The Ultimate Visitor’s Guide to the WCRR
What time is it? It’s rodeo time!
The 23rd Annual World Championship Ranch Rodeo kicks off in Amarillo tonight and runs through Nov. 11 at the Amarillo Civic Center, so it’s the perfect time to outline the ultimate visitor’s guide. Based on attendance to the event both as a spectator and fan, here’s my list of what to do in Amarillo while in town.
Watch the Rodeo
If you’re headed to Amarillo and don’t have a ticket for Friday or Saturday, you’re not alone. Those performances are sold out. The Thursday and Sunday perfs are just the same, though, and totally underrated. If you have Friday and Saturday tickets, use ’em. If you don’t, go Thursday or Sunday—or start calling friends. Sometimes people have extras they can’t use and the cowboy world is super connected. Check out social media, too. Folks post tickets for sale there, too.
Watch the Horse Show
The Ranch Horse Association of America show is an unticketed event, so you’d be crazy to miss it. Both Friday and Saturday morning you can check out the ranching world’s best horses and horsemen reining, doing cow work, and roping.
Dine
Because each performance starts at 7 p.m., the ideal way to work the day is to leave the Civic Center around 1 or 1:30 for an off-peak meal in town and then there’s time to get back for the perf (and maybe even sneak in a nap, it’s a vacation after all). My favorite steakhouse is the Hoffbrau, but there are plenty of good options. Tacos Garcia is tops for Mexican sit-down. Coyote Bluff Café is a local burger joint that’s worth the trip, too.
Shop
Shopping is at once the most exciting and daunting prospect during the WCRR. There are so many great places to see. So, here are my recommendations: 1. Shopping on Thursday afternoon is the best because it’s not too crowded or picked over. Sunday morning is also quiet, but some of the good stuff is gone. 2. Go to the South Hall early in the day, save the North Hall for afternoons. The South Hall gets crowded quick. 3. Have a list of things you want and buy them ASAP. Women will disagree, but casual shopping is difficult in crowds, so get done what you need to, then wander.
Visit
If you’ve been efficient in your shopping, visiting can be a pleasure. The problem is, there are so many people to catch up with and so little time. Harry Vold had the best strategy—and it’s one I’m going to try to employ this year. Find a comfortable, central place to be, then just hang out there. Everyone you need/want to see will eventually walk by and you can flag them down then. Plus, if you stay in one spot, your kids will always know where to find you!