Let's rodeo, Rice!
Saddle up and join the fun at the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
March 2-22, 2026
Rice alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends are invited to participate in these and other fun Rodeo Houston activities:
Friday, Feb. 27
Go Texan Day
8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Academic Quad
Dust off your cowboy hat and boots and dress in your Western best on campus as our city welcomes the arrival of rodeo trail riders and the official beginning of the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! The High Order of Owl Tailgating Society (HOOTS) will be selling breakfast tacos for $2 each to benefit the HOOTS scholarship fund and Staff Council will sponsor a photo op with Sammy the Owl. Feb. 27 is also the last date for on-campus purchases of half-price carnival packs, barbecue tickets, adult and children admission tickets and food discount cards*.
Saturday, Feb. 28
At 9 a.m., the 2026 Rodeo Run will feature 5K and 10K walk, run and wheelchair events. Register today!
At 10 a.m., bring the family and come see this annual Houston tradition, live and free of charge.
(Saturday February 28 is also the last chance to purchase half-price carnival packs, barbecue tickets, adult and children admission tickets and food discount cards online at bit.ly/rice-hlsr-carnival-tix).
Tuesday, March 10
Rice Night at the Rodeo
6:45 p.m. Grand Entry Begins
9:05 p.m. Musical Performance begins
Join us for Rice Night at the Rodeo and cheer President DesRoches, Sammy the Owl and other Rice notables as they ride out into NRG Stadium for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's Grand Entry!
Individual tickets in two designated seating sections initially reserved for Rice students, alumni, employees and friends were available for presale through January 8. At the conclusion of that special offer, sales in those sections were opened to the general public; tickets may still be available through the Houston Rodeo web site or from ticket resellers. The tickets for the previous special seating offer were located in sections 517 and 518 of NRG Stadium, with accessible seating available in Section 517.
*Half-price carnival packs, barbecue tickets, adult and children admission tickets and season passes and discount food cards are available to purchase on campus through Feb. 27, 2026, or online at https://apps.rodeohouston.com/CarnivalTickets/ through Saturday, Feb. 28. Contact Tracey Rhoades at extension 6762 or send an email to rhoades@rice.edu with any questions.
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