Rodeo’s festival fun

THE Whitsunday Arts and Cultural Centre and Mania Events are promising to bring to town a rodeo unlike any other.

The date is set for the weekend of October 30-31, nestled on 11ha of land known as Paluma Park off Carlo Dr in Cannonvale.

Set in a playground environment, the Beef to Reef Country Music Rodeo is like a festival, with weekend camping, food stalls, activities, buskers, markets and a big charity tomato fight.

The rodeo itself will be the grand final of the 2015 4B Mania Rodeo Series.

This year, Mania Events launched its series with tour stops in six locations across north Queensland, taking in Gargett, Burdekin, Bowen, Glendon and Nebo before the grand final in Airlie Beach.

Event organiser Dallas Coben said it had long been a dream of his to bring a rodeo to Airlie Beach, so when the arts centre offered land it had available, it was a match made in heaven.

Mr Coben, who competed in rodeos as a child, knows how to put on a show.

“This won’t be your average rodeo,” he said.

“It takes a traditional 12-hour country rodeo and compresses it to an action-packed two days with other festival events.”

The weekend will feature four thrilling events – bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback broncs and barrel racing. For more information, visit http://www.thewacc.com.au.