The 60th 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, Feb. 7, a celebratory parade will take place the following Saturday morning.
The upcoming 2025 Dixie National Parade will follow a mile-long route starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending around 11:30 a.m. to noon. The procession will begin at the corner of Mississippi and Jefferson Streets and will circle the State Capitol before traveling down Amite Street all the way to the fairgrounds. The best viewing will be near the Capitol grounds at President, High, and West Streets.
As part of the annual Dixie National Rodeo and Livestock Show, the Dixie National Parade is an outdoor event that kicks off rodeo competitions and features the famous Dixie National Wagon Train. The Mississippi Fire Academy Elite Honor Guard leads off the procession, followed by Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and an array of antique cars, rodeo queens, decorative floats, mounted horses, and marching bands through downtown Jackson.
The Dixie National Parade Awards Ceremony will follow the conclusion of the parade. The ceremony will be held inside the Mississippi Farmers Market, located on the Fairgrounds near the parade starting line, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Winners will be chosen by appointed Parade Judges and will be presented a plaque and have their photo taken.
Winners include first and second place in the following categories:
- Best marching group
- Best motorized club
- Best float
- Best riding club
Rodeo events
Friday, Feb. 7
- 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Marketplace — Trade Mart
- 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. — Cowboy Corner — Trade Mart Atrium
- 4 p.m. —Wagon Train Arrives — Trade Mart
- 6 p.m. Santa Gertrudis Sale — Judging Arena/Barn 14
- 7 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
- 10 p.m. — Dixie National Afterparty – Trade Mart Hall C
Saturday, Feb. 8
- 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Breakfast – Red Barn Near Barn 16
- 7:30 a.m. — Intercollegiate Beef Judging Contest – Equine Center
- 8 a.m. — National Santa Gertrudis Sale – Barn 14
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo Marketplace – Trade Mart
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. — Cowboy Corner – Trade Mart Atrium
- 10:30 a.m. — Dixie National Parade – Downtown Jackson
- 2 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
- 3 p.m. — Open Brangus Show – Barn 14 7 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo
- 10 p.m. — Dixie National Afterparty – Trade Mart Hall C
Sunday, Feb. 9
- 8 a.m. — Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 9 a.m. — Open Beefmaster Show – Barn 14 Open Bradford/F1 Show – Barn 14 Open Barrow Show – Barn 6 Open Swine Show – Barn 6
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo Marketplace – Trade Mart
- 11 a.m. — Open Longhorn Show – Barn 14 Open Wagyu Show – Barn 14
- 2 p.m. — Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
Monday, Feb. 10
- 8 a.m. Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 9 a.m. Open Brahman Show – Barn 14
- 2 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo Slack – Coliseum
Tuesday, Feb. 11
- 8 a.m. Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 9:30 a.m. School Field Trip Day – Coliseum Sponsored by Southern AgCredit
- 10 a.m. Dixie National Rodeo Slack – Coliseum
Wednesday, Feb. 12
- 8 a.m. Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 7 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
Thursday, Feb. 13
- 8 a.m. Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 7 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
Friday, Feb. 14
- 8 a.m. Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo – Trade Mart
- 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. Cowboy Corner – Trade Mart Atrium 1 p.m. Open Red Angus Show – Barn 14 Open Mini Hereford Show – Barn 14
- 3 p.m. Gelbvieh/Balancer Show – Barn 14 Open Charolais Show – Barn 14
- 7 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
Saturday, Feb. 15
- 8 a.m. Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 8 a.m. Open R.O.V. Angus Show – Barn 14
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo – Trade Mart
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Cowboy Corner – Trade Mart Atrium
- 2 p.m. Open Hereford Show – Barn 14 2 p.m. Open Shorthorn/Shorthorn Plus Show – Barn 14
- 2 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
- 4 p.m. Simmental/Simbrah Sale – Barn 12
- 7 p.m. Dixie National Rodeo – Coliseum
Sunday, Feb. 16
- 8 a.m. Dixie National Quarter Horse Show – Equine Center
- 9 a.m. Open Simmental, Percentage Simmental, Simbrah – Barn 14
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo – Trade Mart
- 2 p.m. Dixie National High School Rodeo – Coliseum
Music Acts
Friday, Feb. 7
- After rodeo events beginning at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Sam Barber — A 21-year-old from Missouri, Barber brings a folk and rock vibe to his tunes. He is best known for his songs “Straight and Narrow” and “Drowning.”
Saturday, Feb. 8
- After rodeo events beginning at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. — George Birge — After hitting the music scene as one half of the duo Waterloo Revival, Birge decided to go solo and has since produced popular songs “Mind On You” and “Whiskey Go ‘Round.”
Sunday, Feb. 9
- After rodeo events beginning at 2 p.m. — Lorrie Morgan — Bringing an old-school country music feeling back to Mississippi will be Lorrie Morgan, who charted her first singles “Two People in Love” and “Tell Me I’m Only Dreaming” in 1979 at age 13.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
- After rodeo events beginning at 7 p.m. — Clay Walker — Another artist looking to bring yesterday to the present will be Walker with his chart-topping hits from the 1990s, “What’s It To You” and “Live Until I Die.”
Thursday, Feb. 13
- After rodeo events beginning at 7 p.m. — Zach Top — One of country music’s fastest-rising stars, largely for his music’s tastes of tradition, Top’s catchy hit “Sounds Like the Radio” on his most recent album “Cold Beer and Country Music” has made him a fan favorite at concert stages across the U.S.
Friday, Feb. 14
- After rodeo events beginning at 7 p.m. — Ella Langley — Another young artist taking the stage, Langley is a 25-year-old from Alabama whose songs “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Paint the Town Blue” have become admired in Nashville.
Saturday, Feb. 15
- After rodeo events beginning at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Gretchen Wilson — The “Redneck Woman” herself, Wilson will be bringing her popular anthem to Mississippi’s capital along with other hits including “Here for the Party” and “Work Hard, Play Harder.”
Tickets can be purchased here or at the coliseum’s box office.
