Mount Isa Rodeo changes forever for town’s 100th year

The Mount Isa rodeo has expanded into a nine-day festival on the eve of ticket sales opening. See what’s changed.

Liana Woodsbey (17) from Mount Isa, with Tyler Morton (13) and Jacy Morton (14) from Longreach. The three all have their eyes set on competing at this year’s Mount Isa Mines Festival in August.

After a record-breaking 2022, which saw the highest ever purse of $300,000 and the staging of the first ever Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships, the legendary Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is becoming a festival.

Mount Isa Rodeo is already the third largest rodeo in the world, and the expansion to a festival takes it one step higher.

Isa Rodeo Limited CEO Natalie Flecker said it was fitting the first Mount Isa Rodeo “Festival” be staged in 2023.

“This year Mount Isa marks its 100th anniversary, and for 64 of those years, the rodeo has been a highlight; a major event that brings together the city, the region and more recently, the country,” Ms Flecker said.

“Announcing the Mount Isa Rodeo Festival is exciting, because it features not only what happens in the famous Red Dirt Arena, but all the other events through the week on offer to locals and visitors including the Bell and Moir Toyota Rodeo Arena Ball which raises important funds for local charities, the Hall of Fame program, the Indigenous Rodeo Championships and our incredible entertainment line-up.”

Acts at the festival include Jessica Mauboy, The Angels, The Screaming Jets, O’SHEA and Luke Geiger.

The festival will kick off on August 5 with the Bell and Moir Toyota Rodeo Arena Ball, described as a “country hoedown”.

It’ll conclude on August 13 with the rodeo itself.

Tickets for the Rodeo festival go on sale May 7, Monday.

Originally published as Mount Isa Rodeo changes forever for town’s 100th year