EVANSTON — Evanston’s 83rd annual Cowboy Days festivities kick off on Friday, Aug. 30, bringing the customary rodeos and assorted activities to the Uinta County Fairgrounds, along with the annual downtown parade and Rotary pancake breakfast. 

Prior to the festivities opening at the fairgrounds at 4 p.m. on Friday, Cowboy Days royalty will be making stops for autograph signing at various Evanston locations. At 6 p.m. the fun will really get underway with the Rocky Mountain region Junior World Finals Qualifier Mini-Bull Rodeo, followed by a dance at 8 p.m.

Fairgrounds open again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning with various entertainment, the special needs rodeo at 10 a.m., and the perennial favorite kids’ fish catch at 1 p.m. Saturday evening’s PRCA rodeo begins at 6 p.m. and will feature the finals of the Rich/Uinta County Team Roping Series. 

Sunday events include cowboy church at the fairgrounds at 11 a.m., dummy roping at 11:30 a.m. and the annual veterans’ ceremony at noon. Sunday’s PRCA rodeo will also begin at 6 p.m. 

The Rotary pancake breakfast will return to Depot Square starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, followed by the annual Labor Day parade downtown at 10 a.m. Cost for the breakfast is $7 per person and kids under six are free. The theme for this year’s parade is “Where Legends are Made.” The Power Wheels demolition derby starts at the fairgrounds at noon, with Monday’s closing rodeo at 2 p.m. 

Randee Munns returns to Cowboy Days as this year’s rodeo funny man, with announcer Reed Flake. Singer Brody Fitch will be performing at various times throughout the weekend. 

Kids’ mutton busting will take place at the Saturday, Sunday and Monday rodeos, for kids ages 3-8. Waiver forms are available only at evanstoncowboydays.com. 

Tickets for all rodeos will be available at the gate. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 6-12 and seniors 60-plus. Kids five and under are free.