Western Days, Stampede Rodeo galloping into Valley Center

By: QUINN EASTMAN - Staff Writer | Thursday, May 24, 2007 12:31 AM PDT ∞

VALLEY CENTER -- The Western Days town festival and Stampede Rodeo have both retooled their annual offerings for this weekend, organizers said.

Western Days begins Friday night at Valley Center Community Hall at 28246 Lilac Road. The festival is still centered on a parade down Valley Center Road Saturday morning, continuing with carnival rides, food vendors, mechanical bulls and three country bands at the community hall.

This year, the mock Old West gunfight show has become more elaborate, said organizer Craig Ames on Wednesday.

"We've built three Western buildings and we've got all the materials for gunfights, breaking bottles and people falling off roofs," Ames said.

Organizers have also added motorcycle stunts Saturday and Sunday, said Charlie Smith, a member of the Western Days committee and also a seller of kettle corn.

"We've got a bunch of cooking to do," he said.

Sunday is planned as "Community Day," with karate, dance and singing demonstrations.

Similarly, the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo, which runs Friday through Sunday at Bates Nut Farm on Woods Valley Road, has several new features.

The rodeo's organizing committee decided to expand the women's barrel racing so that it will last most of Sunday with novice and seniors divisions, chairwoman Joyce Holmes said.

Holmes said Wednesday that the arena is already set up and that livestock for the rodeo is expected to arrive Friday.

Also, children can enjoy a petting zoo and pony rides, she said.

The rodeo will have its first pie-baking contest at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, judged by Rodeo Queen Jessica Simonsen, Miss Valley Center Brittany Byler and a "mystery guest." It costs $5 to enter the contest.

Rodeo events start at 7 p.m Friday and continue at 4 p.m. Saturday. The gates open at 5 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Dancing starts Friday and Saturday after the rodeo.

Rodeo tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the gate. Admission for dancing after the rodeo costs $5. Admission is free Sunday.

Western Days, a decades-old tradition, is sponsored by the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce. The rodeo, with its bull-riding, calf-roping and bucking broncs, is sponsored by the Valley Center Optimists Club.

The rodeo used to be held at the corner of Lilac and Valley Center Roads, but moved last year to Bates Nut Farm because road contractor Archer Western has temporarily taken over the Lilac property.

Archer Western is managing San Diego County's widening of Valley Center Road as far north as Cole Grade Road.

The traditional parade will have to navigate the construction zone, traveling down Valley Center Road from Cole Grade to Lilac roads.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. and includes floats, equestrian groups, antique cars, marching bands and drill teams.

The parade's grand marshal this year, Valley Roadrunner Editor Dave Ross, teased his readers with the idea that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would be marshal before revealing that Ross himself would have the job.

Admission to Western Days on Saturday costs $3 for adults and teens or free for anyone wearing a current $10 Western Days T-shirt, available at Community Pharmacy, Casa Revelles and the Chamber of Commerce office. Admission is free on Friday and Sunday.

More information about Valley Center Western Days is available at www.vcchamber.com/western-days07.html.

Information about the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo is available at www.valleycenterrodeo.com.

-- Contact staff writer Quinn Eastman at (760) 740-5412 or qeastman@nctimes.com.

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