The Calgary Stampede is quite the trip for local residents, however, a rodeo that promises to have a great show will be a little closer to home.
The Ultimate Rodeo Tour will kick up some dirt in Pain Court on July 12.
David Bakker, a police coordinator with Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers, said there are grandstands set up under the water tower so several people can sit and watch a two-hour performance.
"It's a traditional rodeo [with] professional cowboys and cowgirls," said Bakker. "They're touring all over Ontario and parts of Michigan all summer long."
Bakker also mentioned that Chatham's very own Canadian Cowgirls will perform as well.
The annual event helps put raise money for the Crime Stoppers program, which includes paying tipsters and running their local office.
"Crime Stoppers is not funded by the government, it's not funded by the police service -- although I do work for the police service -- all of the money we use to operate the program has to be raised through a fundraising event," said Bakker.
"We've had a really good year so far with calls and tips to the program, [numbers are] consistent with last year. We had over 800 calls, our arrests are up this year, as well as cases solved so all and all, it's been very successful for half of a year so far."
Advance tickets are available online or residents can call 1-800-516-5810. Gates for the rodeo open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and the event itself takes starts at 6:30 p.m.