West Jordan's Western Stampede is the Fourth of July rodeo on the Salt Lake County side of the Point of the Mountain. It is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, run over three nights around the holiday, and West Jordan builds a small festival around it: a carnival at Veterans Memorial Park, a Grand Parade on the morning of the Fourth and fireworks straight after the July 4 performance. For Utah Valley families who know the rodeos closer to home, it is the big one just north of the county line.
The rodeo
The Western Stampede joined the PRCA in 1983, and it competes in the association's Wilderness Circuit. That makes it a stop on the professional schedule rather than a local show, and the purse reflects it: the 2024 edition carried $144,941 in added money. For 2026 the organizers reported a record number of contestants.
The evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. at the West Jordan Arena, 8125 South 2200 West, with the professional program alongside the family touches the organizers advertise: mutton bustin' for small children, videos on the arena's big screen, and food vendors inside the gates.
The photograph at the top of this page is a saddle bronc ride at a rodeo in Nephi, not the Western Stampede, but saddle bronc riding is one of the events you will see here.
The slack, which is free
When more contestants enter than the evening performances can hold, rodeos run a slack: an extra session, usually in daylight, where the overflow get their runs. The Western Stampede's is free and needs no ticket. In 2026 it began at 8 a.m. on July 3, and the organizers added time to it that year precisely because so many riders had entered. For families who want to see professional rodeo without buying seats, it is the free way to do it that week.
Tickets
Tickets are sold online through the Western Stampede's own site, and the organizers warn buyers to use only that site. Sales for 2026 opened on April 1, and the organizers promise the best seat selection and prices to early buyers. During the rodeo the box office, at 8035 South 2200 West just outside the arena, is open from 4 to 8 p.m. each day, and every ticket costs $3 more on the day.
The night shows
The Western Stampede ends its nights with a show. On July 4 the fireworks begin immediately after the rodeo, and the organizers point out that you can watch them from your seat. In 2026 the July 3 performance was followed by a drone show as well.
The carnival and the parade
Across the way at Veterans Memorial Park, the Western Stampede carnival runs through the rodeo days with rides and games; in 2026 it opened at 4 p.m. on July 2. West Jordan's Grand Parade fills the morning of the Fourth, starting at 10:30 a.m. in 2026, and food trucks join the celebration. Carnival tickets are sold both in advance and at the park.
Getting there from Utah County
OpenStreetMap routing puts Veterans Memorial Park, beside the arena, about 36 miles and 46 minutes from downtown Provo without traffic. Parking around the arena and the park is limited on the busiest nights, so arrive early for a 7:30 performance, and earlier still on July 4, when the fireworks draw their own crowd.
The same arena hosts West Jordan's demolition derby later in the summer; in 2026 it was August 15. For everything else in the area, from Gardner Village to the Conservation Garden Park, see Things to Do in West Jordan and Taylorsville.
Practical notes
- Buy early. The best seats go first, and day-of tickets cost more.
- Go to the slack. It is free, it is professional, and it runs in the cool of the morning.
- July 4 is the busiest night. The fireworks after the rodeo make it the hardest night to park.
- Check the year's dates. The rodeo moves around the Fourth.
Related Guides
- Things to Do in West Jordan and Taylorsville
- The Lehi Round-Up
- Stadium of Fire
- Draper Days
- Bountiful Handcart Days
- Salt Lake County From Utah Valley
- SoJo Summerfest
- Riverton Town Days
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Western Stampede?
What time does the Western Stampede rodeo start, and where?
How do I get Western Stampede tickets?
What is the slack, and is it free?
Are there fireworks at the Western Stampede?
What else is part of the Western Stampede?
How far is the Western Stampede from Provo?
When did the Western Stampede join the PRCA?
