Live with Lucia Added to Already Packed Line Up on the Ariat Rodeo Live Stage at The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas

LAS VEGAS

From Dec. 7 - 16 at The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas, the Ariat Rodeo Live Stage will bring live talk show style entertainment to rodeo fans. Starting this year, Live with Lucia presented by Tactacam, featuring popular rodeo announcer and personality Anthony Lucia, will join the line up for a full day of interviews with special guests, live music and more.

Free to the public, Cowboy Christmas is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (PT) daily at the Las Vegas Convention Center and features more than 400 exhibitors and interactive elements for rodeo fans. In 2023, the Ariat Rodeo Live Stage will be located on the second floor as part of an expansion of the event throughout both the South and Central Halls.

Each day, the Ariat Rodeo Live State will feature the following (all times PT and subject to change):
Live with Lucia – starting at 10:30 a.m.
Cowboy Revival with host Shane Minor – starting at 11:30 a.m.
Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen – starting at 12:30 p.m.
RMEF Calcutta – starting at 1:30 p.m.

“When I started Live with Lucia in 2012, my goal was to highlight the personalities of the athletes and stars of Professional Rodeo and Western sports,” said Lucia. “What began as a goal of entertaining has now become a staple of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and continued to evolve into an hour filled with fun, games, stories from the road and an opportunity for the fans to not only see a different side of the athletes through these activities and interviews but for the fans to win NFR tickets and gifts from our amazing sponsors. I am beyond excited to continue this journey at The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas, the premier spot for shopping and entertainment during the NFR in Vegas.”

Rasmussen has been a staple at The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas and continues to deliver laughs, entertainment and special guests during the ten days with Outside the Barrel. Also back for a third year is the live-music show Cowboy Revival with host Shane Minor. In addition, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Calcutta will be held daily.

To add to the overall experience, RMEF’s Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo will be co-located in the Central and South Halls, adjacent to The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas. Over the past 36 years, Cowboy Christmas has attracted more than 5.1 million attendees.

In addition to the Ariat Rodeo Live Stage, The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas will include the following main anchor displays and programming elements:

Ranch Water Rodeo Saloon (South Hall, Level 2) – Every great “rodeo” needs a saloon. Located near the Ariat Rodeo Live Stage, the Ranch Water Rodeo Saloon features specialty drinks.

NFR After Dark presented by Community Coffee (South Hall, Level 2) – This customized area features Cloud Touch units promoting all aspects of the NFR Experience and how fans can engage at the 28 sponsor hotels.

Returning for the second year will be Cowboy Christmas Village sponsored by Clint Orms (South Hall, Level 2). This festive area will include Christmas trees, daily appearances by Santa Claus from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and an area for kids to write a letter to Santa and drop it in a special mailbox. In addition, there will be photo walls to share your experience with family and friends.

Bites and Brews (South Hall, Level 2 and Central Hall) – A series of custom food and beverage carts will be located in both halls for attendees to enjoy a variety of vendors to satisfy any appetite.

Wrangler Rodeo Arena (Central Hall) – Featuring a seating capacity of more than 1,200 fans, the arena hosts a variety of events and competitions. The YETI Junior World Finals will feature contestants 19-years-old and younger competing in many of the events the pros take part in at the Thomas & Mack Center, including bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, girls and boys breakaway, team roping, tie-down roping, pole bending and barrel racing.

The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas is one of the daily highlights when the Wrangler NFR is in town. Sold out for more than 350 consecutive performances in Las Vegas, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Under the new contract with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association that runs through 2025, the purse in 2023 is more than $11.5 million. Qualification is based on the 2023 PRCA World Standings.

For more information on The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas and the Wrangler NFR, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at @LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest ProRodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media @PRCA_ProRodeo.