If you’ve never felt the thunder of hooves shaking an arena floor, you haven’t tapped into Texas in spring. Rodeos here are more than sport; they’re a patchwork of music, food, and community stitched together under stadium lights or blazing sun.
Families spill into grandstands, kids clutch corn dogs bigger than their arms, and somewhere nearby a fiddler tunes up before the next round. It’s chaotic and joyful in equal measure, and each event has a personality as distinct as the town hosting it.
1. Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo
At NRG Park in Houston, February and March belong to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which truly earns its title as the world’s largest. In 2025, over 2.7 million visitors walked the grounds, weaving between bull riding arenas, carnival rides, and food stalls promising everything fried. The concerts are a major draw; superstars take the stage only hours after barrel racers and bull riders compete for glory.
Families make a day of it, exploring the giant livestock show or letting kids burn off energy in petting zoos. Community spirit fuels the event: the scholarship program has awarded more than $305 million since its founding, supporting Texas students.
2. San Antonio Stock Show And Rodeo
By February, San Antonio transforms into a rodeo town, with parades, carnival lights, and live country music shaping the season. Since 1950, this event has blended world-class PRCA competition with a massive stock show that draws students and ranchers alike. Attendance regularly tops a million, and the atmosphere inside the Frost Bank Center is a mix of excitement and deep-rooted tradition…