Legendary Rides and Untamed Spirit: Rupununi Rodeo 2025
They came by the thousands. From every corner of Guyana, across the Brazilian border, and from even further afield. Some arrived by plane, others by road, and some by sheer determination. By the time Easter weekend rolled around, Lethem’s modest yet charming accommodations had been booked solid since September. Those who hadn’t planned ahead pitched tents, borrowed hammocks, or gratefully accepted the kindness of strangers’ yards. Nobody—absolutely nobody—was willing to miss the Rupununi Rodeo 2025.
Beneath the blazing savannah sun, the air pulsed with nostalgia, adrenaline, and the earthy mix of leather, sweat, and wood smoke. This year’s rodeo was the biggest yet—more polished in production, but still deeply rooted in the rugged soul of the Rupununi.
A Parade of Pride
The weekend began as all great savannah spectacles do—with a parade. Cowboys and cowgirls rode high through Lethem’s streets, their hats tilted low, their horses prancing proudly as traffic stopped and residents poured outside to cheer. Music blared, motorbikes revved, and children chased the procession with wide eyes and dusty smiles. It was more than a parade—it was a declaration that something extraordinary was about to unfold.
Rodeo Chaos at Its Best
The opening act was pure madness: the wild-cow milking competition. Picture grown men chasing after an uncooperative cow, wrestling with rope and resolve, trying to coax a dribble of milk into a tin cup. There were tumbles, lost hats, and laughter echoing across the stands. It was chaotic, hilarious, and oddly heroic—an unforgettable show of strength, bravery, and camaraderie.
But the wild cow was only the beginning. The crowd roared loudest during the ribbon roping—a daring, fast-paced dance of teamwork. Cowboys galloped after stampeding cattle, lassos cutting through the air, while their female partners dove fearlessly to snatch a ribbon tied to the animal’s tail. Equal parts comedy and courage, it captured the raw rhythm of ranch life.
“Hold on to your hats!” wasn’t just advice—it was prophecy.
The Triple ‘R’ Grounds: A City Within the City
For one weekend, Lethem’s Triple ‘R’ Grounds transformed into a world of its own. Food stalls offered tasso, cassava bread, pepperpot, and ice-cold beers. Elderly women wove crafts beneath makeshift tents, while children perched on shoulders to see the action.
The competitions rolled on: bareback bronco riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, horse racing, dirt bike races, and even a watermelon-eating contest that left participants sticky and smiling.
Then came the pageants. The Mr. and Miss Rupununi Ranchers Rodeo competitions were showcases of ranching skills and pride. Contestants cracked bullwhips, rode horses, danced in boots, and embodied the spirit of the savannah.
Honoring the Legends
This year’s theme, “Legendary Stories, Legendary Rides,” honored the pioneers who shaped the rodeo’s legacy. Among them was Charles Melville, the master leather craftsman whose saddles carried generations of riders across the Rupununi.
What began six decades ago as ranchers gathering to brand cattle and share stories has evolved into one of Guyana’s greatest cultural festivals—a living legacy that blends necessity, tradition, and celebration.
Rodeo vs. Coachella: Dust Over Glitter
Kyle Joseph, Chair of the Rupununi Livestock Producers Association and Director of the Rodeo, compared the event to global festivals like Coachella. While that may be true in scale and spirit, the rodeo is something more authentic. Where Coachella has glitter and influencers, the Rupununi Rodeo has dust, muscle, and meaning.
A Closing Scene to Remember
As the dust settled and the crowds drifted home—some sunburnt, some hungover, all spellbound—Lethem grew quiet again. Flags still fluttered above empty stands, and the cattle returned to their pastures.
What lingered was not just the memory of a spectacle but the reminder of something authentic. This was not entertainment polished for tourists—it was heritage alive, carried by men and women who ride without fear and live with stories in their veins.
If you missed it this year, don’t worry. Next Easter, the cattle will once again kick up the dust. And Lethem, like a frontier phoenix, will rise for another legendary ride.