The Gardiner Rodeo, a Northern Rodeo Association event now in its fifth decade, runs over two nights on Father’s Day weekend in June at the Jim Duffy Arena, right at Yellowstone’s North Entrance. The weekend includes a parade from the Roosevelt Arch and a fireman’s pancake breakfast, with the park’s mountains rising behind the chutes. The Roosevelt Hotel is about a mile from the arena and the arch. Book direct at rhyellowstone.com.
When and where is the Gardiner Rodeo?
The Gardiner Rodeo takes place on Father’s Day weekend in June, two nights (Friday and Saturday, roughly 6 to 8 p.m., gates open at 5p.m.) at the Jim Duffy Arena on US Highway 89, just north of town. It’s sanctioned by the Northern Rodeo Association and organized by the Upper Yellowstone Roundup Association, the local Gardiner rodeo club. 2026 marked its 52nd year, held June 19 to 20. Confirm the exact dates with the organizer (2027 will fall around Father’s Day weekend). Admission is about $25 for adults with a lower price for kids, sold at the gate, cash or check.
Unsplush / Xavier McLaren
What to expect
This is a community rodeo in one of the most scenic settings you’ll find with the peaks of Yellowstone rising right behind the chutes. Expect bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback, steer wrestling, team and calf roping, ladies’ breakaway roping and barrel racing, and junior events for the next generation. The weekend is bigger than the arena. A parade rolls at noon on Saturday from the Roosevelt Arch at the park entrance through town to the grounds. There are road closures, so come early for a spot. The Gateway Hose Company runs a Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast that morning. It happens just as Yellowstone’s summer season is building, so the town is lively without yet reaching July’s peak. One practical note, bring a warm layer because June evenings at this altitude turn cold as soon as the sun drops behind the ridge.
| At a glance | |
| Event | Gardiner Rodeo (Northern Rodeo Association) — 52nd year in 2026 |
| When | Father’s Day weekend, two nights (2026: June 19–20; confirm current year |
| Venue | Jim Duffy Arena, 100 US Hwy 89 S, Gardiner (~1 mi from the hotel) |
| Also on | Saturday noon parade from the Roosevelt Arch; Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast |
Admission | ~$25 adults, less for kids; cash/check at the gate (confirm current) |
A June weekend: rodeo plus early-summer Yellowstone
Make the most of your weekend by combining the rodeo with a day in Yellowstone. Early June is a great time to visit, you might spot bison calves and bears, see waterfalls at their peak from snowmelt, and enjoy fewer crowds than in July. From Gardiner, you can enter the park in just minutes for a sunrise drive, then return to town for the evening rodeo.
Father’s Day in Gardiner
The schedule makes this an easy family getaway: enjoy the parade and pancake breakfast on Saturday morning, catch the rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights, and explore the Yellowstone River or park during the day. It’s a true small-town Western Father’s Day—something you might not plan for, but it’s a great surprise if you’re staying near the North Entrance.
Where to stay: The Roosevelt Hotel
Yellowstone is about a mile from both the Jim Duffy Arena and the park entrance. You can walk back from the rodeo in just a few minutes, and it’s a great spot for an early start in the park the next day. The hotel is named after the Roosevelt Arch, where the Saturday parade begins. It’s women-owned and locally run, offering 75 rooms and five cabins, most with views of the river or park. Guests enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries, plus free parking. Book directly at https://rhyellowstone.com/.
Father’s Day weekend in June, over two nights (2026 was June 19 and 20). Confirm the next-year dates with the organizer.
The Jim Duffy Arena is on US Highway 89, just north of Gardiner, Montana. It’s about a mile from The Roosevelt Hotel and Yellowstone’s North Entrance.
Absolutely. It’s a community rodeo with junior events, a Saturday parade starting at the Roosevelt Arch, and a fireman’s pancake breakfast.
Tickets are about $25 for adults, with a lower price for kids. You can buy them at the gate with cash or check. Check with the organizer for the latest prices.
Yes, it’s easy. Gardiner is right at the North Entrance, so you can enjoy the rodeo in the evenings and spend your days exploring the park.
June evenings at this altitude cool off quickly after sunset, so be sure to bring a warm layer or two for the rodeo.
Yes, there’s a parade at noon on Saturday. It starts at the Roosevelt Arch and goes through town to the rodeo grounds. Arrive early, as some roads will be closed.