My first tip, and my most important,

Go to the Rodeo!

The city of Houston hosts one of the biggest rodeos of North America, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each year every March.  The Rodeo is in town for a few weeks (late February/early March), so ‘I don’t have time’ doesn’t cut it!  With tickets as low as $20 for the upper level seats, it’s cheap at twice the price – and it’s definitely worth going at least once during your time here in Houston!

Surely you can find one artist on the list of performers that you either want to see, wouldn’t mind seeing, or wouldn’t hate to see.  Musicians aside, the competitions themselves are great, it’s amazing how much money can be won (or lost) on an 8 second bull-ride.  It’s exhilarating!  Trust me!

Who do I go and see?

This year, (2012) is our third year going to the Rodeo Houston, here’s a ‘history’ of who we’ve seen,

2010 Keith Urban and Black Eyed Peas

2011 Janet Jackson, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum and Kiss

2012 Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton and ZZTop

This year we went to see someone ‘proper’ country, as I was told that Keith Urban isn’t ‘proper’ country apparently and, after having seen Blake and Reba, I kind of agree, and really recommend going to see a hard core country act (as Keith Urban is pretty pop-country).

Where do I park?

My hubby Col used to live in Houston from 2000 to 2005, he also used to live in the area around Reliant Stadium so he knows the area, he knows the Rodeo traffic, he knows the people-traffic post rodeo and which direction they flock to (yes, the people flock) and in his experience, the best place to park is the South Fannin Park and Ride.  Especially if you live in Sugar Land/Missouri City, as it’s RIGHT on HWY 90 with less than a 25 minute drive down to Sugar Land.

It’s $20 (including return Metro-rail tickets for everyone in your car), you have to get a train to and from the stadium, but the queues of people waiting for the train are a LOT shorter than those waiting for the North-bound train (on the way home, there’s never been a queue en route to the stadium), we’ve never had to wait more than ten minutes for the train – regardless of when we get out of the stadium (I.E we’ve ran from the Stadium to the train and we’ve walked at a leisurely pace to the train and neither time have we had to wait very long to get back to the carpark).

The S. Fannin stop is only one stop away from the stadium, we’ve never had an issue with security and, if, like us, you just want to leave the stadium and get home – you’re more inclined to pay a higher premium for ‘better’ parking, this is definitely the place to go – plus, the Bookity Bookity Boudain man is likely to be there selling BBQ after the show and you don’t wanna miss that!

Where do I sit?

In our three years of Rodeo experience, we have discovered that no seat in the Reliant Stadium, is a ‘bad seat’.  We have been in the 100’s, 300’s, 500’s and the 600’s and have never had a complaint.

There are six huge screens in the centre of the arena, so if you are up in the ‘nosebleed’ seats, you will still get to see the action.  We tend to hover around the 300 seats as they are our ‘favourite’ place to sit (yes, we’ve been to the rodeo enough that we have a ‘favourite’ place to sit).

What to wear?

Yes, when you get to the Rodeo, you’ll see plaid shirts, denim (jeans and jackets), big hair, big hats, boots, boots and more boots – and you’ll probably be called sweetie, darlin’ and honey more times than you can count.

Don’t feel obliged to dress like this.  Although you’ll fit right in (even though you may feel like a complete pillock!) don’t feel pressured to go checked-shirt shopping just for the rodeo.  There are plenty of people who wear casual clothes and ‘sneakers’ (or trainers for those from home).

In fact, I’d highly recommend you wear something flat and comfortable on your feet.  You will be doing a LOT of walking.

What time should I be there?

The Grand Entry parade starts one hour after the doors open.  Col and I try to be there shortly after doors open, so we can get food if need be, drinks, settle in our seats and watch the set-up of the arena, the horses ‘warm-up’ and all those fun things.

The rodeo competitions start at around 7pm and run through til about 9pm when the stage is set and the musician for the evening, takes over.

However, if you have not done the fun-fair section of the Reliant grounds, or, the indoor livestock area with market stalls etc, I’d say go at least a few hours earlier than then you want to be in your seat.  If you’ve never been before, you could easily pass the day here.

The market stalls are great for getting Texan and Cowboy gear (Col and I both got boots and I got my hat), you get to see lots of animals (including birthing, we got to watch a little chick hatching while we were there), there are pig races, huge trucks for you to climb in to and lots of good food in the midway strip.

What do I eat?

Firstly, you can’t take food through the gates, in your bags, they WILL search you and the WILL confiscate your food.  Don’t bother – it’s not worth losing it.

On-site, food and drink is expensive.  A souvenir cup (a large drink) is $8, a chicken tender basket $10 and ice cream is $6.50 to give you an idea of cost.

Try funnel cake

Funnel cake is kind of like a ”messy”, strand-like, donut.  It’s fried dough, covered in icing sugar (otherwise known as confectioners sugar or powdered sugar) and sometimes comes topped with jam.  It’s extremely sweet and pretty darn tasty!

Wednesdays are Value days!

The rodeo has some ‘bargain’ days, Wednesdays, tickets cost $10 and that gets you in to the upper level of the arena for the Rodeo/Concert portion of the event, and also gets you access in to Reliant Park.

• Free Value Wednesday Reliant Park Admission (for seniors, 60 and over, and children, 12 and under — does not include rodeo/concert admission)
• Values on the Grounds
  • $5 off a $25 or more purchase at any official Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo merchandise booth
  • $1 games and $1 food bites from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Kids Country Carnival
  • Value Days pricing at various food and merchandise vendors

Happy Rodeo-ing!