Chinchilla Melon Fest 2025: 3500 expected at Melon Rodeo

Dozens of bull riders will put on a show this Friday at the biennial Melon Rodeo, an event which kicks off an exciting weekend of celebrations for Chinchilla.

Cowboy hats and mullets arrived in droves as the Chinchilla Melon Festival kicked off with the Melon Rodeo for 2023. Picture: Emily Devon

Organisers are gearing up for Chinchilla’s beloved biennial rodeo which will help kick off the celebrations for Melon Fest 2025.

The Melon Rodeo, which starts at 2pm on Friday, will feature bulls, broncs, barrels, mini bulls for the kids, food and live music and will draw in crowds from across Queensland.

Chinchilla Rodeo Committee president Darryl Chong said the event was not to be missed.

“We’ve got $20,000 in prize money, we’ve got good nominations, some of the best cowboys in Australia coming to compete and we are looking at a sell out crowd with about 3500 people,” he said.

“Melon Fest is running every two years so we align with that, we already have 50 campers at the showground booked so we are expecting a big night.

“We run our full rodeo in May with all the timed events and we expect a really big one for that, this one we call the four Bs for the Bulls, Barrels, Broncs and Bareback and we limit it to the four main events so it's a bit smaller than our May show.

“Also because there isn’t a public holiday on Monday we typically get a few less, but we are still expecting big crowds.”

Chinchilla Rodeo vice president Kristen Chong (left), Jack Holt Memorial Open bull riding champion Jack McArthur from Cooyar and Chinchilla Rodeo president Darryl Chong.

Mr Chong said the who’s who of rodeo stars would be at the event as well as plenty of young talented bull riders on display

“It's unbelievable, within the last 12 months we have put ourselves up there with some of the best events in South East Queensland and I think this one will top it with the crowd and the atmosphere on the night,” he said.

“We’ve got people coming from all over Queensland, we’ve got riders coming from Rockhampton and Mackay, we’ve got two times Australian champion Greg Hamilton for the bronc ride, Ben Bode who is in the top 5 of the PBR will be there as well seven times national rodeo champion Jack McArthur, we’ve got some really great riders.

“The nominations have been pouring in, we have 30 open bullriders, 40 novice and 30 juniors riders, you don't see those sort of entries these days, bull riding has really thinned out and they’re huge numbers.”

Mr Chong said the event would also inject money into Chinchilla and the surrounding areas.

“It’s great, the town benefits from it, a lot of the young guys will hang around spend money in the town then head down to the pubs, the town definitely benefits from it,” he said.

“It's a great family night, you can come as a family, you can be young or older and come and enjoy the after-party and the band, it's an event for everyone.”

Tickets can be purchased via the Chinchilla Rodeo Facebook or at the gate, $25 for adults and $15 for children and concession.