Published on February 16, 2022 | Last Updated on October 3, 2023

It’s no secret that we love to celebrate holidays over here. And in Texas, Go Texan Day is just about as big of a holiday as any! It is a fun way to kick off the Rodeo Season and get everyone in the mood for some long-time traditions. This year I hosted a play date for Piper and Lila with a fun spin on the traditional fair foods!

To begin with, I recently purchased this ADORABLE pink and white striped play cart for the girl’s playroom. Piper loves playing behind it and serving Lila- it’s the cutest thing. Since they love it so much, I decided to make this a carnival food stand for a fun after-school play date. I decided to serve some of the girl’s favorite carnival foods but with a fun, kid-friendly twist.

Funnel Cake Bites:

Everyone loves the funnel cakes at to Rodeo, am I right? There’s something about the smell floating through the air and getting coated in powdered sugar that makes the carnival experience so much fun. I am not one to typically deep-fry too many items at home so I came up with a fun replacement- funnel cake bites! I purchased a can of homestyle biscuits, cut them into tiny chunks, and popped them in the air fryer. I just did a few at a time and for mine, 350 degrees for 6 minutes was the perfect amount. I let them cool for a couple of minutes them dusted them in powdered sugar. I put out a little ramekin of chocolate syrup (I used Hershey’s) and a ramekin of strawberry jam for the girls to dip into! They were such a hit!

Mini Corn Dogs:

Another fair favorite of Piper’s (and mine too) is a corn dog! Again, without wanting to deep-fry a true corn dog I got creative and made a slightly healthier version. I purchased a box mix of corn bread and followed the instructions. Using a mini muffin tin, I filled the trays about half way. Next, I sliced up a couple of hot dogs into bite-sized pieces and pushed them into the corn bread. I took a spoon and lightly covered the hot dogs with a little more corn bread batter then baked them according to the box directions. Once I took them out of the oven, I allowed them to cool a little bit, then sliced off the tops so the girls could see the hot dog inside. This was another hit! They loved their homemade corn dogs.

Boot Lemonade:

The final item for their after-school playdate was lemonade in a boot! This was so simple, but Piper loves the fair lemonade with the chunks of lemon in it! I ordered these glasses of Amazon and tied a jean-looking ribbon around the handle. Fill with ice, lemonade, and lemon slices, and enjoy!

Kids Rodeo Attire:

The girls loved getting to wear their matching pink boots. I purchased Lila’s here. They actually came with a little removable squeaker I took out but I love how flexible the soles are. Perfect for toddlers and recent walkers! The girls also wore their bandanas from Emily and Jet Designs that you can find here. They are a staple piece we can use year after year. And of course every cowgirl needs her hat. The ones we got for the girls on Amazon are linked here!

Attending the Rodeo with Kids!

Each year we take Piper to the Rodeo. There are so many kid-friendly activities but it can definitely be overwhelming! Here are a few things to do if you’re taking little ones to the Rodeo this year:

Family Wednesdays:

If you can, Wednesdays at the Rodeo have so many activities for little ones plus amazing deals. Kids 12 and under get free admission until noon! There are $2 rides 11:00- 4:00 along with a $2 food or drink item at certain food stands in the Junction Carnival made just for little ones! Arrive early though because Wednesdays can get crowded with school field-trips and other families taking advantage of the deals. If you can’t go on a Wednesday, don’t worry, there are still plenty of things to do for kiddos on a daily basis.

AgVenture:

The agventure is such a neat space for kids of all ages! It’s an educational experience for kids about animals and farm life. They can see eggs hatching, honey bees, dairy cows, and so much more. You can easily spend a couple of hours here so a big tip is to come early!

The Junction Carnival:

Instead of going to the main carnival, head to the Junction which has rides, games and fun houses all meant for the little guys. There is an antique double carousel that is such a fun attraction here. Parents definitely find fun as much as the kids! Note- this used to be called “Kids Country”!

Fun on the Farm:

Every kid (or at least mine) loves to pretend to be a farmer. The “Fun on the Farm” exhibit let’s kids participate in farm chores and work alongside real farmers! Piper loved to help gather the eggs and milk the cow! She really felt like the real deal.

What are your tips for going to the Rodeo with kids? There’s no better source than experienced moms! Leave your tips in the comments so others can see!

Do you plan to go to rodeo with kids this year? If you’re looking for other spring time activities for little ones, click here!