Guymon Pioneer Days Brings PRCA Rodeo, Community Tradition to Texas County

A town of roughly 13,000 people is set to host nearly 1,000 professional rodeo contestants when Guymon Pioneer Days returns to the Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena, 1100 N. Sunset Lane, for the first full weekend of May. The 2026 edition runs May 1 through May 3, with performances scheduled Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m., twice Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

Founded in 1933, Guymon Pioneer Days has grown into one of the largest outdoor rodeos on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit and carries the distinction of being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. The rodeo consistently ranks among the top 30 PRCA events nationally for total payout, with prize money surpassing $275,000, and in 2002 it earned the PRCA's Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award. That level of prize money means the Guymon purse carries real weight for competitors chasing PRCA points toward season-ending finals.

The competition slate covers seven disciplines: saddle bronc, bareback riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping and barrel racing. WPRA barrel racers alone saw a total payout near $33,000 in recent editions, supported by a committee-added purse of $7,500.

Beyond the competition, the weekend weaves in community staples that draw families from across the Panhandle. Mutton Bustin' precedes multiple performances, giving young riders their moment in the arena before the professional events begin. The Tough Enough to Wear Pink night dedicates one performance to cancer awareness. One performance each year also offers free admission and free parking, a tradition supported by Seaboard Foods. For 2026, the rodeo committee announced a special entertainment addition with a backflip act booked for the performances.

The Dinner, Dance and Draw Down, a separate ticketed event ahead of the rodeo weekend, offers a $10,000 Draw Down prize alongside live music and food. The event functions as both a fundraiser and a community gathering that sets the tone for the days that follow.

Because the rodeo brings livestock trucks, horses and large visitor volumes into Guymon simultaneously, organizers work closely with the Guymon Police Department and volunteer fire and rescue teams to manage traffic near the arena and coordinate animal handling. Attendees traveling from outside the region are advised to book lodging well in advance; regional hotels fill quickly for the first-weekend-in-May dates. Panhandle spring weather demands flexibility: sun, wind and temperature swings are all common.

Tickets, the full schedule and accessibility information are available at guymonrodeo.com and through the Guymon Chamber of Commerce. Official channels carry the most current pricing and any theme-night updates as the weekend approaches.