrodome will find something for everyone - a petting zoo,
        sing-a-longs and gondola Sky Ride for families, new club The Hideout for
        those 21 and up, and the Southwest-sponsored Champion Wine Garden in
        Carruth Plaza for adults.  For more information, visit
        www.rodeohouston.com.
    --  The Star of Texas Rodeo (March 13-28, 2009): Austin goes cowboy as
        competitors hit the Travis County Expo Center arena and area exhibitors
        show prize livestock at the 72nd annual event. Headline entertainers
        will appear in concert nightly, with past performers including Willie
        Nelson, Styx, Gretchen Wilson and Kevin Fowler.  Those looking for more
        than bull riding and calf roping can check out the Rodeo Rumble Run
        (March 13), the Chuck Wagon Cook-off (March 13-14), the BBQ Cook-off
        (March 20-22) and the Bullet Proof Blowout (March 27-28).  For more
        information, call 512-919-3000 or visit www.staroftexas.org.
    --  Additional rodeos are scheduled throughout the state, from the series of
        Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) events in Corsicana,
        Huntsville, Katy, Madisonville and George West (January through March
        2009), the West of the Pecos Rodeo (June 24-27, 2009), the Tri-State
        Fair and Rodeo in Amarillo (September 2009) and the Southwestern
        International PRCA Rodeo in El Paso (September 2009).

For more information about rodeos, events and travel across the state ofTexas, log on to www.TravelTex.com.

About Tourism in Texas

Tourism is one of the largest industries inTexas, employing 534,000 Texans. In 2007, travelers spent almost $57 billion inTexas. Travel expenditures generated $2.8 billion in state taxes and $994 million in local taxes. For more information onTexas travel events and vacation destinations, visit www.TravelTex.com or for a free Texas State Travel Guide call 1-800-8888-TEX.

SOURCE Texas Tourism

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