St. Paul, Alberta is getting ready for Rodeo Week, with events running from September 2 to 6, 2026. The week starts with a kickoff party on the evening of September 2 at the Recreation Centre, followed by four days of rodeo action at the Clancy Richard Arena. This year, local nonprofit groups have a chance to earn money by helping with cleanup after each performance.
The 37th annual Showdown Rodeo takes place September 3 to 6, marking the 38th year of the Lakeland Rodeo Association (LRA) Finals being held in St. Paul. The St. Paul Agricultural Society hosts the events, which feature five rodeo performances. The St. Paul & District Chamber of Commerce is also involved, with Rodeo Week bringing a parade, markets, food vendors, family activities, and entertainment to town.
The County of St. Paul and the Town of St. Paul are looking for local nonprofit groups to handle post-rodeo cleanup. In a fundraising opportunity, each group gets a $1,500 honorarium plus money from bottle collections after each performance. Organizers suggest at least 12 volunteers per group for the cleanup work.
The Clancy Richard Arena seats about 1,350 people and has been home to the LRA Finals since 1988. This year marks 38 years of partnership between the Agricultural Society and the LRA, bringing top amateur cowboys and cowgirls to compete for year-end championships. Rodeo Week has a long history of supporting community causes, with proceeds often going to local nonprofits that reinvest the money back into the area.
The County of St. Paul, located about 208 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, has a population of just over 6,400 and is home to 1,200 farms, making rodeo a natural fit for the region. More details on the LRA Finals schedule are available through the St. Paul Agricultural Society.
