Langley’s Labour Day rodeo adds more attractions – pig races and rodeo clown

A pro rodeo clown and pig races have been added to the Valley West Stampede on the Labour Day weekend.

Professional rodeo clown Jayson Charters will be working the arena at VWS this year. He’s been referred to as the “get-down clown” for his dancing and antics in front of rodeo crowds since 2010. Prior to becoming a rodeo clown, Jayson competed himself in rodeo circuits throughout Canada and the United States. Jayson lives in Merritt, B.C. and is a proud member of the Okanagan-Thompson Nation.

Also new this year, the pig races are three times daily (11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.).

Fireworks will mark the beginning of the rodeo each afternoon at 2 p.m., followed by the Bit-A-Bling grand entry rodeo team.

Presented in partnership with the locally based Langley Riders Society, the Valley West Stampede features professional rodeo events on Saturday, Sunday and Labour Day Monday. The grounds open at 11 a.m.

The Valley West Stampede is the only professional rodeo event in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, and is sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA). Men and women athletes from across the North American circuit come to Langley to compete for $15,000 in prize money available for each of four riding competition events: bareback, ladies barrel racing, saddle bronc, and bull riding.