Five days of rodeo action in Santa Maria will begin with a while bunch of bull.

The 82nd Santa Maria Elks Rodeo this week includes a new day and event — the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls featuring nothing but bull riding for the competition in the arena Wednesday. 

“It’s just going to be great to have a whole night of bull riding,” said Johnna McGuire, Elks Rodeo media director.

The following four days will see a full slate of rodeo completion taking place in the arena.

Tickets remain available for the Xtreme Bulls event. 

“But they’re really strong,” McGuire said. “For a first night event we’re feeling really good about it.” 

Tickets also remain available for three of the four rodeo performances with midway tickets  only remaining for Friday. 

Gates will open at 5 p.m. with action beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

On Saturday, gates open at 4 p.m. with action at 6 p.m. while Sunday’s starts at 2 p.m. with gates opening at noon. 

In addition to bull riding, the four days will include tie-down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, team roping, and bareback riding, WPRA events of barrel racing and Breakaway roping). 

Also planned are community events of junior breakaway roping, Elks team roping, and mutton bustin’.

Not all the competition takes place in the arena. The Central Coast Kids Got Talent will take place at 5:15 p.m. Thursday on the Midway Stage. 

During Friday night’s performance, the 2025 Elks Rodeo Queen will be crowned from a  field of four candidates seeking to follow the 2024 Queen Tori Ortiz, sponsored by VTC Enterprises. 

Returning for 2025 are the Guadalupe Kiwanis Club with candidate Bethany Gamino, a junior at Pioneer Valley High School, and St. Joseph High School with candidate Rylee McGinley, a senior at the school.

Newcomers for this year’s contest are the Santa Maria High School Saints Football Boosters represented by senior Brianna Hill plus Children’s Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County with candidate Samantha McDonald, a Righetti High senior who graduated last week from Allan Hancock College.

Since April, the quartet and their committees have held various events to raise funds to capture the title. 

Funds raised by the Elks Rodeo Queen Contest have provided millions for dollars for youth recreation and other programs. 

The new queen’s first duty will occur hours later when she rides in the Elks Rodeo Parade with her court. 

The parade with the theme of Western Americana, will travel south on Broadway from Mill Street to Enos Drive, starting at 10 a.m. with 130 entries.

Former mayor Larry Lavagnino, who was recently recognized with a dedication at the Santa Maria Post Office has been named grand marshal.

St. Joseph High School senior Maddox Hageman has been named junior grand marshal. 

San Luis Obispo County avocado grower Matt Warren, from “Farmer Wants a Wife,” will ride as the Star of the Parade.

Several awards will be handed out including for best overall float, best musical unit, best community entry, best mounted group and best youth entry along with the most outstanding equestrian individual.

For more about the rodeo and to purchase tickets go to www.elksrec.com.