ST. GEORGE — The historic home of Dixe’s annual roundup of riding, wrangling and roping received an overhaul that promises to put a new sheen on an old rodeo tradition.
The 82nd annual St. George Lions Dixie Roundup Rodeo kicks off Thursday in the Dixie Sunbowl with newly upgraded rodeo facilities.
The production is hosted by the St. George Lions Club and includes three nights of rodeo and a Saturday morning parade.
Jerry Parker, Lions Club member for over 40 years and past president and chairman, was at the club’s headquarters in the VFW building across from the Sunbowl Monday selling tickets with other longtime members. People were streaming in to reserve their seats.
The Lions Club has been working to get the Sunbowl’s rodeo features upgraded with new hardware for this year’s Roundup.
“This year the main emphasis of improvement was taking out all of the old chutes which had been in there probably 50 years,” Parker said.
The old rodeo chutes were rusted, he said.
“Those were all taken out and then new panels were put in and new bucking chutes and new roping chutes.”
Brand new panels were also brought into the north side of the Sunbowl to house stock temporarily.
The new hardware has invigorated the Lions for their 82nd Dixie Roundup Rodeo. Club members said the Roundup will be as spectacular as ever.
“There are so many facets to the Roundup that people don’t realize,” Parker said and talked about Randee Munns, a rodeo clown of 47 years, as an example.
Munns was the first arrival Monday afternoon to unload stock into the Sunbowl’s new panels.
As is in years past, Munns and his fellow clowns will join the Dixie Roundup Rodeo queen and princesses in a tour of St. George schools before the rodeo begins, Parker said. Munns, who is a teacher, leads the clowns and relates life lessons to the students.
- See more: Clowning around with Randee Munns: Dixie Roundup – 2015 (includes video)
- Event details and ticket information follow the photo gallery.
- Read more: 82nd Lions Dixie Roundup Rodeo kicks up dust in Southern Utah (includes scheduled events)
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Jerry Parker, second to the right, and St. George Lions Club members sell tickets ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News.
Jerry Parker sells tickets ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
The Historic Dixie Sunbowl received several upgrades ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Randee Munns was the first arrival to unload stock at the Dixie Sunbowl ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Randee Munns was the first arrival to unload stock at the Dixie Sunbowl ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Randee Munns was the first arrival to unload stock at the Dixie Sunbowl ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Randee Munns was the first arrival to unload stock at the Dixie Sunbowl ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Randee Munns was the first arrival to unload stock at the Dixie Sunbowl ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Randee Munns was the first arrival to unload stock at the Dixie Sunbowl ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Randee Munns was the first arrival to unload stock at the Dixie Sunbowl ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
The historic Dixie Sunbowl received several upgrades ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo including improvements to the chutes, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
The Historic Dixie Sunbowl received several upgrades ahead of the weekend's Dixie Roundup Rodeo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St George News
Event details
- What: 82nd St. George Lions Dixie Roundup Rodeo.
- When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Gates open at 6 p.m.
- Where: Dixie Sunbowl, 150 S. 400 East, St. George.
- Cost: Reserved seats, $15; adult general admission, $10; children (3-11), $5; children (2 and under on laps), free.
- Purchase tickets: Reserved and general admission tickets can be purchased at the Lions VFW building across from the Sunbowl, 301 E. 100 South, St. George from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. General admission tickets can be purchased the night of the rodeo. Gates open and ticket sales begin at 6 p.m. Tickets can also be ordered with a credit card by calling 435-673-3301.
- Rodeo information: 435-703-4779 | Website
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
If they would revamp the seats, my family would be going. One night in those seats killed it for us forever. So small (your knees are in the front person’s back) and so uncomfortable. And I love rodeos. so sad.
Sue..yep that sums it up right there. !