Day Trippin’
Yes, it’s true. The oldest, longest, continuously-running weekly professional rodeo in the United States is in South Jersey, just a one-hour drive from Ocean City on Route 40 in Salem County. Nestled in Pilesgrove near the small community of Woodstown, Cowtown Rodeo is entering its 71st continuous season.
History
It all began with a Western-style ranch located more than 30 miles from Philadelphia, that invited audiences to cheer on the cowboys.
“In 1926, my great grandfather, Howard Harris Sr., started a livestock auction. Back then, New Jersey was the real ‘Garden State,’ and the auction drew a huge number of people,” said Howard Grant Harris, a fourth generation owner of Cowtown Rodeo.
Howard Harris Sr. and his son, Howard “Stoney” Harris Jr., held the first Cowtown Rodeo in 1929 in conjunction with the Salem County Fair.
But the rodeo was put on pause for World War II until 1955 when Howard “Baldy” Harris, Stoney’s son, came back from the University of Idaho carrying the 1954 National Intercollegiate All Around Rodeo Championship saddle. In 1955, the young title-holder devoted his life to bringing Western culture and entertainment to the Mid-Atlantic.
Through each generation – from Baldy to Howard Grant Harris, and today to his daughter Katy and her husband RJ Griscom – the Harris Family has preserved the tradition.
Cowtown Rodeo got famous in the mid-’50s when it was broadcast on television by an ABC affiliate out of Philadelphia. In 1959 and 1960, Cowtown was shown live on Saturday nights around the country.
Fun fact: Did you know that Cowtown’s bull “Playboy” is the official mascot of Merrill Lynch? They filmed the bull in New York City in a commercial for the brand, and even took the bull to a Merrill Lynch convention in Atlantic City.
Cowtown today
Step through the grandstands and you’re greeted with the smell of dust, crisp hay and sizzling burgers from smoke wafting concession stands. You hear the clatter of hooves, the occasional roar of the crowd and the sharp whistle of rodeo clowns guiding the action.
Feel the bare beams vibrate as a bravado-filled bronc lands in the arena. See the sun dip behind the fenced ring – hats pulled low, boots tapping in rhythm with the rodeo beat.
Grab a funnel cake or an ice-cold lemonade while kids line up for pony rides and face painting.
The atmosphere is electric: cotton-candy pink skies, a boisterous announcer and cheering families wrapped in a shared sense of wonder at the rodeo spectacle.
The larger-than-life cowboy and cow statues out front of the 4,000-seat arena let you know you’ve found the legendary Cowtown Rodeo. Every Saturday night from Memorial Day through late September, Cowtown lights up with action-packed rodeo events. Here’s a snapshot of this summer’s must-see highlights:
- Bull Riding
- Steer Wrestling
- Bareback Riding
- Barrel Racing
- Team Roping
- Saddle Bronc Riding
- Tie-Down Roping
- All-Around Cowboy
Make sure the whole family is hungry because Cowtown Rodeo offers plenty of goodies – hot sandwiches, candied nuts, popcorn, cotton candy and more. The Rodeo is BYOB, so pack your favorite adult beverages – just make sure that there are no glass bottles.
Be sure to wear your cowboy/girl couture: boots, hats and buckskin vests. Merchandise tents and other local vendors are available for anyone with an itch to shop.
Cowtown Rodeo offers more than adrenaline; it’s a living classroom, an immersive throwback and a seasonal heartbeat for southern New Jersey.
Whether you’re chasing thrills or traditions, this rodeo delivers grit, grace and the kind of shared moments that linger long after the dust settles.
Round up your loved ones, pack a picnic and trade city lights for bronc bites under an open sky. At Cowtown, summer nights hum with Western rhythm, and every cheer, hoof-step and cowboy grin reminds us why this is America’s longest-running weekly rodeo.
Cowtown Rodeo isn’t just a show – it’s a heritage, an experience and a summer tradition worth preserving. Yee haw and welcome to the West…in Woodstown.
Cowtown Rodeo was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2023 and received the PRCA Small Rodeo of the Year award in 2024.
For more information, tickets and dates/times, visit www.cowtownrodeo.com.
