New Classic Albemarle Pro Rodeo 2026
Two nights of bareback, bronc and bull riding, roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing under the roof of the Farm Bureau Livestock Arena in Albemarle.
Photo: Cgoodwin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (representative rodeo photo, not this event)
Eight events. One arena. Every ride is eight seconds or less.
Pro rodeo splits into rough stock events, where riders try to stay aboard a bucking animal, and timed events, where the fastest clean run wins. Tap any card to flip it.
Event descriptions explain how each event generally works in pro rodeo; the producer sets the order and rules on the night. Listed events: New Classic Pro Rodeo and event listings for 2026.
Can you make the eight-second whistle?
Riders have to stay aboard for eight seconds to earn a score. Press and hold the button and let go when you think eight seconds are up — no peeking at a clock.
Your time will appear here.
A perfect ride is 100 points.
In the rough-stock events, judges typically score both athletes: up to 50 points for the rider’s control and spurring, and up to 50 for how hard the animal bucks. A great animal helps a great score.
- 90+ legendary
- 80s money ride
- 70s solid
- No score bucked off or touched with free hand
How the evening runs.
- Gates openBring cash. Find seats early; Saturday is usually the bigger crowd.
- Grab dinnerEat in Albemarle first — see where to eat — or check for vendors at the arena.
- Rodeo beginsGrand entry and the first event. The producer sets the order of the eight events.
- Final rideCounty listings show the rodeo wrapping up around 9:30.
Dust, speed and eight-second rides.
Representative photos from other rodeos, used under their licenses. Have photos from this year’s Albemarle rodeo? Share them with us.
Stanly County Farm Bureau Livestock Arena
The county’s covered arena sits directly behind the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center off NC 24-27 at Newt Road, east of downtown Albemarle. It opened in August 2024 with a 120-by-200-foot covered riding area, a 7,500-square-foot exhibit hall, a video wall and a new sound system — which is why the rodeo runs rain or shine.
- Address: 26130 Newt Rd., Albemarle, NC 28001
- Arena phone: 704-986-3666
- Ticket & vendor line: 864-395-9154
- Organizer email: newclassicprorodeo@gmail.com
What to bring.
You’re rodeo-ready. See you at the gate.
Three years in Albemarle.
- 2024The first New Classic Albemarle Pro Rodeo runs in late October, in the new arena’s first season.
- 2025The second edition returns in October; general admission was $20.
- 2026Third annual, Oct. 23–24, $25 at the gate. The producer says Albemarle has twice been named an SRA “Top 5 Rodeo of the Year.”
Produced by New Classic Pro Rodeo of Woodleaf, N.C. (Lane Scruggs and Cydney Graham). The award claim comes from the producer.
More happening in Stanly County.
Full events calendar → · Hotels near Albemarle · Restaurants in Albemarle · This week’s picks
Albemarle rodeo: quick answers.
How much are tickets and where do I buy them?
Tickets are $25 per person, cash only, sold at the gate both nights. Children 5 and under get in free. There are no online or advance sales, according to the organizer’s 2026 listings.
What time does the rodeo start?
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24. The county calendar lists it running until about 9:30 p.m.
Where is the Albemarle rodeo?
At the Stanly County Farm Bureau Livestock Arena, 26130 Newt Rd., Albemarle, NC 28001, behind the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center near NC 24-27.
Is the arena covered? What if it rains?
Yes. The arena is covered, and the rodeo is listed as rain or shine.
What events are on the program?
Bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, team roping and cowgirls barrel racing.
Who sanctions and produces the rodeo?
It is sanctioned by the Southern Rodeo Association and the International Professional Rodeo Association (SRA/IPRA) and produced by New Classic Pro Rodeo of Woodleaf, N.C. For questions call 864-395-9154.
