The 81^st Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade dates for 2024 will be Thursday, May 30-Sunday, June 2, the Elks Recreation Board of Directors has announced.

Elks Rodeo activities started Saturday, April 6 with the Queen Kickoff Dinner and Auction where four young ladies will begin competing for their quest for the Elks Rodeo Queen title through various fundraiser efforts for their sponsoring organization.

Fans can expect to experience all other rodeo traditions including the Elks Rodeo Parade held on Saturday, June 1.

The Elks Recreation Board of Directors thanks the community for its continued support and they are certain you can expect to enjoy another world class rodeo.

Visit the website at www.elksrec.com or the Elks Rodeo Facebook page for up-to-date rodeo information. For more, contact the rodeo office, 805-925-4125.

The Elks Recreation Foundation was established in 1943 when it held its first fundraising event, a dance at the Veteran’s Memorial Building. The funds raised from that event were used to stage the first Elks Rodeo in 1944.

The initial two-day event was preceded each day by a mounted parade from the Vet’s Memorial Building to the Santa Maria Fairgrounds. The first rodeo netted Elks Recreation nearly $3,000, and a long history of fundraising to support local youth sports and recreation was born.

Since that time, more than $15 million has been distributed to local youth recreation programs through the Annual Elks Rodeo Queen Contest.