Rosalia Battle Days plans rodeo, variety of events

If you’re a redneck, you’ll feel right at home in Rosalia this weekend.

Rosalia Battle Days, featuring the Rosalia Redneck Family Rodeo, along with parades, a car show, fun run, talent show and dances, will begin on Friday and run through Sunday.

Battle Days was launched in 1970 by members of the Odd Fellows Lodge.

The name relates to the Indian War of 1878 when Col. Edward Steptoe was turned back by warriors from a coalition of tribes and made his stand on east hill of Rosalia, now the site of the Steptoe monument.

A special event for this years activities will be a 100-year observance of the dedication of the monument which will follow the Battle Days parade Saturday.

Battle Days was started to raise money for a museum and also to draw people into town after the new Highway 195 route bypassed Rosalia.

A museum now is in city hall. This year marks the festival’s 45th year and is now run by several local groups including the Rosalia Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club and the Battle Days Committee.

This is the first year for the Annual Rosalia Redneck Family Rodeo.

Although a rodeo has been included with Battle Days in years past, this year it’s different, according to Shane Johnson of the Rodeo Association.

He said, through the years, the association has sponsored a pro rodeo, amateur rodeo, bull riding and barrel racing, but he said that it is getting more difficult financially for small clubs to host rodeos.

As association members brainstormed, Johnson said they came up with ideas to host a family-oriented event.

“We want to do something for families to get them to hang around all weekend,” he said.

Johnson said the association sent emails, went on the Rosalia Chamber web site and is on Facebook to invite people to the event.

The rodeo festivities begin Friday night with the Redneck Roadkill Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Rosalia Rodeo Club, it’s $5 per person and the “roadkill” is pulled pork.

Following the dinner, there will be Redneck Put-Put Golf, horseshoes, Redneck Cowboy Polo and then from 9 to 11 p.m., Redneck S’Mores and Story Telling by a campfire.

Events during the Saturday and Sunday rodeo include Wild Steer Riding, Steer Tipping, Calf Hug & Run, Cowkid Hookie Bobb’n, Worm Eating, Goat Dressing, Mud-a-War and Senior Horseshoes with toilet seats used as horseshoes.

“The emphasis is on family time,” Johnson said.

On Saturday night starting at 8 p.m., the association booked the band, “Sunset,” who play old rock songs along with country. The dance will be at the fire station. Admission is $4 per person and $20 for a family.

The family rodeo is sponsored by the Rosalia Rodeo Association and Smith Country Store.

On Friday night there’s a talent show at 6 p.m. at the high school with $2 admission. After the talent show, a teen dance for grades 8-12, will be at the high school.

Saturday Battle Days events begin with the Boy Scout breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the fire station.

The Fun Run sign up is at 7:30 a.m. and starts at 8 a.m.

At 10:30 a.m., the Children’s Parade, with the theme, “It Came From Outer Space,” starts with the main parade beginning at 11 a.m. This year’s parade grand marshal is Ray Bernard.

Members of the Esther Reed chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will conduct a wreath observance marking the 100th year of the dedication of the Steptoe Monument.

Also following the parade, will be a science fair at the Methodist church.

From noon to 1 p.m. is the car show staging along Whitman Ave. Winners will be announced at 3 p.m.

A barbecue lunch, hosted by the Class of 2015, will be served at the fire station from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children’s games also begin at noon as well as a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the school.

On Sunday at 9 a.m., there will be a community church service at the school. After church there is a softball game scheduled at Rosalia City Park. Starting at 10 a.m., Redneck Rodeo events continue.