OKMULGEE – The Roy LeBlanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo & Festival has a new home this year, according to a public announcement made on Thursday, Jan. 29. The rodeo is one of the oldest in Oklahoma and the United States, operating since 1956. Until this year, the event had been held at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Bob Arrington Arena.
Among Okmulgee’s historic staples, the rodeo has seen as many as 300 cowboys compete with over a thousand spectators in attendance. The rodeo is moving to the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee and has already been scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 8.
City of Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin remarked that the historic rodeo was a highlight for the city for many years. According to Baldwin, the event will be a significant loss for the community.
“As a city, we will see many who will miss that rodeo,” Baldwin said. “Hopefully, we will have many that will attend the new place in Shawnee.”
The City of Okmulgee does not participate in any official planning for the rodeo, and it did not charge event organizers for extended emergency services. Although the city did not receive any direct funds from the event, its absence could still have economic repercussions for local businesses such as restaurants and hotels.
“We know that the businesses will miss that interaction,” Baldwin said. “We love the rodeo. The event is definitely historic. We will miss that legacy that started here, and we just pray that moving forward, they will be able to continue to grow and have great success as they move on to Shawnee.”
The event featured a parade, kid-friendly rodeo activities, and craft booths. Its notoriety was engraved in pop culture when it was referenced in “The Simpsons” season 34, episode 14, “Carl Carlson Rides Again.”
According to the Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo Facebook page, the plans to move to Shawnee are still being finalized. The statement reads:
Around 1990, the Okmulgee County Round Up Club wanted to dissolve, but Mr. Roy LeBlanc decided Black Rodeo was too important to the history of the Black Cowboy. He moved the rodeo to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation with the help of his friend and fellow cowboy, Bob Arrington. Muscogee Nation named the arena after him some years later. In 2009, we changed the name of the rodeo to the Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo in honor of the man who helped keep this living history alive. This was our home for 30 years until 2025, the year the rodeo almost didn’t happen. Kenneth LeBlanc is currently working out the final details but we are happy to announce we are moving to The Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee, OK. We will see y’all there on August 7th and 8th, 2026. Stay tuned as we release more information and let y’all know what to expect when we visit Shawnee!
According to the MCN, the rodeo’s size made it impractical to hold at the Bob Arrington Arena, noting that the event had simply outgrown the venue’s capacity to hold spectators and vendors. The Nation’s statement reads:
While analyzing our operations at the Bob Arrington Rodeo Arena, our Department of Public Safety and Department of Commerce determined that due to the size and scope of the Roy LeBlanc Rodeo, our agreements of the past were simply not feasible moving forward for the Muscogee Nation. Security requirements, traffic, tribal facility maintenance, property damage, equipment operation, and space concerns all were part of the determination of the final amount for rental. While regrettably, this amount does not fit in the budget for the organizers, we wish them well in the future for this historic event.
