Willits Frontier Days

Festival June 21-July 6, 2024
Main Street
Rec Grove Park
Rodeo Grounds, Jack Tharpe Arena
Willits, CA
willitsfrontierdays.com

Frontier Days Events 

Willits Rodeo & Frontier Days Events
Team Roping
Barrel Racing
Horseshoe Contest
Black Bart Gunfighters
Cowboy Poetry
Gymkhana
Hometown Celebration
Horse Show
Junior Rodeo 

Hometown Celebration June 21, 2024, 5-9 p.m.
Main Street - Downtown Willits
Contact: Ashtan Bloomquist: 367-9471

Horseshow  June 23, 2024, 8 a.m.
Jack Tharp Arena
Contact: Mattie Pinon: 367-5550

Horse Show Appearance & Poise June 22, 2024, 10 a.m.
Rodeo Grounds

Horse Show Horsemanship June 23, 2024, 10 a.m.
Jack Tharp Arena

Run for Sweetheart Truck & Tractor Pulls June 28, 2024, 6 p.m.
Jack Tharp Arena
$20, age 12 and under $10
Contact: Marcy Barry: 272-5395

Street Dance & Carnival  June 28, 2024 & July 3, 2024
Following Truck Pulls & Rodeo Rodeo Grounds
Carnival opens June 28, 2024  Next to Rodeo Grounds
Contact: Willits Frontier Days: 459-6330
Contact: Gordon: 1-916-761-1722

CCPRA Professional Rodeo July 3, 2024, 7 p.m. & July 4, 2024, 4 p.m.
Tharp Arena
$20, age 12 and under $10;  $25 Both days
Contact: Willits Frontier Days: 459-6330

Horseshoe Contest July 4, 2024, 10 a.m.
Rec Grove Park
$75 entry fee 

Parade  "Cowboys and Cadillacs" July 4, 2024, 11 a.m.
Main Street - Downtown Willits
Contact: Mattie Pinon: 367-5550

2024 Beef Barbecue July 4, 2024, 12 p.m.
Rec Grove Park
$20
Contact: Mike Frahm: 272-8882

Country Music Rodeola July 4, 2024, 12 p.m.
Rec Grove Park
Contact: Jeff: 354-3468

Junior Rodeo July  5, 2024, 8 a.m.
Jack Tharp Arena
$10, age 12 and under $5
Contact: Marcy Barry: 272-5395

Lions Cowboy Breakfast July  5, 2024, 7 a.m.
Rec Grove Park
$13, age 12 and under $9
Contact: Lions Club: 489-5364

BullsBroncs July 6, 2024, 7 p.m.
Jack Tharp Arena
$10, 12 and under $5
Contact: Marcy Barry: 272-5395

Locals  Team Roping
Contact: Bobbie Tilley: 485-8749
Barrel Racing
Contact: Riata King: 354-4298

Willits, a frontier kind of town in Mendocino County, hosts the oldest continuous rodeo in California each year in July. The CCPRA rodeo is one element of the fun, however, that includes a Gymkhana, Junior Rodeo, Locals Only Team Barrel Racing and Roping Contests and Western themed entertainment, food and more.

Frontier Days Timeline

1926 Willits Frontier founded
1927 a Sweetheart, Marie Schloegel, wore the crown
1929 — Ladies in hoop skirts and gentlemen with whiskers danced at the Wild West Frontier Days Dance. Lola Butts was the new Sweetheart.
1935 — No one could forget when the The Jumping Steer — Monte H. Rigar on a Texas longhorn leaped over an automobile! There were two parades and dancing in the park.
1938 — World Champion Trick Roper for 4 U.S. Presidents, Sam Garrett,  performed an exciting show.
1943 — WWII ... State of California and Western Defense Command granted permission to host The Frontier Days festival, but with dim-out the carnival was not lit. Food rationing meant there was no abundance of food to be served.
1944 — Dim-out was lifted.
1966 — Frontier Days committee discussed the possibility of the Willits Rotary Club taking over and not having a parade; it didn't happen, and things went on as usual.
1971 — Riding his Palomino in his beautiful silver attire as Don Gaspar de Portola, Mike Desiano added a Spanish flavor to the parade.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.