What Is the CFR—and Why It Matters
The Canadian Finals Rodeo is the national championship for the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA). It started in 1974 in Edmonton, moved to Red Deer from 2018–2023, and came home to Rogers Place in 2024 under a three-year deal. It’s the grand finale of Canada’s rodeo season: the top money-winners from events like bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, saddle bronc and bareback come to compete over five shows. Beyond bragging rights, it carries one of the biggest rodeo purses in the country—over C$1 million.
More than a rodeo, CFR is a celebration of western heritage: there’s a downtown cattle drive, western concerts, after-parties, and family‑friendly events that turn four days in October into a full-on rodeo festival.
Insider Highlights
- You’ll see top cowboys and cowgirls from across Canada—and some from the U.S., too.
- One of the all‑time legend bucking horses, Virgil, is expected to return—he’s been five-time Bareback Horse of the Year.
- Each evening is more than events; it’s about the “average” champion over all rounds and nightly winners, too—big money, big bragging rights.
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Cowboy Exhibition at the EXPO Centre
Joined at the hip with the CFR is The Canadian Country Expo, which runs October 1–5 at the EXPO Centre. It’s free to attend and includes:
- A Western‑themed trade show with hundreds of exhibitors
- Live demos: roping, horsemanship, Bullfighters Only, plus country fashion and music stages
- A free shuttle to and from CFR at Rogers Place
- Family-friendly zones, food trucks, and casual Western hangouts
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Visitors’ Notes
- Book early — Rogers Place is expected to fill up fast, and so will the nearby hotels (last year drummed up over 14,000 room nights!).
- Combo deals available: grab an “Elks + CFR” (Edmonton Elks is the city’s pro football team) bundle for midweek and night 1 shows.
- Downtown buzz: ICE District hangouts, themed bars, rodeo décor and boot-friendly events will be everywhere—look for line-dancing nights and country tunes.
- Free stuff & familia: mutton‑bustin’ for the kids, tractors, line-dancing, surprise yodelling throwdowns—something fun for everyone.
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Heads-Up
This is Alberta’s rodeo homecoming. If you want the full western‑fest experience—rodeos, live music, trade‑show browsing, free shuttles and memory‑making family experiences—it all happens October 1 to 4. By summer’s end, seats and rooms fill fast. 
