Jasper will take on a distinctively ranch flavour from August 11 to 15 with the return of the Jasper Heritage Rodeo. The rodeo is the only such event held in a National Park, and many of the events will take place at the Jasper Activity Centre.

Mountain Park Lodges will host the annual rodeo kick-off, with a barbecue on August 11 at the Pyramid Riding Stables. Live music will be featured. The following night, the Jasper Grizzlies Girls hockey team will host the annual rodeo barbecue in the parking lot across from the CIBC bank from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The cowboys and bull riders hit the Jasper Activity Centre on August 13 for family night at the rodeo, and will do it all again on August 15 in pink as part of a breast cancer fundraiser. The Jasper fire department will  hold a pancake breakfast fundraiser during the rodeo as well.

For more information about the rodeo, visit www.jasperheritagerodeo.com. 

Those who can’t wait for the Jasper Heritage Rodeo can buzz up to Hinton this weekend to check out the Hinton Mary Reimer Memorial Rodeo. Festivities kick off on July 31 at Mary Reimer Memorial Park with packhorse races, double barrels and a family dance. Saturday will include bull riding, the saddle bronc, team roping, bareback riding, wild cow milking competitions, and more. Friday is family night, and Sunday culminates with a freestyle motorcross event.