79th annual Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo is coming to town

The Bonifay Kiwanis Club’s 79th annual Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo is set to be held October 5-7 at Veterans Memorial Field in Bonifay. Activities begin each night at 5:30 p.m., with rodeo events beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The three night event is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned RAM Series Rodeo. Events will include barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and a new event added this year: breakaway roping. The kids can take part in the fun with stick horse racing on Thursday night only, mutton bustin’ and also new this year: calf scramble. The latter two will take place all three nights.

The Rodeo Parade is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 6 and 7, at 1 p.m.

Thursday night is kids’ night where children 10 and under are admitted free. Children will be able to meet Bucky the Bull, as well as Jesse and Woody from Disney’s ‘Toy Story 2.’

The Holmes County High School Drama Department will provide entertainment for the night.

Friday night is military and first responders’ night. Will Bannister is headlining the brand new Friday night concert event which will begin at 5:30 p.m. Bannister’s song ‘Find a New Home’ was released with the new Clint Eastwood movie ‘Cry Macho.’

Those in attendance are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue on Friday night and will have the opportunity to participate in Fan of the Night for special prizes.

To close out the weekend, Saturday night is the RAM Series Rodeo Dress Your Best night. Holmes County’s own, Gunsel, will headline the concert beginning at 5:30 p.m. Chances to win giveaways from the 2023 Rodeo Sponsors and Friends of the Rodeo are scheduled throughout the night.