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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

HELENA ­­– After the success that last year’s festivities brought, Helena Hollow is once again preparing to turn up the action for its second annual Mother’s Day Rodeo on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.

Each night of the event will see the gates open up at 5:30 p.m. for guests to be able to enjoy the opportunity to ride the horses or mechanical bulls, the food trucks and craft vendors that the rodeo offers. The actual rodeo will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Amy Griffin, the owner of Helena Hollow, kept the idea for the event going after the popularity it had last year in its inaugural year, hoping to keep it growing with this edition.

“Last year, we were just looking for a new event do—it just so happened that Mother’s Day weekend was what was available in the rodeo circuit,” “We really liked it, we had a great turnout. As a mother myself, I kind of thought, ‘Well you know what, rather than getting flowers,  I would much rather go to an event with my family for Mother’s Day.'”

The rodeo will feature a multitude of events, including steer wrestling, tie down roping, breakaway roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback horse riding, barrel racing and bull riding, with mutton busting taking place in the intermission.

Griffin made sure to note that a big difference between this year’s event and last year’s is that there will be a lot more seating available, with lower-profile bleachers that are safer and are a permanent fixture on the farm.

Having a family of her own, Griffin loves being able to put on the rodeo for many families, knowing it is an event that is both intriguing and something people do not see every single day.

“Life just gets so busy,” Griffin said. “Yeah, you’re doing a family day when you’re at the ballpark or when you’re at a cheer competition for the weekend, but there’s nothing like authentically unplugging from all of the other stuff—all of the required athletic stuff, all of the required work—and just sitting somewhere with your family and enjoying a night of doing something that you don’t do every day.”

Seeing the smiles that all the different families have while the rodeo happens, Griffin finds joy in the fact that Helena Hollow’s newest big event is creating a new tradition for many to have on Mother’s Day weekend.

“It is so fulfilling to see (the smiles),” Griffin said. “Rodeos are a completely different world, and if you’re in it, you’re in it. But if you’re not, you really don’t know much about it. A lot of people that come to our rodeo live in Helena, Hoover, some of these suburbs of the city, and they don’t experience this very often. It is very fulfilling see these kind of animals up close and in person and just have a whole new experience.”

Each night of the rodeo will also feature a Fan of the Night, chosen by the rodeo clown, as well as Helena Hollow merchandise to sell.

Tickets are available for $20 online at Helenahollow.com, but will go up in price to $25 at the gate. Griffin encourages people to buy online and in advance before the rodeo begins.