Home Global Attention

11 Days Of Action: Your Ultimate Guide To The Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo 2025

• minute read
Contents

Dust off your cowboy boots and get ready for the biggest event in Central Texas! The Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo is returning to Waco for an electrifying 11-day run, and the 2025 edition promises to be one for the record books. Running from Thursday, October 2, through Sunday, October 12, this annual spectacle at the Extraco Events Center is more than just a fair; it's a massive celebration of Texas culture, agriculture, and high-stakes rodeo action, all wrapped up in a package of thrilling carnival rides and major country music concerts.

This year’s event, presented by H-E-B, is set to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors, injecting an estimated $70 million into the local economy and continuing its mission of supporting youth education through significant scholarship awards. From the professional rodeo circuit to the beloved Calf Scramble, here is the ultimate, up-to-date guide to everything you need to know about the 2025 Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo.

The 2025 Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo At A Glance

The Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo is a cornerstone event for Central Texas, blending a traditional county fair experience with a top-tier professional rodeo competition and a major concert series.

  • Event Name: Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo (H.O.T. Fair & Rodeo)
  • Year: 2025
  • Dates: Thursday, October 2 – Sunday, October 12, 2025 (11 Days)
  • Location: Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd, Waco, TX 76710
  • Presenting Sponsor: H-E-B
  • Key Components: PRCA Rodeo, ZiegenBock Music Stage Concerts, Livestock Show, Carnival, HOT Shops Marketplace, Academic Rodeo, One HOT Cook Off.
  • Economic Impact: Estimated $70 million boost to the local economy.
  • Scholarship Commitment: Over $313,000 awarded in scholarships in the previous year.

The $450,000 PRCA Rodeo: High-Stakes Action

The rodeo portion of the event, presented by AgTrust Farm Credit, is arguably the heart of the fair, bringing some of the best professional cowboys and cowgirls to Waco.

This is a sanctioned Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event, which guarantees elite competition across all standard rodeo events. With nine performances scheduled throughout the 11 days, the Extraco Coliseum will be a hub of thrilling action every night at 7:00 PM (excluding the final Sunday).

A Major Stop on the Circuit

The 2025 Heart O' Texas Rodeo is a crucial stop for competitors, offering a massive purse of over $450,000 in prize money. This significant payout ensures that top-ranked athletes in events like bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding will be in attendance, vying for critical points and cash prizes to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). The level of competition here is unparalleled in the region.

RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo

A major highlight of the rodeo schedule is the inclusion of the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo, which takes place on Tuesday, October 7. This event features the top competitors from the Texas Circuit, making it a high-intensity battle for the year-end titles and a chance to compete at the national level. For true rodeo enthusiasts, this night is a must-see event, showcasing the best of Texas's rodeo talent.

The ZiegenBock Music Stage: A Star-Studded Lineup

No Texas fair is complete without a stellar music lineup, and the ZiegenBock Music Stage at the Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo delivers a diverse and exciting schedule, primarily focusing on major country music acts. The concerts are a huge draw, often included with the price of fair admission, offering exceptional value.

Must-See Headliners and Concert Dates

The 2025 concert series features a mix of established superstars and rising talent. Here is a look at some of the confirmed headliners for the ZiegenBock Music Stage:

  • Friday, October 3: Midland with special guest Jade Eagleson
  • Saturday, October 4: Randy Houser with Neal McCoy
  • Sunday, October 5: Keith Nieto
  • Wednesday, October 8: Cupid with Chalie Boy, Silas D, and Jeter Jones (An evening of Hip-Hop and R&B)
  • Saturday, October 11: Justin Moore

This lineup guarantees a mix of traditional country, high-energy rock-infused country, and a special night dedicated to other popular genres, ensuring there is a musical act for every fairgoer.

Beyond the Arena: Carnival, Livestock, and Community

While the rodeo and concerts grab the headlines, the core of the Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo lies in its traditional fair offerings, educational programs, and community focus.

The Massive Carnival and Midway

The midway is a classic fair attraction, featuring dozens of rides, games, and classic fair food. From high-flying thrill rides to family-friendly attractions, the carnival provides entertainment for all ages. Look out for special promotions like the Gate Admission & Carnival Armband combo, which was offered for $30 on certain days with a school coupon in the past, providing unlimited rides and fair entry.

The Premier Livestock Show

The Livestock Show is a vital component of the H.O.T. Fair, promoting agricultural education and providing a platform for Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H students to showcase their hard work. Key events include:

  • The Calf Scramble: A beloved, high-energy event where students compete to catch calves, earning money toward their future livestock projects.
  • Livestock Contests: Competitions for cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and more, judged by experts in the field.
  • Youth Auctions: The culmination of the students' efforts, where their show animals are sold to local businesses and community members, funding their academic and agricultural futures.

Educational and Cultural Entities

The fair also hosts several unique competitions and marketplaces that highlight the community's talent and entrepreneurship:

  • HOT Shops Marketplace: A massive indoor shopping area featuring hundreds of vendors selling everything from custom crafts and apparel to home goods and Texas-themed merchandise.
  • Academic Rodeo: A contest designed to test the academic skills of local students, emphasizing the fair's commitment to education.
  • One HOT Cook Off: A culinary competition that brings together local chefs and cooking enthusiasts to compete for bragging rights.
  • HEARTS Contest: A creative competition that encourages artistic expression among youth.

The 2025 Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo is poised to be an unforgettable event, seamlessly blending the adrenaline of a top-tier PRCA rodeo and the excitement of major country concerts with the cherished traditions of a classic Texas county fair. Whether you're there for the bull riding, the deep-fried treats, or to support the next generation of Texas agricultural leaders, Waco is the place to be this October.

11 Days of Action: Your Ultimate Guide to the Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo 2025
heart of texas fair and rodeo
heart of texas fair and rodeo

Detail Author:

  • Name : Berry McCullough
  • Username : ortiz.dortha
  • Email : rschmidt@bayer.com
  • Birthdate : 1972-08-01
  • Address : 278 Olaf Lane East Melba, OR 41643-3961
  • Phone : 402-719-4257
  • Company : Wintheiser PLC
  • Job : Molding Machine Operator
  • Bio : Ut voluptatem excepturi enim et consequatur error qui. Veritatis saepe enim minus quibusdam. Et hic illo labore laborum qui vel. Voluptatibus ipsa at adipisci maxime eos sed aut animi.

Socials

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/erin_official
  • username : erin_official
  • bio : Autem ut facere eveniet et. In qui corporis culpa beatae consectetur amet accusamus.
  • followers : 5446
  • following : 2558

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@o'conner2025
  • username : o'conner2025
  • bio : Minus quis omnis impedit voluptas velit aspernatur nesciunt.
  • followers : 1050
  • following : 2610

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/eo'conner
  • username : eo'conner
  • bio : Suscipit iusto hic eos dolore ut ab rem. Necessitatibus ea assumenda reiciendis architecto modi. Ad inventore nemo corrupti eius.
  • followers : 6419
  • following : 2109

linkedin:

facebook:

Random Posts