Category: events

When: Friday–Sunday, July 25–27, 2026

Where: Willow Creek Rodeo Grounds & Fairgrounds

“Where the dirt flies, the ribs smoke, and everyone’s boots get properly muddy.”

Friday Night – Boot Stompin’ Kickoff

• 6:00 PM: Gates open with a Junior Rodeo (calf roping, barrel racing, and mutton bustin’ for the kids)
• 7:30 PM: All-you-can-eat Smoked Brisket & Rib Feed (sponsored by the local 4-H and three competing BBQ teams)
• 8:30 PM: Live country music with The Haywire Band + mechanical bull riding (with prizes for longest ride)

Saturday – Main Rodeo Day

• All day:
  • Professional rodeo events: Bull riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping
  • Kids’ petting zoo & pony rides
  • Vendor row with handmade leather goods, cowboy hats, fresh lemonade, and kettle corn
  • Water balloon toss & watermelon seed spitting contest
• 11:00 AM: Biggest Watermelon Contest (weigh-ins and judging)
• 2:00 PM: Tractor Parade through town (decorated tractors, antique farm equipment, kids on mini tractors)
• 4:00 PM: Muddy Boot Obstacle Course (for adults and teens – expect lots of laughter and dirty clothes)
• 7:00 PM: Evening rodeo finals + fireworks
• 9:00 PM: Dance under the stars with a DJ spinning classic country and line dancing

Sunday – Family & Recovery Day

• Morning: Pancake breakfast cooked on giant griddles
• 10:00 AM: Church service at the rodeo arena (on hay bales)
• Afternoon: Horseback riding demos, roping clinics, and a “Meet the Rodeo Stock” area
• 3:00 PM: Pie Auction (proceeds go to the local volunteer fire department)
• 5:00 PM: Closing ceremony with awards and a “Thank You Farmers & Cowboys” speech

Special Features

• Free admission for anyone wearing cowboy boots or a cowboy hat
• “Muddy Boot Club” – get your boots stamped after completing the obstacle course for a free drink ticket
• Family-friendly during the day, livelier at night
• Camping spots available on the fairgrounds for the full weekend experience

Theme: “From Dirt to Dancefloor”

“Celebrating the last big harvest before the frost hits — one pie, one tractor pull, and one two-step at a time.”

Friday Night – Kickoff

• 5:00 PM: Grand Opening Parade down Main Street (tractors, antique trucks, kids on ponies, the high school marching band playing country hits)
• 6:30 PM: Pig Roast & Potluck Supper (bring a dish, get a free sweet tea)
• 8:00 PM: Live music with The Rusty Silos (local bluegrass band) + square dancing lessons in the big barn

Saturday – Full Farm Frenzy

• All day:
  • Giant Corn Maze (new this year — “The Great Maze of ’26”)
  • Petting zoo with baby goats, miniature donkeys, and a surprisingly friendly llama named Kevin
  • Fresh produce & craft market (pumpkins, apples, honey, handmade quilts, jarred preserves)
  • Kids’ activities: sack races, face painting, hay-jumping pit
• 10:00 AM: World-Famous Pie Eating Contest (blueberry, apple, and the dreaded “Mystery Pie”)
• 1:00 PM: Tractor Pull Competition (classes for stock, modified, and the ridiculous “Big Tire” class)
• 4:00 PM: Cow Patty Bingo on the baseball field (yes, it’s exactly what you think)
• 7:00 PM: Bonfire, s’mores, and storytelling with Old Man Harlan (town’s 92-year-old farmer who still drives his 1948 Ford)
• 8:30 PM: Fireworks over the cornfields

Sunday – Family & Faith Day

• Morning church service at the outdoor pavilion (hay bales for pews)
• 11:00 AM: Best Scarecrow Contest judging
• Afternoon: Horse-drawn hayrides, cider pressing demo, and a “Guess the Pumpkin Weight” booth
• 5:00 PM: Closing “Thank You Farmers” ceremony with free ice cream for everyone

Special Touches

• Every ticket includes a free “I Survived the Willow Creek Corn Maze” sticker
• Local 4-H kids get free admission if they bring something they grew
• Cash-only food vendors (because the town still runs that way)
• Designated “Designated Driver” horse & buggy service back to the campground

Do you have a story to share?

A tale from your family business or Monticello history? Memories can shared across the ages, honoring 250 years of America!

Register:
Message [email protected] or call 319-465-6640 ext. 2 to take part in our evening of storytelling. Interested storytellers will have five minutes to tell their story.

Attend:
Join us on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 6:30 – 7:30 at the Monticello Heritage Center

Additional Information:
This event is co-hosted by The City of Monticello Parks and Recreation Department and the Monticello Cultural and Heritage Center.