Fort Worth, Texas – The Ariat Texas Rattlers announced today the return of the Rattler Days Alley Rally, presented by Community Coffee, fan festival during their 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Rattler Days homestand (September 26-28), which will be held in the heart of Fort Worth at the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards.
With live music, parades, autograph signings, and more, the Rattler Days Alley Rally, presented by Community Coffee, fan festival offers a wholesome, Texas-style introduction to Rattlers Nation through a vibrant celebration of the rising culture and spirit of PBR within the city of Fort Worth. The Alley Rally will also offer a charity pancake breakfast on Saturday morning, with all proceeds benefiting local FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapters, emphasizing the Rattlers’ commitment to giving back to the community.
The free-to-attend, family-friendly Rattler Days Alley Rally features an immersive lineup of all things pro bull riding that encourages members of Fort Worth’s community to engage with America’s fastest-growing sport. Festival-goers can enjoy a true hometown atmosphere, as everyone unites to celebrate the reigning PBR champions, the Texas Rattlers, as they return to compete on home dirt for the first time since winning the title. For fans worried about missing out on college football on Saturday, the Festival will also provide a “college game day” watch party experience, ensuring attendees can enjoy marquee match-ups in the lively festival atmosphere.
When asked about the significance of the Fan Fest and what it will bring to the community, General Manager of the Texas Rattlers, Chad Blankenship said, “Rattler Days is more than just bull riding – it's about bringing our community together to celebrate everything that makes Fort Worth special. From the excitement in the arena to the family fun at the Alley Rally to the city’s most unique culinary event, this festival gives everyone a chance to be a part of Rattlers Nation. We're especially proud to give back through the FFA charity pancake breakfast and to welcome newcomers to the sport with free, unforgettable experiences. There's truly something for everyone.“
Each day of the Rattler Days Alley Rally, presented by Community Coffee, will feature a different theme, exciting attendees ahead of the three-day homestand, which welcomes the nine other teams of the PBR Teams League. While the themes primarily center on the action happening "on the dirt" and in the arena, they will also be prominently displayed on the big screens and on the TVs throughout the Festival, ensuring fans can stay engaged with the event no matter where they are.
The festival will begin Thursday, September 26, with a “Championing Fort Worth” theme. The Rattlers will debut city jerseys that pay homage to Fort Worth’s “Panther City” alias, adopted by the city in the seventies after a rival Dallas columnist described the city’s streets as so drowsy that a panther could be seen sleeping on them. Since then, Fort Worth has transformed into a booming and opportunistic city, embracing the symbol of the Panther as an emblem of hope and strength – characteristics borne by its only professional sports team: the Ariat Texas Rattlers.
This one-of-a-kind jersey will also be sported by Fort Worth’s Mayor Mattie Parker, after the team presents it to her at the City Hall Meeting on September 17, where Visit Fort Worth and the Mayor will give a Special Recognition, celebrating Fort Worth's first professional sports championship.
Friday, September 27, will feature a “Protect our Dirt” theme, encouraging attendees to pack Dickies Arena for the final iteration of the 2024 Texas Cup as the Rattlers face off against their home state rivals the Austin Gamblers. This marks the first time this season that the Rattlers are back at Dickies Arena, where they fight to remain the only team undefeated on home dirt since the league’s 2022 founding.
Saturday, September 28, will be a celebration of the Rattlers’ 2023 World Championship victory. With flashbacks to the championship team of last year, the closing night recognizes the Rattlers as the only professional team to bring a World Championship home to the city of Fort Worth.
A complete lineup of programming for the Rattler Days Festival is:
Thursday, September 26: Championing Fort Worth
FREE 11:30 am - Fort Worth Herd Walks [Fort Worth Stockyards] FREE 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Rattler Days Alley Rally, presented by Community Coffee [Fort Worth Stockyards] FREE 4:00 pm - Fort Worth Herd Walks [Fort Worth Stockyards] TICKETED 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Rattle Battle, presented by TX Whiskey and hosted by Chef Tim Love [Fort Worth Stockyards - Mule Alley] TICKETED 6:15 pm - Doors Open [Cowtown Coliseum] TICKETED 7:45 pm - 10:30 pm - Rattler Days: Day 1 [Cowtown Coliseum]
Friday, September 27: Protect Our Dirt
FREE 11:30 am - Fort Worth Herd Walks [Fort Worth Stockyards] FREE 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Rattler Days Alley Rally, presented by Community Coffee [Fort Worth Stockyards] FREE 4:00 pm - Fort Worth Herd Walks [Fort Worth Stockyards] FREE 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Music by Cowtown Gamblers [Cowtown Coliseum Lawn] TICKETED 6:15 pm - Doors Open [Dickies Arena] TICKETED 7:45 pm - 10:30 pm - Rattler Days: Day 2 [Dickies Arena]
Saturday, September 28: Championship Saturday
$5 DONATION REQUESTED 9:00 am - 11:00 am - FFA Charity Pancake Breakfast, presented by Community Coffee [Cowtown Coliseum] ($5 or more Donation encouraged; funds raised with benefit Arlington Heights H.S. and Arlington H.S. FFA Youth Programs) FREE 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Venom Bull Appearance [Cowtown Coliseum] FREE 11:00 am - 6:00 pm - Rattler Days Alley Rally, presented by Community Coffee [Fort Worth Stockyards] FREE 11:30 am - Fort Worth Herd Walks [Fort Worth Stockyards] FREE 11:45 am - Rattler Days Parade [Fort Worth Stockyards - Exchange Ave.] FREE 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Rattlers Team Autographs [Mule Alley - Ariat Brand Shop] FREE 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Rattler Days College Football Tailgate [Fort Worth Stockyards - Livestock Exchange Lawn] FREE 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Music by the Monty Dawson Band [Cowtown Coliseum Lawn] TICKETED 6:15 pm - Doors Open [Dickies Arena] TICKETED 7:45 pm - 10:30 pm - Rattler Days: Day 3 [Dickies Arena]
Celebrity chef Tim Love kicks things off for Texan-foodies on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. with the second annual Rattle Battle, presented by TX Whiskey, a competition between 16 of Fort Worth’s biggest chefs to create the best dish using rattlesnake as the main ingredient.
Friday and Saturday, music by local artists the Cowtown Gamblers and the Monty Dawson Band will fill the streets with a soundtrack to memories of boot-wearing family-fun in the iconic Stockyards. Plus, fans can get up close and personal with the Rattlers’ mascot bull “Venom,” coming face-to-face with the fierce 1,500 pound competitor and star of the upcoming children’s book “Venom’s 8 Second Dream: A Bull’s Journey To Victory.”
Saturday, September 28, Cowtown Coliseum will host the Texas Rattlers’ FFA Charity Pancake Breakfast, presented by Community Coffee, from 9:00 to 11:00 am where family and friends can gather to enjoy delicious stacks of flapjacks and bacon while supporting a beloved local organization. The donation-based event gives all proceeds to Arlington H.S. FFA and Arlington Heights H.S. FFA – youth agricultural organizations dedicated to enriching the lives of students through the development of leadership skills, personal growth, and career success.
Following the pancake breakfast (9:00 -11:30 am), attendees can enjoy the Rattler Days Parade through Exchange Ave., starting promptly at 11:45 am. After that, the team will head to the Ariat Brand store in the Stockyards from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm taking pictures and signing autographs, giving fans an opportunity to meet these elite athletes before they take the stage for their final night of competition. Fang, the team’s beloved rattlesnake mascot, will be hanging out in the area all weekend – eagerly high-fiving enthusiastic fans.
For more information about the Ariat Texas Rattlers or to set up an interview, please email Ivy Lopez at ivy@hollandcollective.co.