On Boxing Day, the Millers Flat Rodeo will take over the small town for the 53rd time and Maniototo's event will be the next day, at a Waipiata paddock.
Last year, Maniototo attracted 1200 people to the first full rodeo in the area since the 1970s.
Maniototo Rodeo Club secretary Kim Parker said there were 185 competitors this year and the club hoped for a crowd of about 1500.
''We've done a bit more advertising this year, and I think we'll get a few people through word of mouth.''
It was likely to be a ''scorching Central Otago day'', so the club advised people to bring portable shade.
The event was popular with holiday makers, locals and people ''just driving by'', she said.
Millers Flat Rodeo Club secretary Mark Booth said its event, which would host up to 150 competitors, was one of the biggest days of the year for the small town.
He hoped the event would attract about 1000 people.
''There are a lot of people around at the Christmas period, holiday-makers and travellers.''
It would also have a junior steer ride for young riders, he said.
''It's all very safe. The riders wear protective gear.''
The main change this year was more shading to protect the crowd from the sun.
Both events would host the usual rodeo categories such as bareback, rope and tie, saddle bronc, barrel race, steer-wrestling, team roping and the bull ride.
SAFE Campaigns Officer Marianne Macdonald said residents of Dunedin and Central Otago were urged to avoid these events, saying they were ''nothing more than bullying for entertainment''.
''Normally docile bulls and horses are induced into aggressive behaviour by painful or irritating means, such as flank straps, electric prods, tail-twisting, and painful spurs, leading to aggravated and enraged animals who will perform. Vulnerable young calves are ... roped around the neck and yanked off their feet at high speed.''
A petition to ban rodeos, containing more than 62,000 signatures, was delivered to Parliament in March.
Mr Booth said the welfare of the animals was a ''top concern'' for the club.
''There will be a vet on site and we'll be looking to see if anything is wrong with any of them, or if one of them doesn't look quite right.''
