Both the Waimate Rodeo and the Waimate Strawberry Fare will both take place today, after rodeo organisers moved their event forward.
Last year the rodeo took place on December 27, but Waimate Rodeo Club secretary Craig Booth said the event was moved to attract more cowboys and also to avoid again clashing with events on the North Island rodeo circuit.
Mr Booth said 280 riders ''from all over New Zealand'' had already registered for today's event at the Waimate A&P showgrounds.
With 50 more riders this year, it was hoped that the inclusion of more North Island competitors would also improve on last year's crowd of about 1000 spectators, he said.
The Waimate Strawberry Fare is celebrating its 24th year of operation, and stall convener Kerry Woolgar said all 270 available stalls had been booked for the event, which would take place at Seddon Sq and Boland Park from 11am.
It was unlikely the new date for the rodeo would result in fewer people attending the fare, Miss Woolgar said.
''Both groups attract different sort of people and they [the rodeo]are more of a twilight event. While they are starting just after lunch, their main events are in the evening and we will be finished by then, so possibly we will both complement each other.
''That would be the hope.''
