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Attend the Painted Pony Championship Rodeo

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2024-06-01 10:07:00

If you want an authentic taste of the old west this summer, you don’t have to travel across the country; just mosey over to Lake Luzerne, five miles away from the Adirondack tourist destination of Lake George, to the Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, “where the pavement ends and the west begins.”


Established in 1953, the rodeo has been an Upstate New York staple each summer for more than 70 years, and the tradition continues strongly today under the ownership of the Graham family, who have been running the show here since 2001. Husband and wife team Shawn and Shana share a lifelong passion for the rodeo and the culture of the west; Shawn grew up watching both his parents compete at this very same rodeo, and his father was the original rodeo clown at the ranch. When they had the opportunity to buy the business and carry on the legacy, they jumped on it, and this unique, family-friendly experience has continued to thrive in the years since. In fact, it’s become so successful that it’s expanded to include a traveling rodeo that competes up and down the east coast, in addition to the activities at the main ranch in Lake Luzerne.


Featuring “rough and tough cowboys, stunning cowgirls, funny rodeo clowns, beautiful animals, and so much more,” the Painted Pony Championship Rodeo does more than put on a show. The cowboys and cowgirls participating in bull riding are all professionals, here to compete from around the world for cash prizes and a shot at a trophy buckle. Events include bull riding, barrel racing, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and breakaway racing, with regular announcer commentary and rodeo clown antics to add to the entertainment. The authenticity and excitement of the experience makes it a fun and unique outing for all ages, and the atmosphere is enough to convince you you’ve been transported to Montana.


The show itself is the biggest draw, but that’s not all there is to experience at the Painted Pony. Before the rodeo kicks off, you can sit down for a dinner of authentic southern BBQ, which has been pit-smoked to perfection since before dawn; the quality of the barbecue chicken, pulled pork, and various sides wins just as many fans as the entertainment does. There’s also a concession stand where you can grab snacks and drinks during the rodeo itself. When the show is over, adults can let loose at the Longhorn Saloon, where drinks and country music flow in equal measure, while kids can shop for souvenirs like lassos, cowboy hats, and more at Graham’s Trading Post to commemorate the experience or fuel their newfound interest in becoming cowboys and cowgirls.


The Painted Pony Championship Rodeo is open Thursdays through Sundays in Lake Luzerne from June 29, 2024 to September 2, 2024, rain or shine. Both one-time tickets and season passes can be purchased online. On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the BBQ dinner is available from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., when the rodeo starts; on Thursdays, BBQ is available from noon to 2 p.m., with the rodeo starting at 2. Tickets and more information can be found on their website, www.paintedponyrodeo.com. Don’t miss the chance to experience the authentic old west in the Adirondacks this summer!
 

PHOTO CREDITS

Rodeo sign on bull photo credit Painted Pony Championship Rodeo
Bronc rider photo credit Painted Pony Championship Rodeo
Fans in the stands photo credit Painted Pony Championship Rodeo
BBQ plate photo credit Painted Pony Championship Rodeo
Saloon photo credit Painted Pony Championship Rodeo
 

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