The Brush Rodeo: a Fourth of July tradition on the plains

Every Fourth of July, the little town of Brush turns its fairgrounds into the loudest place on the Eastern Plains. The Brush Rodeo runs three nights over July 2-4 at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, with the action starting at 7 p.m. each evening. The organizers count 2026 as the 71st annual event, and the lineup is the real thing: bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping, and barrel racing.

For years the Brush Rodeo was billed as the “World’s Largest Amateur Rodeo.” That title belongs to its earlier chapters; it joined the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association in 2005, so today’s contestants are sanctioned riders. The amateur name lives on mostly in old programs and local memory.

What keeps families coming back is everything around the arena. There’s a Fourth of July parade through town, a free barbecue, and mutton bustin’ for the kids brave enough to ride a sheep. The final night closes with fireworks. Add vendors, a beer garden, and live music, and you have a small-town holiday that fills the grandstand.

Tickets are modest, and the dates rarely move. For this year’s schedule, parade time, and ticket details, check the official site at brushrodeo.com.