The crowd cheers as a rider clad in Western gear thunders his horse over the dirt floor of the stadium, gracefully casting a lasso to loop in a calf. Minutes later, a trick rider smiles brilliantly before she elicits gasps by dangling vertically in her saddle. This showmanship has been going on for more than 100 years on the turf of the Cowstown Coliseum](http://gr.pn/PrZFzb), where Stockyards Championship Rodeo holds its Western-style rodeo events.

Though trick riding, roping, and bull riding are the stars of the Fodor's-recommended show, cowboy culture can be found throughout the stadium. Live country-western music provides the soundtrack, and occasional visits from singing cowboys or beat-boxing bulls add an air of spectacle to the events. Even the panel of judges gets into the spirit by wearing cowboy hats.