BPIR brings Juneteenth rodeo weekend to Fort Worth

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo returns to Cowtown Coliseum on June 19-20 with a Juneteenth celebration that blends rodeo competition, Black Western heritage, wellness programming and Soul Country Music Star. The Fort Worth events also launch BPIR's Texas Connection Series residency and include Buffalo Soldiers exhibits, youth events and two main rodeo performances.

Why it matters: - The Juneteenth weekend is designed to spotlight Black cowboys, cowgirls and other Black Western figures whose contributions shaped the American West. - The Fort Worth event combines cultural celebration with community wellness, making the rodeo a broader civic and educational gathering. - BPIR is using the weekend to advance its national “Riding Across America for Community Health” initiative.

What happened: - Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo returns to Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth on June 19 and 20 for a special Juneteenth edition of the BPIR Soul Country Rodeo Experience. - The event is part of the 2026 Texas Connection Series residency in the Fort Worth Stockyards. - The Dallas County Buffalo Soldiers will take part in opening ceremonies at both performances. - The Buffalo Soldiers will also host a special exhibit with historical artifacts. - The Soul Country Rodeo Experience begins Friday, June 19, with the Fort Worth regional competition for Soul Country Music Star. - Saturday, June 20, features a VIP brunch, health fair and two rodeo performances.

The details: - Soul Country Music Star is a national country music competition and showcase focused on Black country artists. - Regional winners from cities across the country advance to the national finals. - The national winner receives a $10,000 grand prize, additional prizes and a chance to tour with BPIR during the 2027 season. - Tickets and artist registration information for regional Soul Country Music Star competitions are available at soulcountrymusic.com. - The Saturday VIP Brunch is presented by NOWINCLUDED, powered by Acclinate, with celebrity moderator Trisha Mann Grant, star of Beyond the Gates. - The brunch centers on community, connection and lupus awareness. - The day starts with a health fair featuring local organizations and wellness resources focused on women’s health, hair and skin, and lupus. - The rodeo performances begin at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Scheduled events include ranch bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, ladies steer undecorating, barrel racing, breakaway roping, relay racing and bull riding. - Youth events include junior breakaway roping, junior barrels and pee wee barrels. - BPIR President and CEO Valeria Howard Cunningham said Juneteenth is a chance to honor Black cowboys and cowgirls whose stories were often left out of history. - Cunningham said the holiday is also a time to ensure future generations know their history and create new stories of their own.

Between the lines: - BPIR is positioning the rodeo as both entertainment and preservation of Black Western history. - The wellness and health-advocacy programming broadens the audience beyond rodeo fans and adds a community-service angle. - The Soul Country Music Star competition extends BPIR's platform into Black country music, linking Western heritage with contemporary Black artistry.

What's next: - Two more Texas Connection Series dates are set for Cowtown Coliseum: Aug. 15 with “Unity in Every Ride, Family in Every Heart” and Oct. 17 with the Texas Buckle Series Championships. - Tickets for the 2026 BPIR Texas Connection Series are on sale now. - Families, schools, youth groups and community organizations are encouraged to book early for preferred seating and group packages. - Tickets and show information are available at billpickettrodeo.com, the Cowtown Coliseum box office, cowtowncoliseum.com and AXS. - Sponsorship, partnership and vendor inquiries can be sent to mladrew@billpickettrodeo.com.

The bottom line: - BPIR's Fort Worth Juneteenth weekend is built as a multi-part celebration of Black heritage, rodeo competition, music and health outreach in one of Texas' most historic Western venues.