2026 Augusta RODEO WEEKEND

If you've ever wanted to experience a rodeo, we'd love to invite you to this one. While the rodeo is always held the last Sunday of June (it's tradition), we've turned it into a weekend of festivities. The fun kicks off around here on Friday night and rolls all the way through Sunday, with live music, rodeo performance (and slack), a parade, vendors and kids activities. 

It's a great event and is attended by locals, Montanans and visitors from near and far. But don't just take our word for it. Hear what the Wall Street Journal has to say about it in this article titled, "Other States Have Rodeos. But None Do it Quite Like Montana." 

If you're planning a trip to Augusta to experience the rodeo, we recommend booking your motel room or lodging accommodations early, packing your party pants and being read to soak up one of the best events around. 

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING RODEO WEEKEND

Friday, June 26
-Live music throughout town

Saturday, June 27
-Parade at 2 p.m.
-Vendors in town

- Live music throughout town

-Kids activities 

-Morning fun run 

Sunday, June 28
-Food and vendors throughout town
-Rodeo performance at 2 p.m. 

Get the most current information about the Augusta Rodeo here. 

Here's more history...

The Augusta American Legion Rodeo is one of Montana's oldest. In 2005, it was named Montana's Tourism Event of The Year by Governor Brian Schweitzer and the Montana Tourism Advisory Council. In 1936 and 1937 the rodeo was hosted by Lou Randall, who owned the Buckhorn Bar with the help of Art and Tot Nett as well as the American Legion and Walt McManus.

The original arena was what the Little League Field is now. Gates from the Great Northern and snow fence made up the arena. In 1938 the land was purchased by the American Legion for the arena that is still used today. That same year, the Legion membership voted to produce the rodeo, despite the strenuous objections of Adjutant Guy Crowe, who cited the Legion's Post's modest cash balance of $3.75. A motion was presented by Legionnaire Tot Nett to spend the $3.75 for beer and still put on the rodeo... the motion was carried. Pat Swan was hired to get out the timber; the building of the arena was done by the Legionnaires, there were no seats at this time; everyone sat in or on the cars or on the ground. 

Stock was picked up locally by Tot Nett, Art Nett, Bing Wellman and Bud Swanson, including some horses that the owners did not know were being used for bucking stock. At that time there was also a shortage of contestants, so the Legionnaires would comb the bushes to find some cowboys that had celebrated a little too much and put them aboard the bucking stock. The rodeo has progressed since then until we now have one of the finest arenas in the Northwest and has become one of the largest one day rodeos in the U.S. and Canada.