Final preparations underway for 83rd Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - With the start of the 83rd Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade now less than a day away, final preparations are taking place today at the Elks Event Center.

Starting at sunrise Tuesday morning, dozens of Elks volunteers, vendors, workers and others involved with the rodeo have been setting up, getting the facility ready for the thousands of visitors that will arrive on Thursday for the start of the four-day event.

As the showtime for the rodeo draws near, Tuesday's final preparations marks the culmination of several months of hard work by the entire Elks Recreation organization.

The rodeo begins Wednesday night with a full night of world class bull riding during the Xtreme Bulls event beginning at 7 p.m.

This marks the second straight year the Elks Rodeo has featured a fifth day of competition following last year's first-ever five-day event, which also included Xtreme Bulls opening on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, the four-day long PRCA rodeo kicks off with the the first day of all-around competition.

The rodeo will begin on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., 6 p.m. on Saturday and close with the final day of action starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade will be held May 27-31 31 at the Elks Event Center, located just off of Santa Maria Way on the east side of Highway 101.

For more information about the rodeo, or to purchase tickets, visit elksrec.com.