November 5th, 2026
The opening ceremony at this year’s Ellensburg Rodeo brought together people from many backgrounds, all out enjoying the day despite a bit of rain and cloudy skies. I preferred it to last year’s 90-degree heat. Covered seating kept me dry, which turned out to be an advantage. The more expensive seats right against the arena left people exposed, and quite a few left early. It was a useful reminder for next year: staying a little farther back means better protection from both sun and rain.
The Ellensburg Rodeo has been a Labor Day tradition since 1923, when local ranchers, businessmen, the fair board, and members of the Yakama Nation came together to stage the first official event. That first year the stands overflowed and hundreds of people were turned away. From the beginning the Yakama Nation has opened the rodeo, riding into the arena in regalia—a tradition that continues today and marks the true start of each performance. What began as informal Sunday ranch competitions grew into one of the Pacific Northwest’s long-running professional rodeos, now drawing hundreds of contestants and sitting among the country’s better-known PRCA events.
A group of Rough Riders was part of this year’s ceremony, dressed in what looked like period gear and led by a rider who made a striking stand-in for Teddy Roosevelt. Flags were everywhere—carried on foot and on horseback—and the combination of people, horses, and color made for a strong spectacle. It was good to see the crowd out together, clearly enjoying being there.
Local tribal members were also included in the procession, continuing a connection that goes back to the rodeo’s founding. One of the frames I liked most shows a mother with her child riding behind her. Those quieter details sat well alongside the larger pageantry of flags and riders.
Overall it was a classic Ellensburg opening: a little weather, a lot of tradition, and a full arena of people happy to be part of a rodeo that has been running for more than a century.
