An annual local tradition makes its return to Cullman next week, when the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office will host the 20th annual installment of the Jimmy Arrington Memorial Rodeo.

The rodeo, which features competitive riding and roping in a variety of categories, will be held on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Cullman County Agricultural Center on U.S. Highway 31 North.

Doors for each night’s rodeo open at 5:30 p.m., with the action kicking off each evening at 7:30 p.m. In a change from previous years, tickets to both evenings for this year’s always-crowded event will be sold only at the door, on a first-come, first-served basis.

As always, local kids get first dibs on the festivities a day early, with the rodeo’s free Special Needs expo kicking off Thursday morning at the Ag Center. The school-day event routinely welcomes more than 1,000 children for a day of rodeo exhibitions, cowboy games, and other activities that bring kids up close with animals and professional riders.

As the signature fundraising event for the sheriff’s office each year, the rodeo raises money not only for gear and equipment for deputies, but also for area schools. Previous rodeos have netted more than $15,000 at a time, which the sheriff’s office later distributes to local schools to advance special needs and other projects.

Tickets for this year’s rodeo are $10 for adults, and $8 for students ages 6-18. For more information, look for the “sheriff’s rodeo” icon on the official web page of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office at cullmansheriff.org.

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.