Annual Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair kicks off in Canada

The annual Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair kicked off on Friday in the city of Surrey near Vancouver, featuring a popular blend of rodeo events and family-friendly entertainment. Over four days, rodeo enthusiasts will enjoy a traditionally boot-stomping good time as some of the world's top-ranking competitors are set to wrangle for a total of 328,000 Canadian dollars (300,000 U.S. dollars) in cash prizes. The 64th Cloverdale Rodeo features such categories as Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, Ladies Barrel Racing and Mutton Busting -- where children ride sheep in an approximation of adult competitions. At the 126th annual Country Fair, which runs alongside the rodeo, the families can enjoy plenty of rides and games, including the Classic Car Show, the Cowboy Cook Off Rib Fest and BBQ Competition, and the third annual World Freestyle Roundup Skateboarding competition. Each night will also feature performances on the Outdoor Stage where people can enjoy the likes of Ray Gibson, March Hare and Chris Buck Band. The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is held every year on the May Long Weekend holiday at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey. The event runs from Friday to Monday and is organized by the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association. .