Pendleton Round-Up falls victim to COVID. Historic rodeo would have marked 110 years

After more than a century of drawing nationwide fans, the Pendleton Round-Up and the Happy Canyon Indian Pageant & Wild West Show join a string of signature events canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The weeklong rodeo held annually the second week of September would have celebrated its 110th year. It would have been the 104th year of the pageant and show.

The Benton Franklin Fair and Horse Heaven Round-up also canceled its annual event earlier this month.

“We are disappointed to announce that current health and safety restrictions preclude us from hosting the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon in our traditional way this summer,” the news release said. “It is disheartening the events will not take place in 2020 for all involved.”

Board members and staff of the event have been meeting weekly since March with various stakeholders and created a comprehensive plan with safety precautions that was submitted to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s office.

“As it has become evidence that the events would not be allowed under the current restrictions ... the best course is to not host the events for 2020,” the release said.

Along with the rodeo and show, all events surrounding the week also will be canceled including parades and concerts.

Dave O’Neill, Round-Up president, said the Pendleton Round-Up routinely brings in 50,000 to 70,000 people, roughly quadrupling the size of the rural community, the Capital Press reported.

Refunds are being offered for tickets bought through the rodeo’s tickets office or pendletonroundup.com. Purchases made by card will be refunded to the original payment method and checks will be mailed to those who paid with cash.

All ticketholders who have not requested a refund by Aug. 31 will have their tickets rolled over to the 2021 events. New tickets will be mailed to replace tickets that already have been mailed, with old tickets being deactivated. Information will be sent out by Dec. 31.

For more information go to, pendletonroundup.com.

This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 11:11 AM.