Spring isn’t the only time the cowboys show up for all things rodeo. The cowboy life is a year-long obligation toward a life in the saddle, performing in front of the largest crowds and some of the smallest. This weekend the hardest cowboys of them all will be taking over Austin for three nights of bull-riding thrills.
The Austin Gamblers of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) are set to host the fifth annual Gambler Days at Austin’s Moody Center from Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23. For rodeo fans who want to skip the mutton bustin and steer wrestling, this is the perfect night for wannabe cowboys donning hats and boots as its three full days all about the bull riders.
“Five years of Gambler Days is a milestone worth celebrating, and we want this year’s event to reflect just how far we’ve come alongside our fans,” Austin Gamblers CEO J.J. Gottsch said in the news release. “There’s an energy that takes over Austin when the best bull riders in the world step into the arena, and Gambler Days has grown into a weekend that captures that excitement well beyond the competition. From the action on the dirt to live music and entertainment throughout the weekend, we’re bringing everything together for an unforgettable fifth year and giving our fans plenty of reasons to celebrate with us.”
The Austin Gamblers are Austin’s first and only professional bull riding team, and one of two Texas teams after the Texas Rattlers. They compete in the PBR Camping World Team Series, where they won the 2024 championship and two regular season titles. So far the Gamblers are No. 6 in the league with five wins and six losses.
The Gamblers are made up of Jose Vitor Leme, Sage Steele Kimzey, Kaique Pachecho, Lucas Divino, Dener Barbosa, Callum Miller, Vinicius Pinheiro, Jesse Petri and Mulshoe, Texas native Dalton Kasel, with Michael Gaffney serving as head coach.
Gambler Days technically begins on Thursday, August 20, with the YETI Flagship kickoff party at 4:30 p.m.
Gambler Days Fan Fest will be held Friday through Sunday in the hours leading up to the competition. The Fan Fest begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
The bull riding will follow at 7:45 p.m. Friday, 6:15 p.m. Saturday and 1:45 p.m. Sunday, all of which are followed by after parties at the White Horse (500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702).
When it comes to live music, Dustin Lynch will perform at 6:30 p.m. Friday, followed by All My Groovy Friends and Nelly on Saturday at 4 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively. Tejano Queen Forever will be the final performer at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets to Gambler Days at the Moody Center start at $34 and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
Find it: 2001 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712