The upcoming Labor Day weekend, Aug. 28-31, brings the large 65th annual Osceola Rodeo Daze event, featuring numerous activities for all ages.
Rodeo Daze will officially kickoff with a street dance held on the Osceola square on Thursday night, Aug. 28, with live music by talented artists and other activities taking place throughout the evening. Saturday will bring a day packed with activities on the square, while exciting rodeo action will go down each night, Friday through Sunday, at the rodeo grounds arena located a few miles southeast of the city.
Saturday on the Osceola square will include: Vendor Registration & Set-Up, 7:30 to 9 a.m. (booths open at 9 a.m.); Baby Contest Registration, 8:15 to 8:45 a.m.; Turtle Hurdle Race Registration, 8:30 to 10 a.m.; Baby Contest, 9 a.m.; Stick Horse Races, 9 to 11 a.m.; Book Sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Bounce Houses, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Dunk Tank, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (west side of the square); Art Show and Quilt Exhibit, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Turtle Hurdle Races, 10 a.m.; Osceola Senior Class Chicken Dinner, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Silent Auction, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Super Farmer Contest, 11 a.m.; K-9 Demonstration, 12:15 p.m.; Chuck-A-Duck, 12:45 p.m.; Parade, 2 p.m.; followed by the large Rodeo (Osceola arena), beginning at 8 p.m. Various other activities, contests, and giveaways -not listed on the schedule- will take place at various times on the square throughout the day.
Event Details:
Street Closures, Barricades - Thursday & Saturday: Street closures for the Thursday evening dance, on/around the square, will be in place beginning at 4:30 p.m. and will remain in place until after the event concludes. Barricades will also be used to close streets in the area on Saturday beginning at 6:30 a.m. with additional barricades added at 12:30 p.m. for parade line-up, with all to be removed after the parade concludes.
Street Dance - Thursday: The dance will begin at 6 p.m. with live music featuring Jake Stringer and special guest Randy Polson, the Campfire Cowboy. Concessions, along with dinning at La Casita Mexican restaurant (on the northeast corner of the square), and an array of vendors on-site and raffles taking place throughout the evening. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. This event is sponsored by Bray Real Estate Company, D&R Bobcat, and Peery Auto Parts.
Cornhole Tournament - Thursday: The cornhole tournament will be held during the Thursday night street dance with registration opening at 6 p.m. on the west side of the square. Cost is $30 per team, first come, first serve. Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place teams. This event is sponsored by Friends of Rodeo Daze.
Beard Contest - Thursday: The annual Beard Contest will be held near the bandstand with registration opening at 6 p.m., followed by judging at 6:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by Osceola Spa & Salon, Valerie Duggins.
Rodeo - Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: The ACRA/IPRA Rodeo, including the Red Ryder Shootout - the largest mutton busting in Missouri, take place nightly beginning at 8 p.m. at the rodeo grounds arena located just southeast of Osceola on Hwy. 82 (east), on 601 Rd. While rodeo tickets continue to be sold at Sugarfoot BBQ (Osceola), they will also be available for purchase at the arena gate. No professional cameras (outside photographers) will be allowed inside the gates. Concessions and vendors will also be on-site with various products available. Live music entertainment will also begin after the event for listening and dancing pleasure. For more information about rodeo grounds events, call 417-309-1148. This event is sponsored by The Saddle Club of St. Clair County.
Vendors - Saturday: Registration and information will be available on the northwest corner of the square under the St. Clair County State Bank sign. Booth set-up will be from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. with booth required to be completely set-up and ready to open by 9 a.m.
Baby Contest - Saturday: Contest registration will be open from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. with judging at 9 a.m. at the gazebo on the courthouse lawn. This event is sponsored by Wisner Farms, Curt & Crew.
Turtle Hurdle Race - Saturday: Race registration will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Old Bus Station on the square with the races held at Kiefer Downs on the north side of the square at 10 a.m. Participants are required to provide their
own turtles and take the turtle home with them after the race. Grand Champion, first, second, and third place trophies will be awarded and event t-shirts available while supplies last. This event is sponsored by Osceola Barber & Style, Leaky Roof Coffee Company, Mario Piccoli - Farm Bureau, Hayden Outdoor Real Estate, Bray Construction, and Sugarfoot BBQ.
Stick Horse Races - Saturday: Horse races will be held in front of Scott’s Furniture on the north side of the square with raffles and prizes available. This event is sponsored by Scott’s Furniture with proceeds to benefit 4-H Heroes.
Library Book Sale & Silent Auction - Saturday: The book sale, with lots of great reading and media items available, will be held at the St. Clair County Library off the northwest corner of the square. The book sale, also at the library, will be open on Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with all purchases made on a donation basis. The silent auction will be held on Saturday with an array of items up for grabs. For questions, call the library at 417-646-2214. These events are sponsored by Friends of St. Clair County Library.
Art Show - Friday & Saturday: Numerous works of art by local amateur and professional artists will be displayed throughout the library. Art show pieces must be ready to hang/display and may be dropped off at the library on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults are $2.50 per entry and children free of charge. No AI work will be accepted. Art judging will take place on Thursday (with the exhibit closed to the public); however, the exhibit will be open for public viewing on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All art pieces will need to be picked up after the parade on Saturday. For more information, call 417-838-4495. Proceeds from the art show will go toward art scholarships. This event is sponsored by the Osceola Art Guild.
Bounce Houses & Dunk Tank - Saturday: A variety of bounce houses and a dunk tank will be set-up on the west side of the square. These activities are sponsored by (bounce houses) the Osceola Optimist Club, Salt Creek Ponds, and (dunk tank) Osceola FFA.
Quilt Exhibit - Saturday: The exhibit will be on display at the Old Bus Station on the north side of the square. There will be a Bed Turning at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a People’s Choice Award presented, a raffle, and homemade goods available. For more information, call 660-492-2996. This event is sponsored by the St. Clair County Quilt Guild.
OHS Senior Class Chicken Dinner - Thursday & Saturday: The dinner, prepared by the Osceola FFA Senior BBQ Team) will consist of sides (baked beans, cole slaw, and drink) plus a chicken quarter for $10 or chicken breast for $12. The dinner will be on the courthouse lawn on Thursday evening from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a fundraiser sponsored by OHS Senior Class 2026 for senior class activities.
Parade - Saturday: Registration for the parade will be at 10:30 a.m. on the northwest corner of the square under the St. Clair County State Bank sign with all participants required to stop by the registration booth. Parade line-up will begin on Olive St., with judging being held at 1:15 p.m. (of those in line-up), and the parade beginning at 2 p.m. Dirt bikes and ATVs (four-wheelers) will not be permitted to participate. No candy may be thrown from moving vehicles - all candy thrown must be by those walking the edge of the parade route. Participants are asked to keep children out of the street and or behind any barricades placed along the route. This year’s theme is “Bringing Back Tradition”. For more information, call 417-770-7058. This event is sponsored by St. Clair County State Bank, parade announcers Brenden Jones and Beth Tilton, and the MU Extension Office.
Super Farmer Contest - Saturday: The contest will be held on the west side of the square with registration at 9 a.m., followed by the contest at 11 a.m. The event will include egg races, corn scooping, tire roll, rope-a-steer, hay stacking, and drive-a-nail. Divisions will consist of Elementary (sixth grade and under), Middle (seventh through twelfth grade), and Adult. There is a limit of ten entries per category and groups must consist of one male and one female. This event is sponsored by Osceola FFA Alumni.
K-9 Demonstration - Saturday: The demonstration featuring the sheriff’s office’s K-9 crew will be held on the northwest side of the square on the lawn. This event is sponsored by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office.
Chuck-A-Duck - Saturday: The cash-winning contest will take place on the west side of the square, with duck purchasing nearby. This event is sponsored by Osceola Senior Class 2026.
For a copy of official schedules, as provided by the Friends of Rodeo Daze committee and Osceola Missouri Arena, please see inside August editions of the St. Clair County Courier or visit the Friends of Rodeo Daze or Osceola Missouri Arena Facebook page. All questions may be emailed to friendsofrodeodaze@gmail.com.
