What the Angola Prison Rodeo Is
The Angola Prison Rodeo, billed as "The Wildest Show in the South," puts incarcerated cowboys in the arena at the Louisiana State Penitentiary for a full afternoon of rodeo events, crafts and food. The Louisiana Department of Corrections runs it, and the rodeo and hobbycraft proceeds fund educational, vocational and recreational programs for incarcerated individuals. The 2026 spring rodeo was the 60th anniversary edition, part of an event that has drawn visitors from across the region for six decades.
The prison holds rodeos on one weekend in April and on every Sunday in October. This page covers the spring weekend.
The Most Recent Spring Edition
The most recent spring rodeo was held April 18 and 19, 2026. Gates opened at 8:00 a.m. both days and the arena events started at 2:00 p.m. General admission was $20 per person, per day. The Saturday rodeo sold out, and about 2,700 Sunday rodeo tickets remained in the weeks before the show. The Department advised arriving early to avoid long waits and said it cannot guarantee tickets bought from third-party vendors. Dates for the next spring weekend will be posted on angolarodeo.com.
The Rodeo Events, in Program Order
- Grand Entry: riders enter at full gallop and the colors are presented.
- Bust Out: six inmate cowboys try to stay on bulls released from the chutes.
- Bareback Riding: riders must stay on the horse for eight seconds.
- Wild Horse Race: three-man teams grab a rope on a loose horse and try to mount it.
- Barrel Racing: the only event without inmate participants; the fastest time wins.
- Bull-Dogging: two cowboys wrestle a steer to the ground as fast as possible.
- Chariot Race: a newer event, added in 2014, in which a rider on a sled tries not to spill water.
- Wild Cow Milking: inmate teams try to bring milk to the judge first.
- Bull Riding: riders must last six seconds on a 2,000-pound Brahma bull.
- Convict Poker: four players stay seated at a table while a bull is released.
- Guts and Glory: the finale, where riders try to grab a chip tied between a bull's horns.
Beyond the Arena
- Live music, arts and crafts booths and carnival games.
- Kids' attractions including pony rides and an antique carousel.
- The Hobbycraft sale: handmade jewelry, leather goods, furniture, woodworking, barbecue pits, toys and paintings made by incarcerated individuals. Craft sellers accept cash and major credit cards.
- Concession stands, which are cash only. An ATM is on site.
Barrel Racing Entries
Women who want to enter the barrel racing event sign up by phone with Melanie Barton at (225) 655-2270 during the week before the rodeo. Entry books close at noon on the Friday before. If you have signed up but cannot attend, let her know by noon that Friday.
Rules for Visitors
- Smoking is prohibited.
- Outside food, drinks and ice chests are not allowed.
- Clear or transparent bags are allowed but are subject to search.
- Only credentialed media with official passes may enter, and they must be accompanied by a prison tour guide at all times.
Where
Louisiana State Penitentiary, 17544 Tunica Trace, Angola, LA 70712.
Questions
What time do I need to arrive?
Gates open at 8:00 a.m. and the rodeo begins at 2:00 p.m.
Can I bring a cooler?
No. Outside food, drinks and ice chests are not allowed.
Do the stands take cards?
Concessions are cash only. Hobbycraft purchases accept cash and major credit cards.
Who do I call?
(225) 655-2030 or (225) 655-2607, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Official Links
- Angola Rodeo events page: program order, hours, barrel racing sign-up
- Angola to Host 60th Spring Rodeo: Department of Corrections release
- 2026 spring rodeo dates announcement
- Angola Prison Rodeo 2026 details: tickets, hobbycraft sale and rules
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- West Feliciana 4-H and Feliciana Livestock Club Livestock Show
Youth show for rabbits, poultry, cattle, sheep, goats and hogs, starting Friday at 4:30 p.m. and continuing Saturday at 8 a.m.; held January 16-17, 2026 alongside the 4-H Mini Farm day for local schools.
St. Francisville, LA | 225-635-3614 | Organizer: Feliciana Livestock Club Official event details - Angola Spring Rodeo and Arts and Crafts Festival
Rodeo founded in 1964 with an accompanying arts and crafts festival near St. Francisville; the most recent dates were April 18-19, 2026.
St. Francisville, LA | Organizer: Louisiana State Penitentiary Official event details - Angola Prison Rodeo (October)
Inmate cowboys compete in the Angola Prison Rodeo on every Sunday in October at the state penitentiary. Gates open at 8 AM and the rodeo begins at 2 PM; the 2026 run began October 4.
- State Fair of Louisiana
The 120th State Fair of Louisiana fills the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport for eighteen days, with livestock shows, midway rides and food. The fair has run since 1906.
3701 Hudson Ave., Shreveport, LA 71109 | Organizer: State Fair of Louisiana Official event details - Allen Parish Fair
Four-day parish fair at the Allen Parish Fairgrounds on Tiger Lane in Oberlin, with general and agricultural exhibits. Held each year; the 2025 fair ran Nov. 12-15 and the 2026 fair is set for Nov. 11-14.
Tiger Lane, Oberlin, LA 70655 Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.