Cowboys and cowgirls are set to return to the Foley Horse Arena this week for the 18th annual Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation Professional Rodeo, a three-day event known locally as the “rodeo with a reason.”
The rodeo, presented by South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, runs Thursday through Saturday at the arena off Alabama 59, directly across from the hospital. Organizers expect the event to draw more than 9,000 spectators over the course of the weekend, continuing its status as one of the Eastern Shore’s most anticipated late-summer traditions.
Proceeds benefit the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation and its Peer Helpers programs, which reach more than 30,000 children and teens across Baldwin County. The nonprofit funds and trains peer-to-peer support programs in 46 schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, making the rodeo a significant fundraiser for youth mental health and support services in the region.
Gates open at 7 p.m. each night, giving families time to enjoy a lineup of activities before the professional competition begins at 8 p.m. Kids can take advantage of free horseback rides and a dedicated Kids’ Zone featuring face painting, carnival-style games, a bounce house and a 33-foot inflatable obstacle course. Once the main event kicks off, spectators can watch calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding from professional competitors.
Each night of the rodeo carries its own theme. Thursday is “Hometown Heroes” night, honoring local military members and emergency services personnel. Friday’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night supports breast cancer awareness, with organizers encouraging attendees to wear pink. Saturday closes out the weekend with “School Spirit” night, inviting fans young and old to show support for Baldwin County schools by wearing their team colors.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 4 to 12, with kids 3 and under admitted free. Advance tickets are available at Summerdale Western Store on Highway 59 and at Frances Holk-Jones State Farm Insurance on East Laurel Avenue in Foley, and tickets will also be sold at the gate each night.
Ahead of the main rodeo, a free barrel racing preview is scheduled, featuring local and professional competitors in the Youth 4D and Open 5D categories, with exhibitions starting in the late afternoon followed by the main show in the evening.
For more information on tickets, schedules and the foundation’s youth programs, residents can contact organizers directly through the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation.