The 49th Folsom Pro Rodeo offered families a unique way to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend, providing fun for all ages wrapped in a red, white and blue patriotic bow.

The event, which showcased professional cowboys and cowgirls in various competitions, drew large crowds each night to Dan Russell Rodeo Arena in the Folsom City Lions Park. From children to parents and older, the rodeo had something for everybody, and nightly reminded fans about the importance of the weekend’s holiday.

“It’s a family thing,” said 19-year-old Folsom resident Karly Gray, who’s gone to several Folsom Pro Rodeos since her first at age five. “You get to see adults ride animals, but there are mutton busters for the family appeal. It’s fun to watch the kids ride (sheep in mutton busting), and the adult events are interesting because you don’t know if they’ll make it or not (in their competitions).”

From steer wrestling to bronc and bull riding and barrel racing, the rodeo filled the arena with top-level entertainment in the form of professional cowboys and cowgirls working for a living. Between the competitions, though, came more fun, with patriotic stunt rides by the Painted Ladies, a flag-toting skydiver, and the popular mutton busting event, which had kids ages 5 and 6 years old riding sheep as long as they could.

“It’s rare to have the country feeling in Folsom,” said Gray, who donned a cowboy hat and had cowboy attire on as she was volunteering at this year’s rodeo but has been a longtime rodeo fan attending with her family in the past. “For a couple of days, you get to dress up.”

One of the rodeo’s biggest focuses, though, is the consistent tribute to patriotism during the holiday weekend. Red, white and blue are essentially the rodeo’s theme colors, and several of the events within the night’s schedule revolve around rousing up the American spirit.

Skydiver Kent Lane dropped from a plane 4,500 feet up each night to the sound of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” all while towing a 2,000-square foot American Flag and landing in the middle of the arena.

“The flag drop was really cool; I’ve never seen anything like that. It was artistic,” said 17-year-old Shelby Mathis of Sutter Creek, who along with her friend Nicole Milborn, 17, drove 45 minutes to attend the rodeo. “I like the song that played. My brother is in the army, so it was touching.”

Each night ended with fireworks inside the arena, for some the main reason to come in the first place.

“It’s fun to watch because the fireworks are pretty awesome,” said 12-year-old Folsom resident Preston Baker.

But the thing that keeps everyone coming year after year is the family-friendly atmosphere, one with exciting action and an overall entertaining show.

“It was a fun experience,” said Baker, who attended this year with his mother and father. “I like to see how long the cowboys stay on. I like it because I ride my mom’s horse. But I would never want to do (what the cowboys do) because it looks scary.”

Not all went without a hitch, unfortunately. On the rodeo’s opening night July 2, one cowboy left the arena injured, while a mishap with the fireworks occurred as one launch went astray.

“This year was a little scarier,” Baker said. “A (cowboy) got knocked out for like five minutes, some fireworks were shot into the crowd and the skydiver got caught up (as his flag caught the fence on his landing).”

Reports said six rodeo attendees suffered minor burns after the fireworks launch went into the crowd. They were treated by emergency crews at the scene.

One way or another, the 49th Folsom Pro Rodeo left a lasting impression on all who attended, just like it has done for nearly half a century now.

“It’s worth it,” Mathis said of the drive to see the show. “There’s nothing like a cowboy.”