A 100-year-old dancehall on the Guadalupe River just reopened after devastating floods, Pecos is holding its famous July 4th rodeo, Ladonia hits 60 years, and every Saturday night in Hunt something magical happens under the Hill Country stars — July in Texas belongs to the cowboys.
There is no better month to experience Texas rodeo culture than July. The summer circuit is in full swing, the nights are hot, the music is loud, and somewhere in this state every single weekend — often in a town you’ve never visited — riders are competing under the stars in the most authentically Texan tradition that exists. Here is your complete July 2026 rodeo and dancehall guide.
Hunt — Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall, Every Saturday Through Labor Day
Start here. Before any other rodeo on this list, understand that Crider’s exists — and that it is one of the most special places in Texas.
It all started as a simple 4th of July fundraiser. In 1925, Walter and Audrey Crider hosted a rodeo to benefit the Hunt School PTA. The event proved so popular it became a weekly summer tradition, and friendships, love affairs, and general goodwill towards men have been engineered at Crider’s ever since.
Crider’s has no specialized clientele. The charm of it lies in the unpretentious mingling of people — rustics, sophisticates, oil men, high school students, teachers, professional football players, TV personalities, presidents, governors, astronauts, movie stars, camp counselors, truck drivers, cowboys, grandparents, and grandchildren. Not all who go to Crider’s dance. Some go to hear the music, watch the dancers, or just have an evening out with friends.
This year marks Crider’s 100th anniversary — and the story of how this centennial summer came to be is one of the most remarkable comebacks in Texas history. Crider’s was gearing up to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2025 when catastrophic flooding hit Hunt. Rushing waters overturned pool tables, upended the bar, and buried the complex under mud and debris. The venue closed for the remainder of the 2025 season. After nearly a year of flood recovery, Crider’s reopened on May 17, 2026, with a benefit concert featuring Texas music icon Gary P. Nunn.
The 100th summer is happening. And it is happening every Saturday night through Labor Day.
Rodeos start at 8 p.m. Saturday nights with live music and dancing at 9 p.m. Rodeo $7, dance $10, combo ticket $15 — discounts for children and seniors. Cold beer and good hamburgers at the open-air restaurant. Mutton bustin’ is always a crowd favorite. Beautiful location on the banks of the Guadalupe River, just outside of Kerrville.
Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall 2310 State Highway 39, Hunt, TX 78024 Every Saturday through Labor Day — Rodeo at 8 p.m. / Live music and dancing at 9 p.m. Phone: (830) 238-4441 Website: cridersrandd.com Facebook: Criders Rodeo and Dancehall
Pecos — West of the Pecos Rodeo, July 1–4
One of the oldest and most storied rodeos in Texas takes place every July 4th weekend in Pecos — the birthplace of rodeo itself. The West of the Pecos Rodeo runs July 1 through 4, 2026. This is the rodeo that started it all — the first organized rodeo competition in history took place in Pecos on July 4, 1883, and the tradition has never stopped. Four days of PRCA-sanctioned competition, a parade, and Fourth of July fireworks in the heart of Far West Texas.
West of the Pecos Rodeo Dates: July 1–4, 2026 Location: Buck Jackson Arena, Pecos, TX 79772 Website: westofthepecosrodeo.com Phone: (432) 445-2406
Ladonia — 60th Annual Ladonia Rodeo, July 9–11
The 60th Annual Ladonia Rodeo runs July 10 and 11, 2026, at Eastman Arena in Ladonia, TX, with $11,000 in added money across all events. Slack runs Thursday, July 9 at 8 p.m. Main performances run Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 at 8 p.m., with a concert after each performance both nights. Sanctioned by UPRA, CPRA, LRCA, and CRRA, this small North Texas rodeo has been going strong for 60 years and packs a serious competitive lineup. Cash only for entry fees.
60th Annual Ladonia Rodeo Dates: Thursday, July 9 (Slack, 8 p.m.) / Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 (Performances at 8 p.m.) Location: Eastman Arena, Ladonia, TX 75449 Added money: $11,000 Concerts after both Friday and Saturday performances
Jacksonville — Tops in Texas Rodeo
The Tops in Texas Rodeo is one of the most popular summer rodeos in East Texas, drawing competitors and fans from across the Piney Woods and beyond. Held annually at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds in Jacksonville. Check jacksonvilletexas.com for 2026 dates and ticket information.
Location: Cherokee County Fairgrounds, Jacksonville, TX 75766 Contact: Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, (903) 586-2217
Every Weekend Across the State
Texas hosts rodeos statewide every weekend of the summer — from PRCA events in major metropolitan areas to traditional community rodeos in rural towns. For a complete statewide calendar of upcoming rodeos by date and city, visit rodeo.guide/rodeos-in-texas. For CPRA-sanctioned community rodeos: cprarodeo.com/schedule. For PRCA professional events: prorodeo.com.
Why July Is the Best Month
July in Texas hits the perfect convergence of the summer rodeo circuit’s peak. Crider’s is in full swing for its 100th year. The 4th of July rodeo tradition runs from Pecos to communities across the state. And the community rodeos that define small-town Texas summers are all operating simultaneously. Add the warm nights, cold beer, live music after the rodeo, and the boots-on-dirt feeling that no arena sport can replicate — and you have a month that belongs entirely to this state.
