Over 10 days, the small Quebec community of Saint-Tite will welcome over 725,000 rodeo fans to its town of 3,800 residents. This celebration of rodeo and the Western way of life draws fans from across North America to experience an atmosphere like no other.
Paying out nearly $200,000 over two weeks, the Festival Western de St-Tite is one of the largest in the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA), allowing athletes the opportunity to change the projection of their season. As athletes and fans look toward the conclusion of the IPRA season, all eyes will be on the top cowboys and cowgirls as they vie for a coveted International Finals Rodeo qualification.
Festival Western de St-Tite also creates an environment unlike any other rodeo for fans and athletes alike. Festival Western de St-Tite Manager Sylvain Bourgeois said the environment is something rodeo fans must experience for themselves.
As a bucket-list rodeo for many, Bourgeois said, “We shut down the streets, there are great concerts and a rodeo environment unlike anything else. It’s a fan and athlete favorite and something everyone should experience for themselves.”
Bourgeois also explained the festival’s unique history and impact on the region. What originally started as a marketing event for Boulet Boots, a Quebec-based western boot company, quickly evolved into one of the largest events in the province. The first rodeo took place over a single day in 1967, and by 1968, it had grown into a multi-day rodeo festival. Decades later, the celebration has grown to be the second-largest event in Quebec, only behind the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.
“Twenty or 30 years ago was a dream at first. It’s been so great to see how much the rodeo and festival has continued to grow. It’s been a lot of hard work; we are excited to see it continue to grow,” Bourgeois said.
Bourgeois also reflected on the recent expansion of rodeo opportunities for athletes. In addition to being one of the IPRA’s largest rodeos, this rodeo also serves as a qualification event for the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA)’s Rodeo Carolina and The American’s qualifying rounds.
“It’s exciting to see the level of opportunities across North America. The more we invest in the youth, the better. Right now, the future of rodeo looks very bright,” Bourgeois said.
Taking place Sept. 7-15 at the Coors Banquet Arena, the festival will feature the Festival Western de St-Tite Canadian Cup competition the first weekend and the Festival Western de St-Tite the following weekend. As rodeo fans and athletes eagerly anticipate the legendary event, one thing is for sure—the excitement is guaranteed to be unparalleled.
