Every Sunday in October the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola turns into rodeo central with the longest running prison rodeo in the United States, and it is absolutely awesome! I am a big fan of the Angola Prison Rodeo, because I love all the 'Guts & Glory', the arts and crafts, and the food is nothing short of fabulous.

Only the most well behaved  prisoners get to participate in the rodeo, and some spend all year making arts and crafts to sell at booths outside the arena. Jewelry, leather crafts, furniture, plants,and handmade items are all available for purchase. There is also live entertainment throughout the day, (the inmate band is actually kinda awesome!) and the popular Angola Museum is open for tours.

This is a really really fun event for the whole family and just in case you are wondering, it's completely safe. Tickets are $20 for the rodeo, and can be purchased online, or by calling (225) 655-2030, 2607 or 2008. If you just want to go to the arts and crafts area, tickets are $10, only after rodeo tickets are sold out. Other than that, you have to pay full price for the rodeo, and the hobby crafts entrance fee is included. If it's a sell out, and you can purchase hobby craft tickets at the gate.

Proceeds from the Angola Prison Rodeo cover rodeo expenses and supplement the Louisiana State Penitentiary Inmate Welfare Fund which provides for inmate educational and recreational supplies.

Dates for the fall rodeo are October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Gates open at 9:00 am, rodeo begins at 2:00, and the arts and crafts end at 5:00 pm. The Louisiana State Penitentiary is located at the end of Highway 66, approximately twenty-two miles northwest of the town of St. Francisville, Louisiana (Highway 61).

Be sure to check out the prison policies before you go on the grounds for the rodeo, or the arts and crafts. FYI - no cell phones allowed!

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