Chucks, chariots and bull riding return to the Millarville Racetrack from Sept. 9 to 11.
The Alberta Professional Chuckwagon and Chariot Association (APCCA) finals will once again be held at the local track, with bull riding also on the bill.
Mike Cooke, APCCA wagon director and chuckwagon driver, said he's looking forward to being back in Millarville to wrap up the season.
“It’s a good time down there, it’s a good place to go,” said Cooke, who hails from Lloydminster.
“And it just seems like the event’s building and building down there, with the bull riding now and some other little things going on.”
New this year, Youth Under the Lights will see southern Alberta youth compete in bull riding and steer riding on Friday night.
On Saturday night, riders from the Bull Riders Canada circuit will have a chance to hang on for eight seconds during Bulls Under the Lights.
Mini-chuckwagons will be racing throughout the weekend as well.
“We have the little mini chucks, too,” Cooke said. “Kids come and ride out there, too.”
He said the races are a rush, with fractions of a second separating drivers at the finish line.
“We have quite a few competitive outfits that come out there to run against each other,” he said.
Wagon racers round the barrels before setting off down the track, with three wagons in each heat.
Lori Lohnes, event chair, said APCCA racers use smaller wagons and smaller horses than World Professional Chuckwagon events, and there are no outriders.
“It's actually probably more exciting because they run faster times than the big wagons do,” Lohnes said.
Overall though, Cooke said there is not a lot of difference.
“We seem to be a little quicker coming out of the barrels, like we can snap out of there a little quicker.”
There will be food trucks and a beer garden all three days, and an outdoor cabaret on Saturday night with music from Bucking Horse Moon.
Tickets for kids 12 and under are free all weekend, and on Friday night, they can get free hot dogs donated by AG Foods in Black Diamond, Lohnes said.
“This event is for the community,” she said. “We'd like to encourage everybody to come out and support it, because it is a good time.”
Chucks and chariots will run all three days and the Millarville Farmers' Market goes as scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 10.
For tickets or more information, visit www.millarvilleracetrack.com or facebook.com/Millarvillechucks.