Yeehaw! Buckeye Days to celebrate city’s Old West beginnings

PHOENIX – The West Valley city of Buckeye is throwing a party later this month to celebrate its history with a cattle drive parade, a rodeo and more, officials announced Tuesday.

Buckeye Days will run Jan. 28-30 on the downtown streets, with varying admission prices.

The weekend festivities start Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. with a barbecue dinner that includes live music and a raffle to benefit the two libraries. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for ages 10 and younger.

The next day, festivalgoers can watch a herd of cattle clop down Monroe Avenue during the annual parade at 9:30 a.m.

A Wild West show follows at the Sixth Street Plaza. Performances include trick roping and trick horse riding.

The Helzapoppin’ Senior Pro Rodeo will kick off at 2 p.m. at the South Buckeye Equestrian Center at Miller and Hazen roads.

Tickets to are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and veterans and free for ages under 12.

The Western Steak Cookout is also scheduled that Saturday at the equestrian center. The event is set for 5 p.m.-9 p.m. and features live music and an auction. Proceeds of the auction will go toward high school scholarships.

Buckeye Days closes Jan. 30 with another day of the Helzapoppin’ Senior Pro Rodeo at noon at the equestrian center. Tikets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and veterans and free for ages under 12.

More information is available at the city’s event page online.

Buckeye was settled in the late 1880s and was incorporated in 1929, according to city history.

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