General admission rodeo ticket
Open seating in bleachers or folding chairs, the rodeo and the live music and dancing, with parking covered by admission.
The night
Why spend a Saturday night at a rodeo
A sport that began as ranch work
Many rodeo events were based on the tasks of cattle ranching, and some of the skills date back to the 16th-century traditions of the vaqueros of New Spain. The word itself is Spanish and roughly translates as round up. A modern rodeo turns that working past into a timed and scored contest, and the arena in Bulverde runs it on Saturday nights from March through November.
More than the bull riding
The running order starts with a grand entry and bull riding, then a drill team on horseback, team roping, children's mutton bustin' and a calf scramble, breakaway and tie-down roping, barrel racing and a second round of bull riding. Afterwards a live country band plays in a covered dance hall, and the dance is included with rodeo admission.
The state sport of Texas
Rodeo is the state sport of Texas, so a night at one tells a visitor something about the state that a museum label cannot. The format is easy to follow for a first-timer: each competitor is up against a clock or a bucking animal, and the arena shows the result as it happens.
The running order
The running order, event by event
Tejas Rodeo publishes the order of its main Saturday performance. Here it is with what each event is, so a first-time visitor knows what to watch for.
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Opening
Grand entry
Mounted riders, many carrying flags, enter the arena at a gallop and circle once. A grand entry introduces some of the competitors and sponsors and ends with the American flag. The GetYourGuide ticket describes an opening ceremony with a longhorn cattle entrance, a drill team and the flags.
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Rough stock
Bull riding, first round
To score, the rider must stay on the bull for eight seconds with one hand gripped on a bull rope. Touching the bull or themselves with the free hand gives a no-score ride. Bullfighters work in the arena to distract the bull from a fallen rider.
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On horseback
Drill team
A drill team performs on horseback between the bull riding and the roping. The GetYourGuide ticket calls the team award-winning.
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Timed event
Team roping
Two riders chase one steer. The header ropes the front of the steer, usually around the horns, and the heeler ropes its hind feet.
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For children
Mutton bustin'
Children ride sheep for as long as they can hold on, and most fall off in under eight seconds. At Tejas, riders are aged four to seven and under 55 pounds, helmets and vests are provided, and entry is online in advance.
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For children
Calf scramble
The second children's event in the running order. The GetYourGuide ticket says children can join in the calf scramble.
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Timed event
Breakaway roping
A rider ropes a calf with a very short lariat tied lightly to the saddle horn with a string and a flag. When the calf is caught, the flagged rope breaks free and the calf runs on, neither thrown nor tied.
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Timed event
Tie-down roping
Also called calf roping. The rider ropes a running calf, dismounts, runs to it and ties three legs together as fast as possible. It is the oldest of rodeo's timed events.
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Timed event
Barrel racing
Horse and rider gallop a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels, and the fastest time wins. Knocking a barrel over adds a five-second penalty. It is usually a women's event in professional rodeo, and competitive barrel racing is believed to have started in Texas.
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Finale
Bull riding, second round
The main performance closes with a second round of bull riding. Tejas says overflow contestants, called the slack, compete in the arena while the live band and dance begin.
The order and the acts can change from one Saturday to the next, and the venue says an occasional specialty act such as saddle bronc riding is added.
From the arena
The rodeo in pictures
A mutton bustin' ride, a night bull ride, roping, barrel racing, horn-wrapped steers, a belt buckle and a Hill Country road: photographs from rodeos in Texas and elsewhere, none of them taken at the venue.
The grounds
The grounds, from gate to dance floor
Tejas Rodeo describes a Western-style set of grounds with an arena, a dance hall, a steakhouse and a shop. Here is what the venue says about each part.
- Covered, open-air
- The arena, seating, dance floor and dining areas are covered but open-air, and the rodeo runs rain or shine. The venue recommends comfortable shoes because the grounds are not paved.
- Seating
- General admission is open seating with no assignments: bleachers on the south and west sides and folding chairs at ground level on the south side. The venue advises arriving early to find seats together before the pre-show.
- Food and drink
- The Smokehouse and Mercado offer walk-up concessions, and a full bar serves mixed drinks and margaritas. The venue says food, beverages and activities are separate from admission, and outside alcohol cannot be brought in.
- The dance hall
- After the rodeo, a covered Texas dancehall hosts a rotating lineup of Texas bands, and the venue says the dance is included with rodeo admission.
- The shop and the bull
- A company store sells cowboy hats, boots, apparel and jewelry. The ticket also mentions a mechanical bull and a life-size stuffed bucking bull for photographs.
Ways to do the night
Four ways to do the night at Tejas Rodeo
| Option | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| General admission rodeo ticket | Open seating in bleachers or folding chairs, the rodeo and the live music and dancing, with parking covered by admission. | Visitors who want the standard Saturday night. |
| Reserved seating | Seats in a numbered arena section, sold by the venue by seat location. Padded folding chairs near the roping chutes are one of the choices. | Groups who want certain seats without queuing early. |
| Mutton bustin' entry | A separate online entry for riders aged four to seven and under 55 pounds, with limited spots. Rodeo admission is bought separately. | Families with a small rider. |
| Steakhouse dinner first | The Steakhouse and Saloon has its own gate and takes reservations, which the venue strongly recommends on Saturdays. | Visitors who want a sit-down meal before the rodeo. |
Rodeo tickets, Bulverde
Book the Saturday night rodeo
The ticket below is general admission to the Saturday night rodeo and the live music that follows. More to do around San Antonio sits in the strip underneath it.
More to book around San Antonio
Before you go
Before you go
- Book ahead
- The venue says most nights sell out and that tickets should be bought online in advance. A limited number of gate tickets are sold later in the evening for the live music and dance only.
- Arrive early
- General admission seating is first come, first served. The venue warns of possible parking and entry delays, and visitors who booked this ticket say seating filled early.
- Getting in
- Enter at the main gate at 401 Obst Rd, Bulverde, and show your ticket to a gate attendant. Admission covers parking.
- What to wear
- Wear what you love and dress for the weather. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and blankets are welcome in cooler months.
- Access
- The ticket is listed as wheelchair accessible, and the venue says ramps and handicap parking are available. Tell the gate attendants on arrival. The Skybox and Section 101 are not wheelchair accessible.
- Children and dogs
- The venue calls the evening family-friendly, and leashed dogs are allowed.
Rodeo guides: events, tickets and the dance hall
Rodeo guides: events, tickets and the dance hall
Which ticket and what to expect Saturday night rodeo near San Antonio
How the Saturday night rodeo in Bulverde works: what the general admission ticket covers, how seating differs, and what is paid for separately.
Read the guide → Events explained What to expect at a Texas rodeo
A first-timer's guide to a rodeo night: the events in running order, what each one asks of the rider, and what the ropes, bulls and barrels mean.
Read the guide →FAQ
Questions before you book a rodeo night
What happens at a Saturday night rodeo in Bulverde?
A grand entry, bull riding, a drill team, team roping, children's events, breakaway and tie-down roping and barrel racing, then live country music and dancing. The order can change from night to night.
Is the live music included?
Yes. The venue says the dance is included with rodeo admission, and the ticket covers admission to the rodeo and the concert.
Is food included?
The venue says food, beverages and activities are separate from admission. A steakhouse, concessions and a bar are on the grounds, and the booking page lists what your ticket includes.
Can children come?
Yes. The venue calls it family-friendly. Mutton bustin' is for children aged four to seven and under 55 pounds, with a separate online entry, and helmets and vests are provided.
What if it rains?
The venue says the rodeo runs rain or shine, and the arena, seating, dance floor and dining areas are covered. The area is open-air, so dress for the weather.
Do I need to reserve seats?
The ticket on this site is general admission, which is open seating on a first come, first served basis. Reserved seating is a separate venue option. Arriving early helps a group sit together.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The ticket is listed as wheelchair accessible. The venue says ramps and handicap parking are available, and asks you to tell the gate attendants on arrival.
Is this the venue's own site?
No. Texas Night Rodeo is an independent guide. It runs no rodeo or arena. Every booking button opens GetYourGuide, which takes payment and handles cancellation.
A Saturday night of bulls, ropes and boot-scooting, just north of San Antonio.
Book a rodeo night ↗
The from fare is per adult in US dollars, and the booking page converts it to your own currency.