INDIANTOWN — You know fall has arrived in south Florida when cowboys and cowgirls strap on their gear for Indiantown’s 76th Annual PRCA Rodeo on Oct. 20-21 in the covered arena at Timer Powers Park on Citrus Boulevard.

Gates open at 5 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights. The live events start at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.indiantownchamber.org or at Ticketbud.com. You also can go directly to the ticket page by scanning a QR code on a poster or a social media post. All ticket sales are electronic this year to save patrons that special trip to pick them up at various outlets.

After tickets sold out last year on Saturday night, another change was made this year to enhance rodeo-goers’ Wild West experience and ease over crowding.

An all-new venue was added to the rodeo grounds, the Indiantown Rodeo Beer Garden, where patrons can enjoy live performances by the Tom Jackson Band from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each night as they sip the beer they purchased. They may stay to watch the arena action that follows at 7 p.m. on the Jumbotron and TVs, much like a sports-bar experience, instead of seated in the bleachers.

The rodeo gives spectators a window into traditional ranch activities once needed to tame wild horses and cattle on the range that gave birth to rodeo competitions in the first place. An integral part of American history and culture, the individual events include bull riding, bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, and for the first time, breakaway roping.

All that excitement happens inside the arena under a gentle breeze from industrial ceiling fans beginning at 7 p.m. Brought to you rain or shine by the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, professional cowboys and cowgirls compete in sanctioned events by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association, which set standards for timing, techniques, and proper animal care for competitors to qualify for national rodeo competitions.

Other kinds of excitement are outside the arena. Arrive after the gates open at 5 p.m. on either Friday or Saturday, you’ll have extra family time to hear the sounds of the Tom Jackson Band coming from the Beer Garden as you grab a snack or dinner, be tempted by an array of western attire and jewelry from visiting vendors, and to send your kids through the award-winning Kids Corral — a dozen rodeo-themed, kid-friendly activities for ages 3 through 12.

The Indiantown Rodeo, with Terra Lago and US Sugar as presenting sponsors this year, was selected twice previously by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the top-20 tourist events in the southeastern U.S. Over its 76-year history, the Indiantown Rodeo continues to evolve, educate and entertain as it improves the family-friendly event each season.

Rodeo tickets are QR-code enabled! (And if you don’t know what that means, you’re not alone!) It’s easy. Scan the QR codes on the rodeo posters posted on social media sites or on posters with your mobile phone’s QR Reader app to take you directly to the tickets page.

Or just go to the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce website, www.indiantownchamber.com to click on the rodeo poster, then select the night you want to attend. Just as simple, really.

You’ll be presented with three choices:

General Admission — includes entrance to the grounds and to the rodeo arena:  

Beer Garden: NEW this year and located in a separate area with seating similar to a sports bar with a live band, you can watch the rodeo action on a Jumbotron and other TVs following the performance. A range of beers are available for purchase. 

VIP: The VIP tent is an exclusive experience that includes a delectable, gourmet dinner with the opportunity to purchase top-tier libations for cocktails, beer and wine. The VIP viewing stand offers the most coveted seating inside the arena to view live action and Jumbotron replays.  

Or take your chances on Oct. 20 or Oct. 21 to buy general admission tickets at the gate – if the show is not already sold out!

For more information, check out the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce website at www.indiantownchamber.com, go to Ticketbud.com, email questions to info@indiantownchamber.com, or call 772-597-2184. And dust off those cowboy boots!