The 59th Annual Dixie National Rodeo will soon be underway in Mississippi’s capital city with cowboys and cowgirls set to compete in all the familiar events.
For those looking to come out to the state fairgrounds in Jackson to enjoy the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River, below is a guide to all the events that will be taking place.
Dixie National Parade
While the rodeo will officially kick off on Friday, a celebratory parade will take place Saturday morning. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the parade will include an array of rodeo queens, marching bands, decorative floats, car and tractor clubs, riding groups, and the famous Dixie National Wagon Train.
Parade events will start at the corner of Mississippi and Jefferson streets. The procession, following the theme “Mississippi – Where Music was Born,” will travel down Mississippi Street, circle the State Capitol, and finally take a left onto Amite Street before returning to the State Fairgrounds.
Spectators are encouraged to watch from the Capitol grounds near President, High, and West streets for the best views. Parking will be available at the Capitol grounds and surrounding parking lots.
Local celebrities and distinguished judges will determine the first and second-place winners within each category of parade participants. This year’s judges include WLBT News Anchor Maggie Wade, former Miss Dixie National Rodeo Lisa Moore, Mississippi 4-H President Ty Franklin, and Mississippi FFA President Ashton Luke.
Following the parade, Mississippi’s Miss Hospitality Abney Grace Pittman will present awards to the winning parade groups at the Mississippi Farmers Market at 12:30 p.m.
Rodeo events
Friday, Feb. 9
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Days – Trade Mart
- 4 p.m. — Wagon Train Arrives – Trade Mart
- 5 p.m. — Deadline for Arrival for Open Livestock Show
Saturday, Feb. 10
- 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Breakfast – Red Barn Near Barn 16 – Free Breakfast
- 7:30 a.m. — Intercollegiate Beef Judging Contest – Equine Center
- 8 a.m. — Open R.O.V. Angus – Barn 14
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Days – Trade Mart
- 3 p.m. — Open Gelbvieh/Balancer Show – Barn 14 (Ring 1)
- 3 p.m. — Open Shorthorn/Shorthorn Plus Show – Barn 14 (Ring 2)
- 10 p.m. — Dixie National Afterparty – Trade Mart Hall C featuring Nashville South
Sunday, Feb. 11
- 7 a.m. — Open Simmental, Percentage Simmental, Simbrah – Barn 14
- 7:30 a.m. — Open Mini Hereford Show – Coliseum (Ring 1)
- 7:30 a.m. — Open Brangus Show – Coliseum (Ring 2)
- 9 a.m. — Open Barrow Show – Barn 6 (Swine Area) Open Swine Show – Barn 6 (Swine Area)
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Days – Trade Mart 2
- 3 p.m. — Open Hereford Show – Barn 14
Monday, Feb. 12
- 7:30 a.m. — Open Beefmaster Show – Coliseum (Ring 1)
- 7:30 a.m. — Open Charolais Show – Coliseum (Ring 2)
- 8 a.m. — Open Brahman Show – Barn 14
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 2 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Slack – Coliseum
- 3 p.m. — Open Bradford/F1 Show – Barn 14
Tuesday, Feb.13
- 8 a.m. — Open Santa Gertrudis – Barn 14
- 30 minutes after Open Santa Gertrudis — Open Red Angus – Barn 14
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 9 a.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Slack – Coliseum
- 9:30 a.m. — Kids Day – Coliseum Sponsored by Southern AgCredit
- 1 p.m. — Open Wagyu Show – Coliseum
Wednesday, Feb. 14
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
Thursday, Feb. 15
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 6 p.m. — Mo Brings Plenty from Yellowstone Meet and Greet – Red Room
- 6 p.m. — Costume Contest – Coliseum Vestibule
Friday, Feb. 16
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. — Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo – Trade Mart
- 6 p.m. — Mo Brings Plenty from Yellowstone Meet and Greet – Red Room
Saturday, Feb. 17
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 9 a.m. — 4-H Rabbit Extravaganza – Judging Arena/Barn 14
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. — Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo – Trade Mart
- 2 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
Sunday, Feb. 18
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo – Trade Mart
Music Acts
Friday, Feb. 9
- 7:00 p.m. — Conner Smith and Colin Stough — Smith is best known for his songs “Creek Will Rise” and “I Hate Alabama.” Stough, who hails from Monroe County, will be bringing a hometown feel to the rodeo. The Mississippian finished third on season 21 of American Idol.
Saturday, Feb. 10
- 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. — Tracy Byrd — a country music singer who was wildly popular in the 1990s for his hit “Watermelon Crawl.”
Sunday, Feb. 11
- 2:00 p.m. — Chris Cagle — bringing back a taste of the early 2000s with country songs “Let There Be Cowgirls” and “Chicks Dig It.”
Wednesday, Feb. 14
- 7:00 p.m. — Megan Moroney —an up-and-coming country music artist whose debut single “Tennessee Orange” charted in 2022.
Thursday, Feb. 15
- 7:00 p.m. — Sammy Kershaw — an old-school country music performer who recorded 16 studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications among them.
Friday, Feb. 16
- 7:00 p.m. — Corey Kent — another newcomer to the country music world, best known for his platinum single “Wild as Her”
Saturday, Feb. 17
- 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. — Parmalee — a two-time Academy of Country Music award-winning band who has produced popular hits in “Carolina” and “Just the Way.”
Tickets can be purchased here or at the coliseum box office.
