"They're going to put panties on a milk cow," explains Cheryl Pryor of the six teams from local businesses participating in the "Merchants' Panty Pull" at the Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding event on Thursday, May 9. That marks Day One of the annual Colorama Festival, followed by two days of pro rodeo events, all happening at the Ridge Riders Arena in Delano. 

Cindy Edwards and Pryor have been Ridge Rider volunteers for years as part of a team of four to eight people. This year, Edwards says, they have "easily over 30" volunteers working together to pull it off. It is the first Colorama Rodeo since Rodeo President George Kohout passed away, and will include a memorial for Kohout on Saturday.

This year's Colorama Rodeo will feature professional rodeo events as well as rodeo entertainment, including stick horse races for kids, trick riders, a drill team and a rodeo clown, some of whom will be in the parade through Grand Coulee on Saturday. And contrary to what you may have heard, the Rattlesnake Saloon will be back.

"The enthusiasm's there," said Edwards. "The members are stoked because we just feel the support behind us from the community. So it's like, it's gotta be good, right?" 

"Yep," Pryor said. "It's gotta be good." 

Tickets are available online at https://coloramaprorodeo.org or at the gate before events. The Ridge Riders are also selling VIP tables for each day of rodeo grounds events, which come with a complete rib dinner and a private full-service, no-host bar. Contact Wayne Fowler for more information: 509-631-0135.