The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PENDLETON, Ore.—For only the third time in its history, The Pendleton Round-Up has been cancelled. Organizers could not ensure the safety of the community due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Happy Canyon Indian Pageant and Wild West Show have also been canceled for 2020. The events had been scheduled for Sept. 16-19.

The Round-Up was previously cancelled in 1942 and 1943 due to World War II.

"It is with a heavy heart that the 2020 Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon will not be taking place this year," Happy Canyon president Tanner Hawkins said in a statement. "Both the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon boards' number-one priority has been and will always be the health and safety of our community, volunteers, tribal partners and our entire region."

Event organizers had been working with local and state officials to come up with a way to allow the Round-Up to continue, as it is one of Pendleton's biggest economic drivers. Ultimately the decision to cancel the event was made, as it has been for so many other well-loved community events.

Ticket holders can receive a full refund or put the payment toward the 2021 event. They also have the option of donating the costs of their tickets to the Let 'Er Buck Cares fund, which supports the local organizations that rely on Round-Up week and which was established by the Oregon Community Foundation. The causes the fund will support includes scholarships, youth sports, recovery programs, animal rescue, breast cancer support and more.

Ticket holders are asked to complete the application for a refund, or a donation to the fund, by August 31, 2020. Any patrons that do not complete the form by this date will have their tickets automatically rolled over to the 2021 event. For any further questions contact the box office at (541) 276-2553 or email tickets@pendletonroundup.com.