Big Bear Rodeo · September 5–7, 2026
Win an Original Burro Portrait
We are saddling up for all three days of the Big Bear Rodeo, and we would love for you to come say hello. Join the Mountain Living newsletter and you are entered to win an original photograph of Big Bear's wild burros, set in a handmade solid-wood frame — two feet by three feet of pure mountain character.
One winner · One of a kind
Enter to Win
Join our newsletter and you are in the drawing. It is that easy.
No purchase necessary. Open to US residents 18 and older. Entries close September 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT.
Big Bear Lake · California
Find Us at the Rodeo
Friday, September 5 — 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday, September 6 — 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday, September 7 — 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
One winner · One of a kind
The Prize
An original photograph of two of Big Bear's wild burros — a young one and an elder, crossing a valley road on an ordinary morning — printed large and set in a frame built by hand from solid wood, hand-carved and finished in a deep, warm stain.
At roughly two feet by three feet, it is a real statement piece — the kind of thing that anchors a cabin wall or a mountain-home entryway. There is exactly one, and it is going home with one winner.
Why the burros matter here
A Little Piece of Big Bear History
Long before Big Bear became the mountain town we know today, Holcomb Valley was booming with gold miners. In 1860, gold was discovered in the valley, sparking Southern California's largest gold rush and bringing thousands of hopeful prospectors into the mountains.
Years later, burros were brought into the Big Bear Valley for work, ranching, mining, movie sets, and other purposes. Some escaped or were released, and over time they established themselves in the mountains. Today, their descendants roam freely through Big Bear, becoming one of the most beloved reminders of our area's Wild West past.
This photograph captures a little piece of that history — the wild burros that still call Big Bear home.
Sweepstakes details: No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not increase your chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the United States, 18 years or older. One entry per person. Entries accepted through September 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT. One winner will be selected at random and notified by email within one week of the drawing. Prize is one original framed burro photograph, approximately 2 ft x 3 ft; no cash substitution. Shipping of the prize within the continental United States is covered by Mountain Living, or the winner may arrange local pickup in Big Bear Lake. Sponsored by Mountain Living by Gilligan Log Homes. This sweepstakes is not sponsored by or affiliated with the Big Bear Rodeo. By entering, you agree to receive the Mountain Living email newsletter and can unsubscribe at any time.