FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
Saddle Up for the Greatest Show on Dirt East of the Mississippi May 17-18
Decatur, Ala. (April 18, 2024) – Plenty of rodeo action is expected to hit the dirt next month when the annual Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo returns to the north Alabama town of Athens. Now in its 42nd year, the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo is set for May 17-18, 2024, and along with two days of high impact rodeo competition, organizers look to engage the community by offering several family-friendly events in the week leading up to the rodeo.
Rodeo week kicks off at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 14 with the Cast Products, Inc. street dance on the east side of the Limestone County Courthouse Square and live music by Southern Strays band. In addition to dancing and music, restaurants and merchants around the downtown area will be open for business.
Slack competition for team roping contestants and contestant overflow will take place at the arena located on Alabama Highway 99 on Thursday, May 16. Gates open at 8 a.m. and the competition begins at 9 a.m. Admission is $5.
The annual Exceptional Needs Rodeo will take place Friday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the arena. This rodeo is specifically for community individuals with special needs. Participants are expected to attend from the entire north Alabama region.
The main events of the rodeo are scheduled to take place May 17 and 18. Gates open at 6 p.m. both nights with competition starting at 8 p.m. Competitive events lined up for both nights include bareback bronc riding, calf roping, break-away roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding. As cowboys and cowgirls compete for prize money, the crowd is also entertained with professional rodeo clowns including International Professional Rodeo Association Barrelman Mighty Mike Wentworth in action as well as specialty act Tim “Wild Thang” Lepard and Team Ghostriders, chuckwagon races and other performers.
Daily ticket prices are adults $15 (advance by April 30) or $20 (gate) and children 4 to 12 years old are $8 (advance by April 30) or $12 (gate). Tickets may be purchased in advance at Limestone County Sheriff’s office and online (convenience fee charged) at https://www.showpass.com/42nd-annual-limestone-sheriffs-rodeo/.
The Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo is produced by the Lone Star Rodeo Company and is held at the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena located on Alabama Highway 99 west of Athens. All proceeds are used to purchase equipment for the Limestone County sheriff’s office. Call 256.232.0111 or visit www.limestonesheriffrodeo.com for more information.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.7 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
