Wintertime Fun in Cowtown: Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

Disclaimer :: Our friends at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo sponsored and crafted this post to spread the word about the annual event.

Fighting wintertime boredom with cool family-friendly exhibits and hands-on activities sounds pretty ideal for any mom bereft of ideas for her littles, and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR) has got you covered.

In fact, there are so many things to see and do during the event’s 23 days (January 18 through February 9, 2019), you may just run out of time before you can enjoy them all! Need more details? Check out the calendar listing of daily events and information on tickets and parking.

For any mom unfamiliar with the FWSSR, the event has been a not-to-be-missed family tradition for 123 years. Speaking of tradition, this will be the last year a professional rodeo will be held in the Will Rogers Coliseum before the move to the new Dickies Arena in 2020. 

For your youngsters, the FWSSR is part interactive playground, science lab, and zoo — all rolled into one multi-sensory experience. And best of all, it’s an affordable way to have a unique experience they’ll remember all year long (and to make memories of a lifetime). Here’s the rundown on a few activities you won’t want to miss.

Kids Gone Wild!

Be sure to check out “Kids Gone Wild” on January 27. Coordinated by the Texas Wildlife Association, some of the Lone Star State’s coolest creatures can be seen up close and personal. Your kiddos may have a chance to come eye-to-eye with a desert tortoise or a regal red-tail hawk. The exhibit even features a fish tank where they can catch some of the biggest catfish this side of Eagle Mountain Lake! If your youngsters are a little more action-oriented, they’ll love the chance to experience air rifles, archery, and other hands-on sportsmanship activities in a safe, supervised setting. 

Rodeo Shopping

You and your family will want to save time to shop for treasures for everyone in the family – or just enjoy a bit of FWSSR-style window shopping! Check out more than 300 vendors of everything from cowboy boots to jeans and bling, and from tractors to some of the best BBQ you’ll eat – all within 200,000 square feet.

Cook Children’s Day at the Rodeo

If you want to enjoy the FWSSR and also make a difference for some worthy children and their families, we hope you’ll join us on February 6 for Cook Children’s Day at the Stock Show benefiting Cook Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Half the proceeds of your tickets to either the matinee or evening rodeo performances will be donated to Cook Children’s NICU. 

Vine to Wine

So, kids can’t have all the fun, right? “Vine to Wine” is back on designated wine Wednesdays”(January 30 and February 6) and features wine camps, where you’ll learn about cultivating grapes and wine-making and taste some spectacular Texas wines.

If you like to enjoy wine with a little shopping, a “Sip & Shop” may fit the bill. You’ll have a chance to sample Texas wines while you stroll the aisles of the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall Building. You’ll even get a commemorative wine cup and discounts from participating vendors. Last, mark your calendars on February 3 for Central Market’s Chix & Brix event, and enjoy pairing sparkling wines and fried chicken prepared by 12 local chefs. 

Other Attractions

But if finding something fun and easy to do with your toddler still presents a challenge, then a weekday visit to the stock show may be in order. Smaller weekday crowds make for plenty of available parking and easy stroller access to all exhibits and events. The following are other attractions for lots of hands-on fun.

The carnival/midway has rides and games for all age groups. Use the “Magic Money” wristbands as an easy way to play and pay for rides, food, and games. They can be purchased at the carnival midway with cash or credit cards.

Try the Bank of Texas Petting Zoo, where children can enjoy the company of farm animals. They make for great selfies with your children, and you can even feed the cuddly creatures.

Check out Planet Ag, presented by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, where kids and adults can learn by touching, listening, and watching. Teachers with real-world farm experience tell in “kid-friendly” language how our food and other daily necessities are grown, cultivated, and processed. Let your child ride in a grain harvest simulator, and get a real-world experience of modern farm life. The interactive exhibit reminds us that food doesn’t come from the store.

The Children’s Barnyard features live farm animals, including many with their “babies,” and FFA students ready to answer your child’s questions.

The Mooseum Experience is a great bonus. A grounds ticket also gets you into the following museums at no extra charge:

• The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (interactive exhibits).
• The Cattle Raiser’s Museum (interactive exhibits).
• The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (hands-on activities and kid-friendly displays).

Just seeing the livestock up close is a great experience for all youngsters. Providing small children the fun of live interaction is a great way to spend a weekday!

Take in the sights, sounds and smells of exciting rodeo action, awesome food, shopping, livestock and equestrian competitions, carnival/midway entertainment, and an experience you’ll always remember during 23 fun-filled days – January 18 through February 9 at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. It’s the kind of place where “Old School Cool” is fun, fashionable, and hip for everyone. Get your tickets today and celebrate what makes Fort Worth the most awesome town in Texas. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.fwssr.com or call (817) 877-2420.