The bulls are coming back to Burlington, and they’re bringing their much-heralded attitude problems with them.
The annual three-day-long, indoor SnowBull rodeo event returned for its 28th year on Thursday. The rodeo continues Friday, and Saturday at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington.
As advertised, there will be plenty of cowboys looking to grab fame atop thousand-pound beasts anxious to stomp and gore them.
Doors open at 6 p.m. each night with the show beginning at 7 p.m., according to organizers.
Riders will vary each night of the competition, though some will compete multiple nights to get a higher average score. The best cowboys will leave with large trophy belt buckles and slightly larger paychecks.
The SnowBull party won’t stop just because the bulls stop buckin’.
The Friday and Saturday iterations of SnowBull will conclude with an after-party, complete with food and alcohol. The parties will start at about 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, inside the auditorium but after the rodeo action, with each night to feature a musical artist.
Friday night will feature Devin Clemons Band, and StumpTown will play Saturday night.
Of course, you can’t have a rodeo without some mutton bustin’.
The annual sheep-riding event for children ages 3-to-6 will be Saturday at Memorial Auditorium, and the riding begins after registration at 10 a.m. There is only room for so many children, and registration is first-come, first-served.
The sheep riding is part of Saturday Kids Day, which also begins at 11 a.m. and includes goat-tying and face painting.
Tickets vary in price by day and are available at the Memorial Auditorium Box Office. Tickets can also be purchased at the Port of Burlington Welcome Center, Casebine CCU (Burlington and Fort Madison), Pep Stop in Mount Pleasant, Sinclair Fuel in Denmark, and Menn’s Firestone in Carthage, Ill.
For more information, visit the SnowBull Facebook page or the website at www.burlingtonsnowbull.com