Ocala Shrine Rodeo: Fun for a Good Cause

Shriners International has long been known for their hospitals. The Shriners Hospitals for Children were founded in 1922. The Shriners have fundraisers all year to raise money for the hospitals, where child with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate can receive treatment and care, whether they can pay or not. There are 22 Shriners hospitals throughout the United States, one of which is located about two hours southwest of Ocala in Tampa.

This weekend in Ocala, the Ocala Shriners will be having their 29^th Annual Ocala Shrine Rodeo. Every Labor Day weekend, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has contestants in Ocala riding to win in such categories as bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing. You'll also get to meet the rodeo princess and buckaroo.

The rodeo takes place on Friday, Sept. 2^nd and Saturday, Sept. 3^rd. While Friday night's rodeo is a typical rodeo, Saturday's is unique: it's the Shriner's Special Rodeo, in which children who are patients in the Shriners hospital can participate and feel like real cowboys and cowgirls. They still have the usual rodeo, but it is a wonderfully heartwarming experience to watch these children as they safely experience what the grown up cowboys and cowgirls are doing.

The rodeo takes place at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala. Gates open at 6pm, and the rodeo starts at 8pm. You can purchase tickets at the gate or in advance.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• Advance tickets: $13

• At the gate: $15

• Children age 5 and under are FREE

• Reserve box seats: $18

There are a couple of special deals on tickets this year:

• Family Package: $25 gets you 2 adults and 2 kids (11 and under) tickets. This deal is only available when buying advanced tickets, not at the gate.

• Kids Night: Saturday night, you can get tickets for kids ages 6-11 for $3, accompanied by an adult. This deal is only available at the gate, not when buying advanced tickets.

If you want to buy advanced tickets, you can purchase them at the following locations:

Tack Shack Too - Ocala

All Seminole Feed Stores

Western Connection - Ocala

Russo Dirt Cheap - Belleview

Russell's Western Wear - Ocala

Belleview Bottle Gas - Belleview

RCC Western Stores - Ocala, Gainesville, Fruitland Park

The Southeastern Livestock Pavilion is located at 2220 NE Jacksonville Rd., Ocala, FL, 34477.