Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival

The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival is held annually in the rural town of Valley Center, CA over the Memorial Day weekend. Our quaint community is nestled in the mountains of North San Diego County and still exemplifies many aspects of America’s traditional western and agricultural lifestyles.

Since 2002, the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo has provided a family-friendly rodeo as part of the annual week-long western heritage celebration that began in 1950. In 2015, we created the Memorial Festival to pay tribute to our nation’s veterans. The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival provides the ultimate venue for our town and surrounding communities to come together and participate in America’s greatest showcase of patriotism and western heritage…rodeo!

In 2017, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) sanctioned the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo, making it the first-ever professional rodeo in Valley Center.

The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo committee takes great pride in showcasing local youth through our Mutton Bustin’ event and Junior Barrel Racing that is open to children in attendance free of charge. In support of our stated mission, rodeo proceeds are donated to local youth organizations, as well as organizations that promote the morale of our local military.

Valley Center Stampede Rodeo, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization – there are no paid positions. As such, we truly appreciate our dedicated volunteers and we welcome new volunteers (from high school age on up) each year. If you are interested in joining our efforts to put on the 2024 Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival, please send us a message and we’ll put you in touch with the appropriate volunteer coordinator.

Happy Trails,

Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Committee


Rodeo News!

Purchase your rodeo tickets onine!March 11, 2024

Purchase your rodeo tickets onine

Tickets are available now for the 2024 Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival. Please purchase your tickets online as tickets will not be sold at the gate!

  2024 Tickets

Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Mutton Bustin’ & Jr. Barrels Sign-Ups Begin March 15, 2024

Mutton Bustin’ & Jr. Barrels Sign-Ups Begin

The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Mutton Bustin’ and Jr. Barrel events are open for registration. Please click to access the forms: Mutton Bustin’ | Jr. Barrels

Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival

Valley Center Stampede & Memorial Festival
RODEO
May 23-24, 2025

Support Our Sponsors


1/19/2024 to 5/23/2024

Scholarship Program

The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Committee is pleased to announce that scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors to help defray the cost of the college, university or trade school that they will be attending this fall.

The application must be competed in its entirety, along with an essay answering the following prompts, “What are your personal goals and future plans, and how will scholarships help you achieve these goals?” and “What impact do you believe the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival has had on the community? What does the western lifestyle mean to you and how will you work to preserve the lifestyle in the future?”

All applications must be received by May 22nd. The application provides more information regarding requirements and ways to submit the application. For more information, email the Rodeo at glynna@vcstampede.com.

Miss Rodeo California, Madison Wagner

Madison Wagner, Miss Rodeo California
The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo is the home of Miss Rodeo California 2019 Madison Wagner. Click below to learn more about Madison and read her message to the community.
5/21/2017 to 6/2/2017

Community Service Scholarship

Pictured from left to right: Harrison Bauer, Jay West, Victoria Holtz, Joyce Holmes, & Michael Utter

The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Committee is pleased to announce that $2,000 will be awarded to graduating seniors to help defray the cost of the college, university or trade school that they will be attending this fall. Graduating seniors can apply for this community service based scholarship if they volunteered at two or more Valley Center Stampede Rodeos during their high school years (including this year’s rodeo) and cumulatively volunteered at least 20 hours. The application must be competed in its entirety, along with an essay (approximately 500 words) answering the following prompt, “What impact has volunteering at the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo had in your life and how do believe community service in general will affect your future?” All applications must be received by June 1st. The second page of the application provides more information regarding requirements and ways to submit the application. VCHS Seniors will be recognized at the Senior Awards Night. For more information, email the Rodeo Scholarship Coordinator, Trina West, at foreverwest@earthlink.net.

Rodeo Addresses

Main Entrance/Rodeo Fans:
29902 Valley Center Road
Valley Center, CA 92082

Contestants:
14970 Vesper Road
Valley Center, CA 92082

Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 432
Valley Center, CA 92082

Rodeo Photographers:
Gene Hyder → website
Stu Hagen → website
Andrea Kaus → website

Show Your Support!

The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo & Memorial Festival relies on the generous contributions of sponsors, vendors and others who enjoy this family-friendly event. Your donations to the Rodeo are welcome and appreciated!

Rodeo Queen

One of the highlights each year is the crowning of the Valley Center Rodeo Queen, Junior Queen, Young Miss & Little Miss. The new Valley Center Rodeo Queen is crowned each April and represents the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo each May. To learn more about the pageant and see the current title holders, please visit the Rodeo Queen site.

Rodeo Queen Site
Valley center Rodeo Queen