East Meets West

Summer springs to life this weekend when the Goshen Stampede returns to the Goshen Fairgrounds, Friday, June 6th, through Sunday, June 8th.

The annual event brings a taste of the West to the East with Pro Rodeo action beginning Saturday at 5PM and Sunday at 2:30PM. There will be bull riding, saddle broncs, steer wrestling, barrel racing, trick riding and more.

The weekend also features a non-pro gymkhana (a timed event where riders race around obstacles), starting at 8:30AM Saturday; a kid’s rodeo will be staged at 3PM that afternoon.

For those with a yen for mechanized competition, the three-day extravaganza begins at 7:30PM Friday night with a demolition derby featuring specially prepared cars that smash into each other until only one is left running.

It is followed Saturday at about noon by the Tri-State Truck Pull, pitting amateur and professional drivers from all over New England in a competition for the title of “Toughest Truck.”

The action continues Sunday, also at noon, when Monster Truck Mania takes center stage. It features world class drivers doing hot laps. Monster Truck rides will be offered all day and visitors can take their pictures with the truck s and meet the drivers. At 4:30PM Monster Truck Mania begins.

There will be non-stop live music performances from Friday afternoon through the end of the weekend on Sunday, midway rides, a petting zoo, classic carnival foods and much more.

The fairgrounds are located at 116 Old Middle Sreet. in Goshen; 860-485-8586.