Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

As glamorous as Las Vegas is, it can still don cowboy boots and hats with the best of them. And that’s exactly what it does every December with the annual National Finals Rodeo, the most prestigious, biggest prize money rodeo on the planet. Since 1985, when the National Finals Rodeo was relocated from Oklahoma City to fabulous Las Vegas, this ProRodeo event has drawn thousands upon thousands of cowboys and cowgirls.

The National Finals Rodeo is the culmination of a season’s worth of competitions and with prize money totaling roughly $5.5 million, it draws the sport’s best of the best. The rodeo is hosted in early December at the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and routinely draws more than 175,000 fans. They come to see rodeo stars compete over the course of 10 days in events like bull riding, bareback riding, team roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling, calf roping and saddle bronc riding.

Fans also flock to the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show, where vendors offer unique western wear, furniture, jewelry, art, and handmade crafts, as well as providing the best source for the Official Wrangler NFR and PRCA merchandise. There is even free shuttle service from the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show directly to the Thomas & Mack Center for each night’s rodeo performance.

The National Finals Rodeo is so popular that the last 20 years’ worth of performances – more than 220 – have completely sold out! Fans of the rodeo come as much for the daredevil cowboy feats as for the unbelievable after parties. And the venue being the one and only Las Vegas, the hottest hot spots aren’t good ol’ country bars and dance halls, but chic ultra lounges that welcome the cowboy crowd. So dig out your biggest belt buckle, slap on that cowboy hat and head out to Las Vegas’ fabulous version of a rodeo. It’s one Nevada event you just can’t miss.