The Plaza Hotel & Casino hosts Las Vegas Days Rodeo at CORE Arena, Nov. 11-12
Historical exhibits debut, Whiskerino and Mutton Busting return, coloring contest for local students now open
The Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas will again host the Las Vegas Days Rodeo at its outdoor equestrian center, the CORE Arena, on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11-12 starting at 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.). The event will also feature a free Whiskerino contest, Mutton Busting, historical exhibits, and coloring contest for Southern Nevadan children in grades kindergarten through six.
Sponsored by the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial and the Plaza Hotel & Casino, the Las Vegas Days rodeo is fully sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. It will feature bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, breakaway, and bareback riding, with prize purses totaling $40,000 and custom belt buckles for champions. Admission is free but RSVP is recommended online.
In conjunction with the rodeo, the Plaza is again sponsoring a children’s coloring contest. Local students in grades kindergarten through six are encouraged to download, print out and hand color the scene paying homage to the Plaza’s historic address. Electronic coloring is not allowed. All entries need a parent or guardian’s signature to be considered. Entries can be submitted through the Plaza’s website by completing the entry form and uploading a quality photo or scan of the colored page. Submissions are due Thursday, Oct. 27. Winners are notified on Thursday, Nov. 3, and winning artwork will be featured at the rodeo.
Prizes for first, second and third place will be awarded to students in each grade division and their teachers. Prizes will include gift certificates from the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, The Neon Museum, Pop Up Pizza, Uptown Jungle, and more. To enter the contest and for more information, visit https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/las-vegas-days-rodeo/contest/.
The Whiskerino contest returns to the rodeo this year. Free to enter, the contest offers prizes in multiple categories including Longest Beard, Longest Mustache, Best Natural Beard, Worst Beard, and Most Unique. Participants are encouraged to dress in Western attire or early 1900’s period costumes. Registration is open until Oct. 28 on the Plaza’s website. Participants must be present at the rodeo to win.
The Las Vegas Day Rodeo will also feature Mutton Busting for future cowboys and cowgirls. The sheep riding competition is open to children ages 4-10 who weigh less than 60 pounds. The winner gets a commemorative buckle. Registration and details at https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/las-vegas-days-rodeo/mutton-busting/.
Committed to showcasing the history of Las Vegas as an element of the rodeo experience, the Plaza will have a “Then & Now” display of photos of downtown Las Vegas along with western themed exhibits in a tented educational pavilion open to the public near the rodeo ring. Plaza staff will also be in the pavilion asking trivia questions and giving away prizes for correct answers. And in the Plaza’s showroom on the casino floor, there will be special viewings of the documentary “The City of Las Vegas: The Early Years” that was funded by the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial and focuses on the founding and first 20 years of the community (1905-1920) on Friday and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.
About the Plaza Hotel & Casino
Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino combines a vintage Rat Pack attitude with modern styling and personal customer service for the ultimate Vegas experience. First opened in 1971 and built on the site of the original Las Vegas railroad depot, the Plaza has nearly 1,000 modern rooms and suites, a classic Vegas showroom, downtown’s only bingo hall, and 30,000 sq. ft. of refurbished ballroom and meeting space. Larger outdoor events are hosted at the Plaza’s Core Arena, downtown’s only equestrian and multipurpose facility. Guests enjoy a variety of dining options led by the renowned Oscar’s Steakhouse in the hotel’s iconic glass dome overlooking the Fremont Street Experience. A new race & sports book along with hundreds of slot machines and nearly two dozen table games comprise an 80,000-square-foot casino floor. A fully renovated rooftop pool and recreation deck complete with private cabanas, hot tub, food truck, and dedicated Pickleball courts, provide a variety of outdoor amenities. For more information on the multiple award-winning Plaza Hotel & Casino, visit www.plazahotelcasino.com. Get updates via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About the CORE Arena
Located adjacent to the Plaza Hotel & Casino, the CORE Arena is an outdoor equestrian center in downtown Las Vegas. The venue opened in December 2018 with two outdoor arenas for roping practice and exercise and hosting numerous events related to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and Junior NFR. With 80 equine stalls for year-round use, it is easy for rodeo enthusiasts to “kiss their horses goodnight,” knowing their animals will be safe as they enjoy their evening just steps away playing on the casino floor or having a delicious steak dinner at Oscar’s Steakhouse. The CORE Arena is also a multipurpose outdoor event venue with 2,000 seats, enabling the Plaza to host a variety of events – from sporting events to demolition derbies – further diversifying the downtown experience and attracting more business and people to the area all year long. For more details, visit https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/core-arena/.