Elk City, OK – One of western Oklahoma's longest-running traditions returns Labor Day weekend as the 88th annual Elk City Rodeo of Champions takes over Ackley Park Sept. 4 through Sept. 6.
This year's rodeo will feature three nights of rodeo action, a Saturday morning parade, the return of a free concert, chuckwagon racing, a nationally known skydiver, specialty entertainment, food and merchandise vendors, and new reserved seating options.
A Tradition Dating Back to 1939
The Elk City Rodeo of Champions has remained close to the historic rock walls of Ackley Park since the beginning.
Elk City cattleman Peter Preston Ackley donated six acres of land for a city park in 1937, with plans that included a stadium for rodeos and baseball games.
Through a joint project between the City of Elk City and the Works Progress Administration, the Depression-era federal program created under President Franklin Roosevelt, the rock stadium at Ackley Park was completed in July 1939.
Just three months later, Elk City's Beutler Brothers, Elra, Lynn and Jake, produced the first Ackley Park Rodeo inside the new rodeo and baseball stadium on Oct. 28 and 29, 1939.
Eighty-seven years later, the rodeo remains just a short distance from where it all started. Today's event is held at Beutler Brothers Arena, located northeast of the original stadium and named in honor of the brothers who produced that first rodeo.
Rodeo Runs Sept. 4 Through Sept. 6
The 88th Elk City Rodeo of Champions will feature three nights of competition at Beutler Brothers Arena in Ackley Park.
Friday, Sept. 4, is Dr Pepper Night. Children can receive free bleacher admission by bringing an empty Dr Pepper can.
Sunday, Sept. 6, will be Purple Night as the rodeo helps raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and dementia in partnership with the Western Oklahoma Alzheimer's Collaborative, Team Elk City. Fans are encouraged to wear purple.
Reserved Seating Arrives for 2026
A major change awaits rodeo fans this year with reserved seating available for the first time in the west grandstands.
All five west grandstand sections will offer numbered reserved seats. Section 103, located near the center of the arena, is the premium reserved section.
New chairback reserved seating has also been added at the top of the south grandstands. General admission bleacher seating will continue to be available on a first come, first served basis.
Advance prices are $25 for reserved Section 103, $20 for reserved Sections 101, 102, 104 and 105, $20 for south chairback seating, $12 for general admission bleachers and $10 for children's bleacher tickets for ages 6 through 12.
Prices increase during the rodeo to $30 for Section 103, $25 for the other reserved sections and chairback seating, $14 for general admission and $12 for children's bleacher tickets.
Tickets are available this week at Barber-Dyson Ford, Circle A Western and Outdoor, and at the rodeo grounds. Online ticket information is also available through the Elk City Rodeo website.
Rodeo Parade Rolls Through Elk City Saturday
The annual Rodeo of Champions Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5.
The parade route includes Main Street, Third Street and Broadway Avenue as the community celebrates rodeo weekend in downtown Elk City.
Free John King Concert Saturday Night
The concert returns to rodeo weekend in 2026.
Country artist John King will perform a free concert Saturday, Sept. 5, following the rodeo at Ackley Park.
The concert is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. to midnight, giving fans another reason to stick around after Saturday night's rodeo performance.
Admission to the concert is free.
Dana Bowman Will Bring In Old Glory
Fans will want to be in their seats for the arrival of the American flag this year.
Dana Bowman, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, Special Forces soldier and former member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, will skydive into the rodeo carrying Old Glory.
Bowman is a double amputee who returned to parachuting following a 1994 accident. Since then, he has completed more than 5,000 jumps while appearing at rodeos and other events around the country.
Circle 7 Chuckwagons Coming to Elk City
Speed will not be limited to the rodeo livestock this year.
The Circle 7 Chuckwagons are the featured specialty act for the 2026 Rodeo of Champions.
Two chuckwagons, each pulled by a four-horse team, will race around the arena.
Reed Rosencrans of Minot, North Dakota, brings the act to Elk City after years of competitive chuckwagon racing in Canada. He now performs at rodeos across the country.
The teams feature miniature Thoroughbreds, horses bred for speed but small and agile enough to race around a rodeo arena.
Boom Boom Thompson Brings the Laughs
Shawn "Boom Boom" Thompson will make his first appearance at the Elk City Rodeo of Champions as the 2026 rodeo clown.
Thompson describes his role as being the "commercials for the rodeo," filling breaks in the action and providing laughs between the dangerous moments of rodeo competition.
Thompson lives in Sidney, Iowa, and travels the rodeo circuit entertaining crowds around the country.
Plenty to Eat and Shop
Fans will have plenty of options when it comes to food, drinks and shopping throughout rodeo weekend.
Vendors scheduled to attend include 5B Rodeo with jewelry, purses and leather goods; Brown's Grill with barbecue and loaded fries; Carnival Eats & Treats with pizza, corn dogs, snow cones and other carnival favorites; Heaven's Kitchen with home-style cooking; Foster's Designs with western clothing, jewelry and belts; Noel Concessions with pizza, pretzels, drinks and corn dogs; B's Drinks with snow cones and refreshing drinks; and The Surf Bar West Food Truck with acai bowls and smoothies.
The Elk City Lions Club will also be serving food, with proceeds supporting causes throughout the local community.
Rodeo Weekend at a Glance
The Elk City Rodeo of Champions runs Friday, Sept. 4, through Sunday, Sept. 6, at Beutler Brothers Arena in Ackley Park.
Friday is Dr Pepper Night, with free bleacher admission for kids who bring an empty Dr Pepper can.
Saturday features the Rodeo of Champions Parade at 10 a.m., another night of rodeo action and the free John King concert from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
Sunday closes the weekend with Purple Night, supporting Alzheimer's and dementia awareness.
Add in Dana Bowman's patriotic skydive, the Circle 7 Chuckwagons, Boom Boom Thompson, vendors, food and three nights of rodeo competition, and the 88th Rodeo of Champions continues a tradition that began beside Ackley Park's rock walls in 1939.
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