Tom’s Tips & Tricks for Navigating the Houston Rodeo: Part 2
To read Part 1 including how to save $$$ at the rodeo click HERE!
Dust off your boots ya’ll! For three weeks in March Houstononians of all ages descend upon NRG Park for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to get their inner Cowboy on…and, as this aint his first Rodeo ~Tom has a roundup of tips and tricks to ensure you and your littlest bucaroos have a rootin’ tootin’ time:
The Thrills
You know how everything is bigger in Texas? That includes the carnival’s over 80 rides and attractions! From traditional arcades to carnival games and fun houses this is the kids, tweens and Teen’s IT Spot! New this year: Raptor Coaster ~ a spectacular high-speed thrill roller coaster with awesome twists and turns and for those sea-fearing cowboys among us, ~ the Sea Ray ~ a pirate-themed ship swinger that is sure to get your Aargh on!
The coolest miniature cowboys and cowgirls will be hangin’ at The Junction. It features smaller rides, games, a farm exhibit, petting zoo, kid’s carnival and more! AND ~ This is where the rodeo’s bestest of the Best event is held ~ The Mutton Bustin’. If tiny little Houstononian’s hanging onto the back of a sheep for dear life don’t melt your heart then I don’t know what will…
Tom’s Tip ~ The Stars at Night are Big and Bright…The carnival is a whole other world at night! Enjoy the lights, sights and sounds of the midway from the top of the air-conditioned 130 foot high Ferris Whee!l
The baby animals and FREE stuff:
As all of Tom’s friends and shoppers of Tomfoolery Toys & Book’s adorable plush collection already know ~ Baby Animals are so stinking adorable and we are here for all of them! Plus AgVenture is FREE with admission and a great place to escape surprising pop up rain storms or hot afternoons.
Fun on the Farm opens at 10 AM and is one of the sweetest parts of the rodeo. Kids get to plant seeds, feed chickens, milk cows and sell their “products” at market.
Stars Over Texas Stage ~ all day you can catch kid friendly shows under the tent. There are sing-alongs, animal acts and more.
Petting Zoo - If you go early in the morning you will probably have the space to yourself. A wide variety of animals from the exotic to those found on a typical Texas farm are available for petting.
Pig Races - Who wants to watch the piglets race around a 150 foot track? Me..Me!
Livestock Show - Walk through the rows of animals and stay for the competitions.
Horse Show - The Horse Arena is on the opposite side of NRG and is home to all of the horses and the competitions.
AgVenture Honeybees - You get to walk through a hive and watch the busy bees hard at work making honey in their hives.
AgVenture Milking Parlor - See where milk comes from!
AgVenture Baby Chicks - See eggs incubating and baby chicks hatching!
We’re Small Y’all Barn - OMG! The cutest! Different types of miniature farm animals call this barn home. In this case smaller is better and definitely cuter!
AgVenture Birthing Center - The heart and nursery of the rodeo! Welcome all the baby animals into the world! Watch as they take their first steps.
The Real Reason we all go
Yes, the Rodeo is the largest in the world and the carnival spectacular at night…. But the top attraction is the food. I know I said that the real attraction was the baby animals, but it really is the food. The selection of foods are both fantastic and crazy and it all works! (Cap’n Crunch funnel cakes, Snake Bite Nachos, Hot Cheetos chicken sandwich anyone?)
Here is a sample of some of the 2023 GoldBuckle Foodie Award winners:
Deep Fried Cookie Dough, Deep Fried Lasagna Roll, Dill PIckle Pizza on a stick, Deep Fried BLT, Rattlesnake Corn Dog…other than that last one Tom’s mouth is watering. Ok…maybe he’ll try the Rattlesnake Corn Dog…maybe? Stay tuned…
Some of Tom’s Top Tips and Tricks for navigating the Rodeo with kids:
- Get there early! The gates open at 8 AM but the Rodeo starts waking up at 9. So head straight to AgVenture and get your Baby Animals on!
- Lil’ Rustlers Rodeo puts 4-10 year old special needs kids in the middle of the action. Little bull riders and barrel racers let their imaginations run wild on fun and safe critters. Located in the Main Arena of NRG Center
- Bring your strollers ~ the Rodeo encompasses a huge area!
- For any moms who are nursing or are in need of a Family Room, they are located in the lobby of NRG Center. Additionally, outdoor Family Rooms can be found between NRG Stadium and the Astrodome as well as at the exit of Fun on the Farm.
- Download the Rodeo Houston App
- Utilize FB trading groups for buying unused tickets
So Houston ~ pop by Tomfoolery Toys & Books for your cowboy hats and then hold on to ‘em as you enjoy the world famous party that is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!