Nearly 28,000 fans expected as milestone 65th anniversary rodeo prepares to welcome capacity crowds all three nights; organizers warn of ticket scams
Months of anticipation have led to one final announcement before the first gate swings open at Dan Russell Arena: the 65th Annual Folsom Pro Rodeo is officially sold out for all three days.
With the final tickets claimed for Saturday’s Independence Day performance, all three nights of this year’s rodeo have now reached capacity, setting the stage for one of the largest community celebrations of the summer as nearly 28,000 spectators are expected to pass through the gates between Thursday and Saturday.
The sellout completes a steady march toward capacity that began with the popular July 3 performance, which was the first night to sell out. Tickets for the July 2 opening night followed, and as of today, the July 4 finale has also sold out, leaving no remaining public tickets for this year’s event.
For organizers and longtime rodeo supporters alike, the sellout represents more than a milestone—it is another reminder of the enduring popularity of an event that has become one of Northern California’s signature Independence Day traditions.
Now celebrating its 65th anniversary, the Folsom Pro Rodeo arrives during a historic year that also marks the City of Folsom’s 80th anniversary and America’s 250th birthday. Those milestones have added an extra layer of excitement to an event that has long combined world-class rodeo competition with patriotism, family entertainment and hometown pride.
Founded in 1961, the Folsom Pro Rodeo has grown from a local celebration into one of California’s premier Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events. Produced annually by the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, the rodeo has become much more than three nights of competition. It has evolved into one of the city’s defining traditions, drawing generations of families back to Dan Russell Arena year after year while introducing thousands of first-time visitors to Folsom.
The sold-out crowds will also provide a significant boost to the local economy.
With nearly 28,000 people expected to attend over the three-day event, hotels, restaurants, retailers and businesses throughout Folsom are preparing for one of their busiest holiday weekends of the year. Historic Folsom, Palladio at Broadstone, local shopping centers and hospitality businesses routinely experience increased activity during rodeo week as visitors arrive from throughout California and neighboring states.
Many guests turn their rodeo visit into an extended stay, exploring Historic Folsom’s shops and restaurants, walking the Johnny Cash Trail, visiting Folsom Lake, enjoying local parks and attractions or celebrating the Fourth of July throughout the community. For many businesses, rodeo week has become one of the busiest and most anticipated weekends of the year, generating a noticeable increase in customers throughout the city.
Inside Dan Russell Arena, fans will experience a milestone edition of the rodeo that blends professional competition with entertainment designed for all ages.
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association athletes from across the country will compete in fan-favorite events including bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping and breakaway roping.
Returning entertainment includes the nationally acclaimed Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, whose patriotic precision riding has become one of the event’s signature traditions. This year’s performances carry added significance as one of their own, Gabby Broton, serves as the 2026 Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen.
Fans will also be introduced to first-time Folsom entertainer Kyle Lamon, the energetic Army veteran, former bull rider and comedy barrelman whose high-energy performances, trick roping, crowd interaction and humor promise to keep audiences laughing throughout each evening.
The excitement continues with Bull Jumping, one of rodeo’s fastest-growing specialty acts, while the Flying Cowboyz return to deliver their breathtaking freestyle motocross finale just before the nightly fireworks. Younger fans will once again have their chance to become rodeo stars during the always-popular mutton bustin’, where young cowboys and cowgirls climb aboard sheep for one of the evening’s most beloved family traditions.
Beyond the arena, guests can enjoy food vendors, merchandise, exhibits and the popular Saloon Under the Stars, which has become a favorite gathering place throughout rodeo week.
Each evening concludes with one of the region’s most anticipated fireworks spectaculars, lighting up the skies above Dan Russell Arena as the community celebrates Independence Day together.
While those hoping to purchase tickets for this year’s rodeo are now out of luck, the complete sellout serves as another example of the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s enduring popularity and the strong demand that continues to surround one of Northern California’s premier Independence Day traditions. Fans interested in attending next year’s rodeo are encouraged to follow both FolsomProRodeo.com and FolsomTimes.com for announcements on ticket sales and event information leading up to the 66th annual Folsom Pro Rodeo in 2027, as this year’s milestone event demonstrated just how quickly seats can disappear.
With the sellout has also come an increase in online ticket scams. As tickets became harder to find, numerous social media users began posting comments claiming to have extra tickets available for sale, often within comment sections connected to the event. Folsom Times has removed many of those posts through active moderation after they appeared on its social media platforms, as many are believed to be scams or unauthorized ticket resale attempts targeting hopeful buyers. Rodeo fans are urged to exercise caution when purchasing tickets through unofficial sources, avoid deals that seem too good to be true and purchase tickets only through trusted, verified outlets whenever possible.
As the gates prepare to open on another sold-out edition of the Folsom Pro Rodeo, the city is once again ready to welcome thousands of visitors for three unforgettable nights of championship rodeo, patriotic celebration and community tradition. Sixty-five years after it first kicked up dust in Folsom, the rodeo remains one of the city’s greatest summertime traditions—and this year, every seat in the house will be filled.
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