Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze
August 15 to 18, 2024 - Come and join us for an exciting, action- packed weekend at the 34th Annual Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze.
Over the noon hour on Thursday, a Community Barbecue in Victoria Park, free of charge and sponsored by COREX Resources, kicks off the rodeo weekend. In the evening, Downtown Daze, organized and facilitated by the Virden Community Chamber of Commerce, takes over the town’s main business district. It’s a fun, family atmosphere which includes live entertainment, a variety of food and activities for all ages to enjoy. In the Kids’ Zone, you’ll find inflatables, carnival games and face painting. There’s a mechanical bull, local vendors, business displays and much more. Take a trip back in time and check out the vintage rides at the Westman on Wheels Show & Shine in the Virden Farmers Market area, weather permitting.
All weekend long, take in the semi- professional rodeo action in the Tundra Oil & Gas Place arena. There’s a matinee (slack) in the afternoon and evening performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which include mutton busting for the younger set at intermission. The competition attracts top- calibre contestants from across the prairies as well as the northern U.S.A., New Zealand and Australia.
On Shootout Sunday, the best cowboys and cowgirls in each of the nine events, as well as the slack, return to compete for a purse of added prize money, championship jackets and saddles. It’s Family Day, with rodeo fans 15 and under admitted free of charge.
On Thursday and Friday, young equestrians from throughout the province take part in the Manitoba High School Rodeo Competition, vying for the coveted titles of High Point Junior or High School Cowboy or Cowgirl.
A Pancake Breakfast in the Virden Legion Hall, prepared and served by members of the Virden Lions Club and staff from local financial institutions, starts off Saturday. It is followed by a town-wide Parade. In the afternoon, a Tailgate Party, including a barbecue, beer garden, live music, carnival games and inflatables leads up to the evening rodeo performance. A 3D Barrel Racing Jackpot, sanctioned by the Manitoba Barrel Racing Association, takes place in the riding arena on the Virden Agricultural Grounds.
Sunday gets going bright and early with the Valleyview Consumers Co-op Rodeo Pancake Breakfast in the Sunrise Banquet Hall at Tundra Oil & Gas Place. Next door in the arena, Manitoba Calf Ropers Unlimited hosts their Tie-Down and Breakaway Roping Jackpot. In the afternoon, it’s the Demolition Derby, featuring car and truck heats, at the track located on Provincial Road 257, 1/8 of a mile west of the Trans-Canada Highway.
On the social side, relax with friends in the Barn Bar on Friday evening. The following night, kick up your heels at one of Virden’s biggest social events of the year—the Daze Dance in the Virden Curling Club rink, complete with a live band.