Countdown winding down to much-anticipated 80th Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- The much-anticipated 80th Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade is quickly approaching as the countdown to the start of the popular event is now less than two days away.

"We are so excited because the trailers are pulling in, the rodeo celebrities are pulling in and the excitement is mounting," said rodeo spokeswoman Johnna McGuire. "It's here. We are just a couple of days away."

A longtime Santa Maria tradition, the Elks Rodeo kicks off its historic 80th year on Thursday night with the first of four performances at the Elks Unocal Event Center.

"Celebrating 80 is just so historical and epic for us," said McGuire. "We're just so excited. It really is that one event that not only kicks off the summer, but the whole community comes out and celebrates. They come together. They give back. The Queen Contest. There's so much that goes into rodeo and it really is an opportunity for our community to come together and come celebrate."

The Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade will take place June 1-4, with Thursday and Friday night performances starting at 7 p.m.

Santa Maria is all about, and the truth is, they love it," said Clark. "We have one of the largest viewing audiences on the livestream and the live broadcast, including internationally, so everyone is getting a glimpse of Santa Maria, and there's something special and nostalgic about it, and actually after the last few years, it feels like home to so many people."

For fans unable to attend the performances, the rodeo will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel.

The televised broadcast will provide Santa Maria with invaluable worldwide exposure.

"As our rodeo has really built a reputation and gotten attention from that world, the folks that really do rodeos nationally and internationally, it really builds the reputation of our community in general," said Glenn Morris, Santa Maria Valley Chamber CEO. "People are seeing Santa Maria on the Wrangler Network or The Cowboy Channel and they're learning a little about us, and maybe the next time they're looking for a place to spend a long weekend, they think about us."

The Saturday performance is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., while the rodeo concludes with a Sunday afternoon performance beginning at 2 p.m.

For tickets or more information, visit elksrec.com.

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