- Home
- >>Sports
- >>Rodeo
- >>National Finals Rodeo
National Finals Rodeo
Expanded Cowboy Christmas hopes to draw more people this year
BySean Hemmersmeier/Las Vegas Review-Journal
December 4, 2023 - 3:30 pm
Updated December 6, 2023 - 7:10 pm
Rick Bishop, right, co-owner of Western Tradition hats and hat accessories, uses steam to shape a hat at his booth during Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Shoppers browse booths during Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Cowboy Christmas is going to be bigger than ever as the gift show expands its square footage, and organizers hope the extra space will accommodate even larger crowds.
The Western-themed gift show runs during the National Finals Rodeo starting Thursday and continuing through Dec. 16. The retail space is open each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The decision was made to still open the event on Thursday, despite the first go-round of the NFR, scheduled for Thursday night, being canceled after UNLV’s campus shooting on Wednesday.
Cowboy Christmas is expanding by about 300,000 square feet into both the South Hall and Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, bringing the total size of the show to roughly 700,000 square feet, said Bo Gardner, vice president of corporate marketing for Las Vegas Events, which organizes the gift show. Last year the event was only held in the South Hall.
“It’s time to grow and expand,” he said.
Cowboy Christmas attracted 280,000 visitors last year, and organizers expect as many as 300,000 people this year, Gardner said.
“With the additional space and parking space, we think it’ll be a better experience for our fans,” he added.
The expansion will accommodate several of the entertainment aspects of Cowboy Christmas, including rodeo events, live music and talk shows. Some of these include the Ariat Rodeo Live Stage with four shows a day, the Cowboy Channel Stage with daily fashion shows and other events and the Junior World Finals. More than 800 contestants compete in nine different rodeo events at the Junior World Finals for more than $1 million in cash and other prizes.
In addition to the entertainment offerings, there will be a Christmas village with daily appearances by Santa Claus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 450 exhibitors will be at Cowboy Christmas showcasing their products that range from cowboy attire such as hats and boots to handmade jewelry as well as art, furniture and home goods.
Cowboy Christmas is free to attend. Daily tickets to the Junior World Finals are $10, and five-day passes, for Dec. 7-11 or Dec. 12-16, are $40.
With the expanded offerings of Cowboy Christmas, Gardner encourages people to maybe go two different days to see everything.
“Get there early because parking goes quick, or take other forms of transportation,” he said.
Contact Sean Hemmersmeier at shemmersmeier@reviewjournal.com. Follow @seanhemmers34 on X.
MOST READ
',{'alt':'logo-7at7','src':'https://res.cloudinary.com/review-journal/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_scale,w_50/v1611100661/webdev/seven2.png'}) ).append( $('',{'html':' — now streaming'}) ) ); var f_desc = $('',{'class':'f-desc','html':description}) elem.append(pHtml); elem.append(f_title); elem.append(f_desc); /* var is_android = /(android)/i.test(navigator.userAgent); if (is_android) { var tmr = setInterval(function() { document.getElementsByTagName('fuel-video')[0].player.play(); clearInterval(tmr); },1000); } */ } }, error: function (xhr, ajaxOptions, thrownError) { console.log('rj_xhr.status:' + xhr.status + '_error:' + thrownError); } }); }, videoIDs: { 'category-formula-1' : {'id': 'fds27xag'}, 'category-local': {'id': '81814da7-67fe-4e54-be92-55046afbb3bb', 'provider':'fuel'}, //81814da7-67fe-4e54-be92-55046afbb3bb e7358e70-1b3a-47bc-9b2c-9d21610b0ff0 'tag-coronavirus': {'id': 'u37v495p'}, 'category-politics-and-government': {'id': 'kqRvD0a8'}, 'tag-mc-opinion': {'id': 'ohls3BOc'}, //'kqRvD0a8'; 2023-03-21_14:30 'tag-mc-crime': {'id': 'kqRvD0a8'}, 'tag-2020-election': {'id': 'kqRvD0a8'}, 'rj-main-category--science-and-technology': {'id': 'j88hQyle'}, 'tag-mc-news': {'id': 'pCyFtg5f'}, 'tag-mc-business': {'id': '31shkzyP'}, 'rj-main-category--raiders': {'id': 'bpswZwKM'}, 'tag-mc-sports': {'id': 'dbx2WkwF'}, 'rj-main-category--food': {'id': '3DQjoZb7'}, 'tag-mc-entertainment': {'id': 'YBuF2XdP'}, 'tag-mc-live-well': {'id': 'KED23a4w'}, //'31shkzyP'; 2023-03-21_14:30 'tag-mc-life': {'id': 'aaWqdJ5u'}, 'tag-mc-autos': {'id': 'kag2nBSV'}, 'tag-mc-homes': {'id': 'R0zQNouh'} // 'tag-mc-homes': {'id': 'HPa6ehMQ'} }, getVideoId: function() { //var fkId = false, var vdo_k = false; for (var checkClass in stnInArticleVideo.videoIDs) { if (stnInArticleVideo.wrapper.hasClass(checkClass)) { //fkId = videoIDs[checkClass].id; vdo_k = checkClass; break; } } return vdo_k; //fkId; }, run: function() { stnInArticleVideo.wrapper = $('article.rj-story.rj-story-full'); if (stnInArticleVideo.wrapper && stnInArticleVideo.canInsertVideo()) { var vdo_k = stnInArticleVideo.getVideoId(); if (vdo_k) { if (stnInArticleVideo.videoIDs[vdo_k].hasOwnProperty('provider') && stnInArticleVideo.videoIDs[vdo_k].provider == 'fuel') { stnInArticleVideo.insertVideoFuel(stnInArticleVideo.videoIDs[vdo_k].id); } else { stnInArticleVideo.insertVideo(stnInArticleVideo.videoIDs[vdo_k].id); } } } } }; stnInArticleVideo.run(); });})(jQuery);'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'READ MORE'; html += 'LIVE WELL'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'STORIES LIKE THIS'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('livewell').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-sponsored-full').length>0) { return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2023-year-in-review')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('2023-year-in-review').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-msg-sphere')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tag-msg-sphere').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-jeff-german-murder') || $('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-remembering-jeff-german')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('jeff_german').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-911-anniversary')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'REMEMBERING 9/11: 20 YEARS LATER'; html += 'Looking back at the 2001 terror attacks and how they affected Las Vegas and the world.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('anniversary-911').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-class-of-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'MEET THE UNFORGETTABLE CLASS'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '2021'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('class-2021').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2022-election')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION 2022'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION RESULTS'; html += 'Click here'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('election-2022').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-harry-reid-1939-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Harry Reid(1939-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Senate leader and Nevada political titan'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('harry-reid').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-henry-ruggs')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HENRY RUGGSDEADLY CRASH'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'CLICK FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('henry-ruggs').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('category-homicides')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HOMICIDE'; html += 'A STORY BEHIND EVERY NAME'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'TRACKER'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('homicides').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-sheldon-adelson')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Sheldon Adelson(1933-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Las Vegas visionary and Philanthropist.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('sheldon-adelson').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-tony-hsieh')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Tony Hsieh(1973-2020)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Ex-Zappos and Downtown Project CEO left a lasting impression on Las Vegas.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tony-hsieh').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-vegas-weekend')) { //vegas-reawakening html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'VEGAS REAWAKENING'; html += 'A year after the pandemic began, the first weekend of spring showed a perfect storm of promise for Las Vegas’ recovery and brought optimism that visitors would indeed return to the city'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('vegas-reawakening').html(html); return; } //add newsletters embed var default_category_to_show = ['News', 'Local', 'Life', 'Crime']; var newsletter_1st_lv = []; newsletter_1st_lv['default'] = {'id':'starting_point,pm_update', 'title':'LOCAL NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Morning and Afternoon Update newsletters.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Sports'] = {'id':'sports', 'title':'SPORTS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Sports Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Business'] = {'id':'business', 'title':'BUSINESS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Business Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Entertainment'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'entertainment', 'title':'WANT THE LATEST ON LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free entertainment email alerts'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Nevada Preps'] = {'id':'nevada_preps', 'title':'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date with our free Nevada Preps newsletter.'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Investigations'] = {'id':'rj_investigates', 'title':'INVESTIGATIVE NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free RJ Investigates newsletter.'}; var cat_has_subcat = ['News','Business','Entertainment','Sports', 'Opinion']; var newsletter_2nd_lv = []; newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'political', 'title':'LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS COVERAGE', 'subtitle':'
Sign up for our free RJ politics email alerts.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'political', 'title':'ELECTION 2020: BE INFORMED', 'subtitle':'
FULL COVERAGE | ELECTION RESULTS
Sign up for our free RJ Politics newsletter.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Debra J. Saunders'] = {'id':'44', 'title':'YOUR WEEKLY POLITICAL FIX', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free DC-LV newsletter with political stories from the swamp to the Strip.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['CES 2021'] = {'id':'ces', 'title':'CES 2021: STAY IN THE KNOW', 'subtitle':'
The Review-Journal is a media partner with the CTA. Click here for full coverage and live video from CES 2021
Sign up for our free newsletter below.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['TV'] = {'id':'tv_briefing', 'title':'GET YOUR TV LISTINGS', 'subtitle':'Your Weekly TV Briefing.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['UNLV'] = {'id':'unlv_rebel_news', 'title':'UNLV SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date on the Rebels with our free newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Rodeo'] = {'id':'rodeo_nfr', 'title':'RODEO NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Don\'t miss any of the action! Click here for full NFR coverage or Sign up for our free newsletter below'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Raiders News'] = {'id':'vegasnation', 'title':'WANT EVEN MORE RAIDERS NEWS?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Vegas Nation newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Golden Knights'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'golden_knights', 'title':'WANT MORE KNIGHTS IN YOUR DAY?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free Golden Knights email alerts for all the latest updates'}; var main_cat = ''; var m_hierarchy = []; var m_cat = []; var m_hl_cat = ''; if (window.dataLayer[0].metrics) { main_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.section; //National Finals Rodeo m_hierarchy = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.hierarchy.split(' | '); //"Sports | Rodeo | National Finals Rodeo" m_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.categories; //["National Finals Rodeo","Rodeo","Sports"] m_hl_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics['hl-category']; //Sports } var i, k, found, newsletter; newsletter = false; found = false; if (default_category_to_show.includes(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv['default']; } if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hl_cat]; } // check main category if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(main_cat)) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[main_cat]; } if (!found) { // check in hierarchy (main category hierarchy) i = m_hierarchy.length; while (!found && i >= 0) { i--; if (i > 0) { if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } else { // i=0, check first level if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } } } if (!found) { // check in category i = m_cat.length; while (!found && i > 0 && cat_has_subcat.includes(m_hl_cat)) { i--; if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_cat[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_cat[i]]; } } } if (newsletter !== false && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-hide-newsletter') && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass(' rj-story-sponsored-full')) { var alert_id = ''; if (newsletter.alert_id) { alert_id = newsletter.alert_id; } html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'+newsletter.title+'
'; html += '
'+newsletter.subtitle+'
'; html += '
'; html += '' html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy and '; html += 'Terms of Service. Unsubscribe at any time.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').html(html); } //});})(jQuery);
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
3 takeaways from NFR: Injured Wright still savors 5th straight title
ByAlex Wright/RJ
Stetson Wright won his fifth all-around world championship despite missing most of the National Finals Rodeo with a hamstring injury. Here are three takeaways from NFR.
2023 NFR Las Vegas 10th go-round results
ByLas Vegas Review-Journal/RJ
Here are the 10th go-round results from the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
NFR 2023: Day 10 — PHOTOS
RJ
The 2023 National Finals Rodeo’s 10th go-round took place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Check out the action here.
NFR finale: 20-year-old rookie among 8 world champions crowned
ByAlex Wright/RJ
Keenan Hayes won the bareback riding title, and Tyler Waguespack rallied to win the steer wrestling title on the final night of the National Finals Rodeo.
NFR Live with bull rider Jeff Askey
RJ
Tonight we are joined for NFR Live 445 by bull rider Jeff Askey, a six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier.
‘Arena of freedom’: Dozens experience riding, roping at Exceptional Rodeo
By Patrick Everson Special to the / RJ
The Exceptional Rodeo, in which NFR contestants — cowboys, cowgirls and bullfighters — pair up with Clark County special needs students, was once again a big hit.
2023 NFR Las Vegas 9th go-round results
RJ
Here are the 9th go-round results from the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.
NFR 2023: Day 9 — PHOTOS
RJ
The 2023 National Finals Rodeo’s 9th go-round took place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Friday night. Check out the action here.
NFR Round 9: Wade, Thorp in control of team roping standings
ByAlex Wright/RJ
Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp lead the header and heeler standings, respectively, entering the final round of the National Finals Rodeo after another go-round win Friday.
How does Las Vegas avoid rodeo gridlock? The NFR Express
By Patrick Everson Special to the / RJ
Every December the Thomas Mack Center is packed with 17,000-plus fans for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. So what’s the secret to getting those fans to and from the arena each night?
More stories
'; html += '
' html += '
'+d['title']+'
'; html += '
'; $('.rjp-related .base-'+base+' .field-story').append(html); } }});})(jQuery);
