There’s something about summer in Weld County that tastes of funnel cakes and nostalgia, and my buddy nailed it over breakfast this week: it’s Greeley Stampede time. He wasn’t gushing about the fried Oreos or the pyro-shows (though they’re glorious); he was talking about bumping elbows with neighbors, waving at old high-school friends in the stands, and slipping into that small-town groove where everyone knows your name—even that guy who still has your old LPs from the college radio station.
Speaking of radio, I spent more summers than I care to admit behind a mic at Island Grove Park. The Stampede was our promotional MVP: I’d introduce the concerts, work the stands at the PRCA rodeo nights, host the free stage, book all the free stage acts, and even help load bands in and out. For thirty straight years, I planned my July around this shin-dig—because it wasn’t just a rodeo or concert series. It was Americana and community rolled into one giant churro.
Here’s the skinny on what’s going down this weekend:
- Friday, June 27, 8 PM: Ludacris with BigXthaPlug—because nothing says small-town Colorado like a little Southern hospitality mixed with hip-hop.
- Saturday, June 28, 7 PM: PRCA Pro Rodeo #2—cowboys, cowgirls, and more dirt than a Denver court filing.
- Sunday, June 29, 8 PM: Justin Moore with Clay Walker—spill your lemonade, but don’t spill your country cred.
But let’s get real: between the bull riding and the “I’d like a refund on my diet” deep-fried dough, the Stampede’s secret sauce is that hometown vibe. It’s Mayor Gates smoking a cigar and “holding court” in the corner of the VIP Patio – John, some of my fondest memories are sitting with you on that patio, herfing, and listening to the music in the arena. It’s your county commissioners—yeah, that’s me—jawing with farmers about how we just might be able to get a road grader out by your place to fix some of that washboard. It’s catching the eye of your neighbor’s kid in the carnival and knowing they will remember this night when they’re old enough to complain about how “everything costs too much.”
And yes, the music’s a highlight—from Ludacris’s swagger to Justin Moore’s twang—but family fun doesn’t stop at Concert Arena. There’s the demolition derby on July 6, where cars commit glorious vehicular mayhem. There’s the Western Art Show, where you can buy cowboy-boot sculptures instead of just stepping on ’em. There’s even free-stage acts for when you’re too broke for arena tickets (or still nursing that deep-fried coma).
If you’re here to boo the carnival food, fine—your loss. Half the fun is waiting in line for a corn dog that’s 60% batter and 100% the most perfect damn thing you’ve ever eaten. If you’re “too cool” for rodeo, enjoy your organic smoothie while we cheer for cowboys who make clichés look easy. And if you haven’t dusted off your straw hat since “that thing Mom used to make you wear,” get over it—everyone’s here for the same reason: to have fun (it don’t matter how you look) and celebrate what makes Weld County great.
Put on the sunscreen (it’s not a tan, it’s a solar-powered investment), grab your tickets, and dive into two weekends of American excess—because community isn’t built in Zoom rooms; it’s forged in the shared dirt of the arena, the sticky sweetness of carnival candy, and the laughter of neighbors who stick around when the music fades.
Sure, it’s gonna be hot. Everybody sweats. At the Stampede, it becomes a communal activity.
Bottom Line: The Greeley Stampede isn’t just an event. It’s the Fourth of July on steroids, a small-town block party with bull riding, and proof that in Weld County, we still know how to party like it’s 1922—when potato farmers started it all and called it the Spud Rodeo. Don’t miss the rodeo, don’t miss the beats, and definitely don’t miss the chance to say, “I was there.” See you at the Stampede—where the only thing bigger than the spectacles is our pride that Greeley and Weld County are pretty damn cool. Take that, Fort Collins.
