Angola Prison Rodeo: Schedule And Event Details

The Angola Prison Rodeo is held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and is known as the Wildest Show in the South. The rodeo has been running since 1965 and is the longest-running prison rodeo. The rodeo is held annually, usually in April and October, and the gates open at 8 am, with the rodeo commencing at 1 pm. The event is produced by rodeo professionals and includes traditional and unique events, such as Convict Poker and Guts and Glory, alongside traditional rodeo events like bull riding and bronco riding.

Gates open at 8 a.m

The Angola Prison Rodeo is an annual event held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, located at the end of Highway 66, approximately twenty-two miles northwest of the town of St. Francisville, Louisiana. The rodeo is a fan-favorite and has been running for over 50 years, with the first event taking place in 1965.

The event is held every Sunday in October, with the gates opening at 8 a.m. for craft sales and other festivities. This provides an opportunity for visitors to purchase inmate-made arts and crafts, including leather crafts, paintings, lawn and garden furniture, woodwork, and jewelry. The crafts are well-known for their quality, with people travelling from far and wide to purchase them.

The early opening time of 8 a.m. allows visitors to explore the crafts and other offerings at a relaxed pace before the rodeo begins at 1 p.m. It also enables them to secure their preferred seating for the rodeo, as all tickets are reserved. The crafts and festivities provide a unique insight into the talents and hobbies of the inmates, showcasing their creativity and skills.

In addition, the opening time ensures that visitors can make the most of their day at the rodeo. With various activities and attractions, having the gates open from 8 a.m. allows for a full day of entertainment. This includes live music, food, and the opportunity to interact with the inmates, who play a significant role in running the event.

Rodeo starts at 1 p.m

The Angola Prison Rodeo is an annual event held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, located at the end of Highway 66, approximately twenty-two miles northwest of St. Francisville, Louisiana. The rodeo usually takes place every Sunday in October, with the exception of the 2022 edition, which was held in April. The rodeo has been described as the “Wildest Show in the South” and has been a tradition since 1965. It is the longest-running prison rodeo, initially starting as a joint project between offenders, prison employees, and civilians from Angola's residential area.

The rodeo serves as an incentive for good behavior, allowing offenders with good conduct records to participate in various events, earn money, and sell their hobbycraft, furniture, art, and jewelry. Inmate participation is entirely voluntary, and many see it as an opportunity to feel connected to society outside the prison gates and showcase their talents. The events include traditional rodeo activities like bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, and steer wrestling, as well as unique events like Convict Poker and Prisoner Pinball. The grand finale is the Guts and Glory event, where inmates try to retrieve a poker chip fastened to the head of a longhorn bull.

The Angola Prison Rodeo is a highly anticipated event, with tickets selling for $20 each and all seats being reserved. The gates open at 8 a.m. on the day of the rodeo, allowing visitors to browse and purchase crafts made by the inmates. The rodeo itself starts at 1 p.m., and visitors are advised to arrive early to secure their seats and enjoy the full experience.

The rodeo is more than just entertainment; it serves a larger purpose. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Inmate Welfare Fund, which supports recreational and educational programs for inmates. This fund also helps support programs that assist individuals in their transition back into society after their release from prison. The rodeo is a significant event for the inmates, providing them with a sense of purpose, an opportunity to earn money, and a chance to challenge themselves in a competitive environment.

So, if you're planning to attend the Angola Prison Rodeo, mark your calendars for 1 p.m. when the action-packed and thrilling events kick off. Remember to arrive early, as the gates open at 8 a.m., allowing you to explore the crafts and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of this long-standing tradition.

Tickets are $20

The Angola Prison Rodeo is the longest-running prison rodeo in the country, dating back to 1965. Tickets for the rodeo are now on sale, and the good news is, they're all $20! That's right; for just $20, you can be a part of this historic and wild event.

The rodeo will be held every Sunday in October, with gates opening at 8 a.m. and the show starting at 1 p.m. You can purchase tickets online or by calling the ticket office at (225) 655-2030 or (225) 655-2607. The ticket office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This year's rodeo promises to be an exciting event, with traditional and unique competitions, food, entertainment, and offender-made hobby crafts. You can expect to see events like bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, and the infamous Guts and Glory, where inmates try to grab a poker chip from the head of a longhorn bull.

The $20 ticket price applies to all attendees, except children 2 years old and under, who can enter for free as long as they sit on an adult's lap. So, bring your family and friends and get ready for a day of thrilling rodeo action at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Don't miss out on the "Wildest Show in the South"!

All proceeds support ex-prisoner re-entry programs

The Angola Prison Rodeo is the longest-running prison rodeo in the United States. It was first held in 1965 as a joint project between inmates, prison staff, and civilians from Angola's residential area. The rodeo is held on one weekend in April and every Sunday in October, with thousands of visitors entering the prison complex each time.

The rodeo was initially conceived in 1964 when inmates and staff brought pickup trucks into a field to "play around on horses." The horses used are bred and raised at the prison, and the cattle used in the rodeo are raised for sale as beef.

Since 1967, the rodeo has been open to outside spectators, with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting the Inmate Welfare Fund. This fund supports recreational and educational programs for inmates. The rodeo has grown in popularity over the years, with the current stadium accommodating over 10,000 attendees.

The Angola Prison Rodeo is more than just an event; it serves as a behavioural incentive to encourage good conduct among inmates. Offenders with good behaviour records are rewarded with the opportunity to compete in various rodeo events, earn money, and sell their hobbycraft, furniture, art, and jewellery. Inmate participation is entirely voluntary, and many see the rodeo as a chance to feel connected to society outside the prison gates and to showcase their talents.

The rodeo features traditional events like bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, and steer wrestling. However, it also includes unique events such as Convict Poker, where inmates play poker while a loose bull tries to unseat them, and Prisoner Pinball, where inmates stand in randomly placed hula-hoops trying to avoid the bull, with the last one standing declared the winner. The Guts and Glory event is the grand finale, where inmates attempt to snatch a poker chip tied to a longhorn bull's head to win a monetary prize.

The proceeds from the rodeo support religious and educational programs for prisoners, including Baptist seminary classes, funerals, and the maintenance of the prison's chapels. In 2013, each spring rodeo raised $450,000 per day.

The event is held every Sunday in October

The Angola Prison Rodeo is held every Sunday in October. The gates open at 8 a.m., with craft sales and festivities taking place before the rodeo begins at 1 p.m. All tickets are $20 per person, and children 2 years and under are free as long as they sit on a guardian's lap. The rodeo is held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, located at the end of Highway 66, approximately 22 miles northwest of St. Francisville, Louisiana.

The Angola Prison Rodeo is the longest-running prison rodeo, first beginning in 1965 as a joint venture between offenders, prison employees, and civilians living in Angola's residential area. The rodeo serves as a behavioural incentive to reward offenders with good behaviour, allowing them to compete in various events, earn money, and sell their hobbycraft, furniture, art, and jewellery. Inmate participation is entirely voluntary, and many see the rodeo as a rare opportunity to feel a part of society outside the prison gates.

The rodeo incorporates traditional and unique events. Traditional rodeo events include bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, and steer wrestling. The Angola Prison Rodeo also features Convict Poker, where four offenders play poker at a table while a loose bull charges towards them, with the last offender seated declared the winner. Another unique event is Prisoner Pinball, where offenders stand in randomly placed hula-hoops, again with a loose bull, and the last offender remaining in their hula-hoop is the winner.

The grand finale of the rodeo is the Guts and Glory event, where a poker chip is fastened to the head of a longhorn bull. Inmates then scramble to snatch the chip and win a monetary prize. These events are dangerous, but the rodeo is produced by professionals with years of experience. Each event has trained rodeo clowns, whose primary job is to distract bulls and protect the offenders. Offenders are also required to wear protective gear, and emergency personnel are on standby outside the arena.

Frequently asked questions