Pendleton Round-Up

A Tradition For More Than 100 Years

The famous Pendleton Round-Up attracts more than 60,000 visitors to northeast Oregon every September. 

The Round-Up started in 1910 and has grown to be a days-long celebration with a full slate of fun events including parades, vendor booths, and performances. At the heart of everything is the Round-Up Rodeo, one of the largest outdoor rodeos in the world (see below).

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation hosts a grand tribal village, featuring hundreds of teepes, Native American dance competitions, crafts, and the Junior Indian Beauty Pageant.

The Happy Canyon Night Show is an Old West performance depicting the Native Americans who first lived in this area; Oregon Trail pioneers; and the wild frontier days. 

One of the most spectacular parts of Round-Up is the Westward Ho! Parade. A celebration of the old days, this parade features covered wagons, Native Americans in ceremonial dress, and marching bands. Motorized vehicles are prohibited, giving this large parade a small-town feel. 

Please note that Pendleton’s main street is closed to vehicles during Round-Up Week. 

Header image: via Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0]