Skydiver uninjured in opening ceremony crash landing as 65th edition of summer classic opens in grand fashion. You can see video highlights on Folsom Times Instagram and Facebook as well.
With the weather offering a near-perfect evening for an outdoor rodeo, spectators poured into Dan Russell Arena for opening night of the 65th Annual Folsom Pro Rodeo, where the city’s long-running Fourth of July week celebration took on added meaning in a milestone year. This year’s rodeo arrives as the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and as Folsom marks its 80th anniversary as a city, giving Thursday night’s opening performance a fitting backdrop of history, community pride and red, white and blue tradition.
As with any rodeo or extreme sport, the Folsom Pro Rodeo has always carried a little bit of unpredictability in its arena dirt. Every ride, every run and every performance comes with the understanding that anything can happen once the gates open, the lights come up and thousands of spectators settle in for one of the city’s most enduring Fourth of July traditions.
On Thursday night, that reminder came before the first competitive event ever left the chute.
Opening night of the 65th Annual Folsom Pro Rodeo began beneath mild summer skies, a welcome change from the kind of heat that often defines rodeo week in Northern California. With more than 7,000 spectators in attendance, Dan Russell Arena was filled for the first performance of the three-night event, setting the stage for a night built around patriotism, professional rodeo competition, specialty entertainment, fireworks and one opening ceremony moment that instantly became part of the rodeo’s long history.
For years, one of the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s signature traditions has been the dramatic arrival of a skydiver carrying a large American flag into the arena during opening ceremonies. It is a patriotic spectacle that has become closely associated with the event, arriving each year as part of the blend of ceremony, showmanship and Independence Week celebration that defines the Folsom Pro Rodeo.
As the skydiver descended toward Dan Russell Arena Thursday evening, thousands of eyes turned upward. The American flag trailed below as the opening ceremony unfolded in familiar fashion, setting up what was expected to be another memorable patriotic entrance into the arena.
Then, in an instant, the unexpected happened.
As the parachutist approached the landing area, the weighted bottom of the large American flag clipped the top of a nearby tree. The contact altered the descent and pushed the skydiver off his intended landing path, sending him toward a crash landing near the Corral Club section of the grandstands instead of the planned touchdown inside the arena.
Rodeo personnel and emergency responders moved quickly toward the landing area as attention throughout the arena focused on the skydiver and the American flag. For several moments, the opening ceremony paused while the situation was assessed and the crowd waited for confirmation that the skydiver was all right.
Then came the moment everyone had hoped for.The veteran skydiver got back to his feet under his own power.
Relief quickly turned into applause, and applause grew into a standing ovation as the skydiver carried the American flag into the center of the arena. Thousands of spectators remained on their feet, recognizing both the patriotic display and the resilience that turned a frightening moment into one of the most unforgettable opening-night scenes in the rodeo’s 65-year history.
In many ways, it was a fitting beginning for the Folsom Pro Rodeo. Rodeo has never been a scripted production, even when it is carefully planned. It is built around timing, skill, livestock, weather, athleticism, performance and the possibility that a split second can change everything. Thursday night’s opening ceremony simply brought that truth into focus before the competition began, reminding the crowd that the live nature of rodeo is part of what makes it so compelling.
Once it was clear the skydiver was okay, the night moved forward with the same patriotic energy and arena spectacle that have made the Folsom Pro Rodeo one of the region’s most anticipated annual events. The 65th annual rodeo was officially underway, and the opening-night program quickly returned to the combination of tradition and entertainment that has carried the event across generations.
The Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers helped open the evening with the kind of precision riding presentation that has become one of the most recognizable visual elements of the Folsom Pro Rodeo. Their performance brought pageantry, horsemanship and patriotic imagery to the arena, with riders moving in coordinated formations as large American flags swept across Dan Russell Arena.
The group’s presence added both beauty and tradition to the opening-night program. The Painted Ladies have long been associated with polished arena performances that combine speed, control and visual impact, and their Thursday night appearance gave the 65th annual rodeo another signature moment inside the arena.
This year’s performance carried added meaning with Gabby Broton riding as both a Painted Lady and the 2026 Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen. Her dual role placed her at the intersection of two important rodeo traditions: the ambassador role of rodeo royalty and the mounted showmanship of one of the event’s featured performance groups.
As Rodeo Queen, Broton represented the pageantry, hospitality and community-facing role that has long been part of rodeo culture. As a member of the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, she also took part in one of the evening’s major arena presentations. The combination made her one of the notable figures of opening night and gave the milestone rodeo a local storyline that connected ceremonial tradition with performance.
The opening ceremonies also helped frame the broader significance of this year’s rodeo. The 65th Annual Folsom Pro Rodeo arrived during a year of milestones, including the City of Folsom’s 80th anniversary and the national lead-up to America’s 250th birthday. The patriotic tone of the evening fit naturally within that larger setting, tying the rodeo’s own history to the community and countrywide anniversaries being recognized this year.
Another familiar figure returned to the arena as part of that tradition. Developer and businessman Harry Elliott led the parade into the arena Thursday evening, this time not as a longtime fan but service as the event’s Grand Marshal.
Adam Frick, dressed in his signature Uncle Sam attire, marked his 20th year in the role at the Folsom Pro Rodeo. For two decades, Frick has been one of the event’s most recognizable personalities, helping guide the evening from the arena floor while serving as a living symbol of the rodeo’s patriotic identity.
His return carried additional meaning this year following his recent induction as a Folsom Pro Rodeo Legend. The honor recognized his long association with the event and the role he has played in shaping the experience for generations of rodeo fans. On opening night, his presence once again connected the production to its own history, reminding the crowd that some traditions are not just repeated year after year, but built by the people who continue to show up.
Frick’s 20th year as Uncle Sam also offered a sense of continuity during a milestone rodeo that balanced familiar faces with new ones. The Folsom Pro Rodeo has grown and evolved over the years, adding specialty acts, new technology and expanded entertainment, but its personality remains rooted in the figures and traditions that return to Dan Russell Arena each July.
Among the new faces Thursday night was Kyle Lamon, who made his Folsom debut as the rodeo’s comedy barrelman and entertainer. Lamon arrived in Folsom with a background that includes military service, rodeo experience and trick roping, bringing a high-energy style to the arena between events.
His debut added a fresh entertainment element to the 65th annual rodeo, giving the crowd a first look at a performer whose role is central to the pacing and personality of a modern rodeo production. Barrelmen and rodeo entertainers help fill the spaces between competition, keep the audience engaged and contribute to the flow of the evening, especially during a fast-moving program like Folsom’s.
Lamon’s first appearance in Folsom placed him in front of a large opening-night crowd and inside one of the region’s most established rodeos. His debut also served as another example of the event’s mix of long-running tradition and new additions, pairing the familiar image of Adam Frick’s Uncle Sam with a first-time Folsom appearance by a rodeo entertainer beginning his own chapter in the arena.
Mutton Bustin’ once again brought one of the night’s most popular traditions to Dan Russell Arena, giving children their own chance to take part in the rodeo experience. The event has become a favorite at rodeos across the country because it captures the spirit of the sport in its simplest and most lighthearted form: a young rider, a sheep and a few unforgettable seconds.
At Folsom, Mutton Bustin’ fits naturally into the night because it connects the professional rodeo atmosphere with the family tradition that surrounds the event. The children who take part are not competing for the same stakes as the adult contestants, but their rides bring a different kind of excitement to the arena and give the crowd a chance to recognize the next generation of rodeo participants.
The event is also one of the clearest examples of how rodeo memories are made. Some children hold on longer than expected. Others find the ride ends almost as quickly as it begins. Either way, the moment is part of the night’s larger rhythm, giving young participants a place inside the same arena that later hosts professional contestants, specialty performers and the evening’s major entertainment acts.
The professional rodeo competition remained the foundation of the opening-night program. As a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, the Folsom Pro Rodeo brought the atmosphere of a true PRCA production to Dan Russell Arena, complete with the pace, structure and intensity that define the sport.
The night featured the classic mix of rodeo competition, with timed events and rough stock action showcasing the range of skill required in the arena. Timed events demanded speed, precision and clean execution. Rough stock events brought the uncertainty and intensity that have long been central to rodeo, with each ride depending on the split-second balance between competitor and animal.
The rodeo did not need invented drama to carry the night. The sport itself provided the stakes.
Every contestant entered the arena with a narrow window to complete a run or make a ride. Every animal brought its own movement, strength and unpredictability. Every event required the coordination of competitors, stock contractors, pickup men, bullfighters, arena personnel and production staff who kept the performance moving while maintaining the structure of a professional rodeo.
For spectators, that rhythm is part of the appeal. Rodeo moves quickly, but each event carries its own tension. A clean run can unfold in a matter of seconds. A rough stock ride can turn on a single jump, kick or turn. The sport’s compact bursts of action create an atmosphere that feels different from nearly any other live event, especially inside an arena filled for opening night.
That professional rodeo atmosphere was especially significant in a milestone year. The 65th annual event was not simply a celebration of longevity; it was a reminder that the Folsom Pro Rodeo has remained relevant because it continues to deliver the core experience that audiences expect from a PRCA event while surrounding it with entertainment that broadens the night’s appeal. That included the return of the daring bull jumpers this year, which closed out the rodeo portion of Thursday’s event much to the crowd’s liking.
Between the rodeo competition, specialty acts and ceremonial moments, opening night continued to build toward the kind of large-scale finale that has become a signature part of the Folsom production. As daylight faded and the evening deepened, the arena shifted into the final stretch of the program, where traditional rodeo gave way to a more modern form of high-flying entertainment.
The Flying Cowboyz brought freestyle motocross into Dan Russell Arena, adding the roar of engines and the sight of motorcycles launching above the arena floor to the night’s entertainment lineup. Their performance has become one of the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s most anticipated specialty acts, blending action sports with the broader Western entertainment atmosphere of the event.
The contrast is part of what makes the act work in Folsom. After a night built around horses, livestock, riders and rodeo tradition, the Flying Cowboyz bring a different kind of arena spectacle. Their aerial maneuvers and high-speed approach shift the energy without feeling disconnected from the larger production. Instead, they extend the night’s theme of risk, timing and performance into another form.
That combination of old and new has become increasingly important to the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s identity. The event remains rooted in PRCA competition, patriotic tradition and Western heritage, but it also embraces entertainment elements that make the night feel larger than a standard rodeo card. The Flying Cowboyz are part of that formula, giving the audience a finale-level act before the night turns toward the sky.
This year, the sky became part of the show in more than one way.
After the arena entertainment, a drone light show added a modern visual feature to opening night. The use of drones brought choreographed light into the air above the rodeo, offering a different kind of spectacle before the traditional fireworks display. The drone show gave the 65th annual event another updated element while preserving the patriotic and celebratory tone of the evening.
The drone light show also reflected the rodeo’s ability to evolve without losing its identity. A drone show may be a modern addition, but inside the setting of Dan Russell Arena, it became part of the larger Independence Week celebration. It served as a bridge between the arena performances and the fireworks that have long helped define the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s holiday connection.
Then came the fireworks.
The fireworks display remains one of the event’s most anticipated traditions, closing the arena program with the kind of color, sound and spectacle associated with Fourth of July week in Folsom. Bursts of light filled the sky above Dan Russell Arena, bringing the opening-night performance to a familiar and dramatic conclusion.
For many spectators, the fireworks are part of what makes the Folsom Pro Rodeo more than a sporting event. They connect the rodeo to the holiday itself, reinforcing its place in the broader Independence Week calendar and giving the evening a final shared moment after hours of arena action.
Even after the fireworks ended, the night continued with Saloon Under the Stars, the post-rodeo gathering that extends the event beyond the arena program. The saloon has become part of the full Folsom Pro Rodeo experience, giving attendees a place to continue the evening with live music, dancing and the atmosphere that surrounds one of the city’s biggest annual traditions.
Saloon Under the Stars also reinforces the rodeo’s role as a full-night destination. The competition remains the centerpiece, but the rodeo experience begins before the opening ceremony and continues after the final fireworks fade. The saloon adds to that sense of occasion, helping carry the energy of the arena into the rest of the night.
The 65th Annual Folsom Pro Rodeo continues Friday and Saturday at Dan Russell Arena before two more sold-out crowds. With opening night drawing more than 7,000 spectators and the remaining performances also sold out, another 14,000 rodeo fans are expected to pass through the gates before the final fireworks close out the holiday weekend.
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