The Texas Gay Rodeo Association announced that the Big D Rodeo 2010 to be held at the Diamond W Arena in Alvarado, Texas September 10 – 12. Big D Rodeo is a weekend filled with exciting rodeo performances, entertainment, live music, and dancing. The weekend begins at 6 PM Friday night, September 10 at the Diamond W Expo with a kickoff party and “meet and greets” from various organizations and live singers. Also on Friday evening in the Arena is a Jackpot Barrel Race open to all competitors interested in entering, with $1000 added prize money.
On Saturday the excitement continues at the Diamond W where over 150 contestants from around the country compete in 12 rodeo events. Contestants win cash prizes along with championship buckles as
they earn points to qualify for the International Gay World Finals. The rodeo events start at approximately 10 AM in the main arena. At about 1 pm, on the arena floor, the Grand Entry ceremonies will consist of presentation of the national and state flags, state and local royalty, introduction of the Grand Marshalls, and the ceremony of the rider less horse.
This year’s Grand Marshalls are Donna Dumae, aka Don Jenkins longtime member of the United Court of the Lone Star Empire, and Robert Cantrell, founding member of the Firedancers organization in Dallas, Texas. The rider less horse ceremony honors members, friends and those in the community who have passed during the previous year.
Rodeo events will continue following Grand Entry. Entertainment will start at 1:30 PM in the Diamond W Expo. There will be many vendors in the “Expo Rodeo Market” available to browse during both days. Saturday evening begins the musical entertainment featuring Nashville and Austin musicians James Allen Clark, Weldon Henson and his band plus local voices from the Dallas Fort Worth area.
Sunday continues with more rodeo events following the same schedule, including Grand Entry, the “Expo Rodeo Market”, and entertainment. The weekend concludes with an award ceremony starting at 8:00 PM in the Expo with a banquet and more live musicians entertaining.
The awards ceremony provides the opportunity to recognize the men and women who are champions in each of the 12 rodeo events. Ticket prices for the rodeo performances on Saturday and Sunday are $20.00 per day and $30 for both days. Children under 12 admitted free. Live entertainment on Saturday night and the awards ceremony on Sunday are included in that days ticket purchase. Saturday evening entertainment admission is $10 without a same day rodeo ticket purchase.
ABOUT TGRA
The Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA, Inc.) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charitable organization dedicated to elevating the image of women and men in the field of rodeo. TGRA was founded in 1983 and has raised over 2.5 million dollars for charity organizations during that time. Our purposes are to promote and stage an annual rodeo in Texas and to encourage the participation of its members in western-related events and to engage in charitable activities. TGRA has been a member of the International Gay Rodeo Association since 1983.
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