The rodeo is a great way to spend the day. It's family fun packed with rides, food, music, shopping…read moreand much more. Spread out over multiple venues. You will get your steps in. There are shuttles and golf carts to and from venues as well as the parking lot.

This was me and my bestie's first year attending the Houston Rodeo, and we were not completely sure…read moreof what to expect, other than what we had seen on TikTok. I have been to rodeos prior in Fort Worth, but definitely on a much smaller scale. Overall, we had a great experience and I would recommend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, albeit with some pre-planning as it was a bit difficult to navigate. When we initially arrived via Uber, we were dropped off at the rideshare drop off/pick up area, and it was a little walk to the stadium, where we were able to pretty quickly and seamlessly go through security and make our way into the grounds. Once inside, we did have some trouble navigating where/what we were going to since we are new to the event, but we were able to find our way to the livestock show after some trial and error. Once in the stadium, we immediately decided to grab some drinks before we found our seats. Unfortunately our experience was not the best, and when we ordered drinks we felt disregarded and the staff member helping us was rude and short with us. After we received our drinks, we were making our way to our seats and the $14 Mr Pibbs were completely flat, but we were anxious to go back after our experience with the staff. However, the staff who directed us to our seats were amazing! Not only were they super helpful, but after the concert they took photos for me and my best friend which was so kind and I will cherish forever, since we live states away from each other and rarely get photos together. The livestock show and rodeo was so fun and interactive, and we had the best time watching all of the events and hearing the commentary. The concert was also awesome, and the setup was perfect for all angles to enjoy seeing the act. We saw the Red Clay Strays and it was such an amazing experience. Afterwards, we made our way to the carnival just for some after concert snacks and to see the ambiance, and it was great! We grabbed some esquites and there was plentiful seating to people watch and enjoy the carnival energy. Afterwards however, we weren't able to order our Uber to the same drop off zone for some reason, so we were hesitant but had to order to a sushi restaurant a short walk nearby. It was definitely scary walking as two girls over there, and we did our best to stick around other rodeo-goers, but the shady taxi drivers and men carrying phones flashing their driver options were very insistent and invasive of us, heckling us with constant questions after we politely declined. One driver even circled us blasting music, and it was nerve-wracking since we aren't from Houston and are young women. I would hope that in the future these "drivers" can be deterred from the area or the rideshare zone can be better advertised or organized to prevent instances like these. Otherwise, we did make it out safely and in the future will be better prepared to get in and out of the rodeo!

April 2023 I love…read morethis rodeo, I've been several times now and it's awesome. The rodeo itself is up and coming cowboys who do all that kind of stuff, as well as, musicians. And, every year that I've gone, I go to the wine tent; they sell Texas wines! Support local rodeos

Great family fun. In comparison to Brazoria county fair I will say Galveston County definitely has…read moremore kiddie rides for the smaller kiddos and also has way more food vendors with a variety of different options. we will be back next year.

The food tastes good, but it's pricey. Some of the prizes are dusty, but it is fun. It's a bit…read moreoverpriced for something like that. They sometimes make the games rigged, the lift the bottle one is purposely made to cheat with you, you have to make the exact angle or else it will fall. The knock down bottle game is also made to cheat with you, the bottles are heavy, the balls are light. I prefer the water gun one, the duck game, the balloon pop game, they are easy, you can get good prizes. The rides are kinda of boring, they give you nausea right after in night. Also they give out wristbands which are unlimited, but you don't get cash back though, even for tickets. The rides look like they are old, and they might creak and break, which isn't good for our safety. I'm just there for games.

I have some experience with fairs, having been to several in the Land of Fruits and Nuts. County…read moreFairs are a celebration of local culture, ranging from corny (Angels Camp) to high-tech (Pleasanton). The State Fair in Sacramento is a BIG DEAL, like merging the county fair with a Six Flags park. Now, in Free America, I've heard that the fair in Dallas is just as big a deal as the fair in Sacramento. Then we have the South Texas State Fair. With over 200 counties, I guess Texas thought it's better to have regional fairs combining several counties instead of over 200 county fairs. I mean, do you expect a fair in Loving County, population 70? The South Texas State Fair has the feel of a county fair: * Midway: Bigger, nicer, and safer than a typical county fair. The rides are portable, but are better maintained than others, including that one in Ohio that resulted in one death when it malfunctioned. Rides are $3-5, or all you can ride for $40, and the girl got her money's worth with the $40 wristband. * Food: Walking through the outside booths, they're nearly all food. Typical offerings (cheeseburgers, tacos, brisket, funnel cakes), lots of repeats, high prices with semi-low quality. But you can't get a fried Oreo anywhere else. * Concerts: The Alameda County Fair, with its large permanent amphitheater, is an aberration. Most have a temporary stage, and so does the South Texas State Fair. Many national acts started in this part of the country - the Big Bopper, George Jones, Janis Joplin, Tracy Byrd, Micah Tyler - but this fair showcases up-and-comers. Country music is obviously big here. Even if you never heard of the act, you're in for a good show. Exhibits: Local stuff, the type that you'd expect to find in the county fair. I admit, I had the song "Our state fair is the best state fair..." going through my mind. I guess it depends on what your expectations are. If you're looking for a typical experience, cotton candy and all, with a Lone Star flair, then you're gonna love the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park. Be warned: you won't be the only one. As the night goes on, the crowd gets BIG. We got there 45 minutes after the gate opened on a Friday, and by 7pm, the lines in the Midway were already at least half an hour long per ride. It's a good one.

First time visitor this year. We absolutely loved the rodeo and watching the fruits of hard work…read morefrom both kids and adults. It's obvious everyone works extra hard to make this event happen. My complaint, food choices. At least for the first day. Not sure if more will come on as the week progresses. The one food truck we did try had overly sweet and overly smoked brisket along with stale corn chips. Facility amenities were perfect. Plenty of space, sitting areas, and plenty of bathrooms. All in all, awesome experience!

Top of the line county fair! Incredible facilities and wonderful staff. It's great to see families…read moreworking together to raise livestock. A full carnival and food selection. The live music and rodeo were a great experience!

Great community event. Kudos to the organizers for the hard work well done!…read more You can't please everyone for a large gathering like this. Although, my only concerns were the signage in the parking lot and the uneven grassy festival ground. I was walking carefully without injuring my ankles. I got in free because it was just opened on the first day. I figured that I should spend money by buying something. The soda truck caught my attention. I love the ladies' friendly smiles. Splash dogs was kind of fun to watch. Especially, seeing kids got wet from the splashes. This was my first time visiting Pearland. I love this Shadow Creek Ranch area. After the festival, I headed to Town Center on Broadway (I think I helped the V&CB to achieve its goal).

* First off, shout out to YELP for hooking my wife and I up with complimentary tix! I don't…read moreunderstand why people are surprised or complaining about paying admission. This isn't a charity event. The rodeo charges admission, as does the Texas State Fare. You can grab crawfish and eat outside anywhere, so don't bother coming here if you are going to moan about paying admissions or over $5 (really, what are you still on an allowance from your mommy?).* On to my review... Great family event, especially if it's within walking distance from your house like it is mine. I'm not a crawfish fan, I don't like them on a plane, I don't like them in a train, but the festival has much more to offer beyond mud bugs. I didn't ride the carnival rides, but there where plenty to choose from and people appeared to be having a great time. There are two stages set up with live music blasting, pretty cool. Miller lite is the official sponsor. The vendors all appeared to be selling the same typical Fair fare (get it, no?). Of course I went to the tent/ vendor with all brothas (African-Americans) on the pit. Man am I glad I did! Sausage on a stick and turkey leg was banging, SON! Smokey and Juicy just like I like it! Oh yeah, it's always fun to get a glimpse of Carneys. Such an unfortunate breed of people. I've always theorized that all Carneys originate from the hills of West Virginia (sorry, not sorry ). Anyhow, it's not Disney World or anything like that, but I wasn't expecting for it to be, so that's okay. Just a great community event that brings people together for the weekend.

This is a GREAT 5K or 10K to do every year. It is quite literally fun for the whole family. The…read moresponsors are fantastic and the money it raises goes to great causes. Plus...YOU are officially kicking off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!!!!! The crowds usually are great spirits and cheer you on as you pound some pavement!! This run is VERY well organized, but I still have the same niggle I have with most runs...and the announcers even said it but people just ignore it. WALKERS!!!!! Do not join the 10K if you are not going to run. WALKERS!!! Do not get at the front of the 5K line to walk and slow down people that want to run. Other than that...GREAT Race!!!!!

Great run. Great fun. Well organized. The medal is also a nice belt buckle. Great idea! For 2019…read morethey moved the after party off of Tinsley and onto the street. A little crowded, but still good. 7 Eleven brought a Slurpee truck! Bluebell brought ice cream. Can't wait for next year.

If you're looking for a fun Texas-style country nightclub without making the trip to the crowded…read moredowntown area, this is a great neighborhood spot. We visited on a Friday for a ladies' night out with a group of friends. We really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the crowd. It was friendly, mature, and not the typical wild nightclub scene. The venue offers both indoor and outdoor spaces, each with its own vibe. The indoor area has a lively atmosphere with louder music, a spacious dance floor, a few pool tables, a mechanical bull, multiple bar stations, and a small food counter with a limited but tasty menu. We tried a few items, and the tacos and quesadillas were absolutely delicious. The drinks were great as well. The indoor dance floor was mostly geared toward country and line dancing, which, in my opinion, felt more suited to couples than to groups of friends. The outdoor area was my favorite. It has its own music and dance floor with free style dancing, at a comparatively lower volume, making it much easier to relax, socialize, and still enjoy dancing. There's plenty of seating, a large fire pit, and another bar station, making it a perfect place to hang out with friends. They also have different food, drink and entry specials throughout the week, so it's worth checking their website before visiting. Overall, I had a fantastic time. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and welcoming crowd made for a memorable evening. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a laid-back Texas country nightlife experience close to home!

On this past Saturday, My friend celebrated…read morethe second part of her 50th Birthday Sparking-chic at Whiskey River West location. We arrived in a nice luxury party bus. When we got off the party bus they offered us a one complimentary drink ,and one free bull ride card. So of course, everyone was excited to get on the dance floor. Also, they had two DJ's one inside and also on the back patio outside too. We definitely had an amazing time. I can't wait to try out the other locations too!

First time here, visited Saturday night. What a nice family event with great food and drinks! Live…read moremusic was a plus

I paid $15 for admission and I was generally not impressed by the Pasadena Strawberry Festival…read more However, I'm not gonna rate it below three stars because for an average festival it faired well. It had plenty of rides. It had plenty of food stands. A little tip, buy your tickets online because to buy them in person requires standing in a 30-45 minute line. No one wants to do that. We bought ours onsite through our phones. By the time I got to the ticket booth, I could've been in and out of the festival. Inside the convention center is where you'll find the massive strawberry shortcake that's always advertised each year. It tasted regular to me but my grandparents loved the one I brought them. Maybe I just got a bad slice. It's cash only. $5. The ATM charges a 4.95 fee for withdrawal so bring cash ahead of time if you can. The exhibits throughout the convention center were really nice. It was a lot of different options but nothing out of the norm. I won't be going back next year. This was definitely a one-time thing. At least there were hardly any lines for the rides and the parking was free!

The World Championship BBQ Cook-Off at the Houston Rodeo is always a blast. It's one of the best…read morepeople‑watching events. The vibes are fun from the moment you walk in. There is music everywhere, and everyone in a great mood. You do need wristbands to get into the individual booths. Once you're in, though, each tent has its own personality, and that's part of the charm. The food is, of course, the main attraction, and the smells alone are worth the trip. Depending on which booth you get into, the quality can vary, but the whole experience is more about the atmosphere. The last day of the cook off is the final chance to buy any discounted carnival tickets. It's a fun, high‑energy kickoff to rodeo season. You can even go to the rodeo carnival afterwards.

Went to the cook-off on Saturday and had a great time overall. Parking was super easy. We parked in…read morea separate lot and took the bus in, which cost $25 and was very smooth and organized. We arrived around 2:30, and the carnival area was pretty quiet at that time, which was actually nice. Our tent already had some food out, and drinks were flowing by around 5:00 once more of the crowd started arriving. As the evening went on, the area really picked up and more food came out, entertainment started, and the energy definitely shifted. There were a lot of different food options, and we felt safe the entire time, which is always important at big events like this. We stayed for about six hours, which felt a little long. Honestly, the nighttime atmosphere is where it's at! Next time we'd probably go a bit later to catch more of that peak energy. Overall, a really fun experience. Can't wait to go again next year!