The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is less than two weeks away. Here are four new things added to the festivities this year that Houstonians won't want to miss.

AGVENTURE Park
Bees are an incredibly important part of the environment, and concerns about declining bee populations has led to an explosion in beekeeping as a hobby. In the past five years, America has added a million new bee colonies, mostly through people taking up beekeeping.

Agventure Park, presented by Oxy, is the Rodeo's new soil and bee exhibit. Both children and adults can interact with education stations to see the essential role of bees in agriculture. Visitors can plant sunflowers, live chat with experts, and learn everything they need to start their own hives at home.

Virtual Welding and Chuck Wagon
Virtual reality has come a long way in the last two decades. Even the Houston Museum of Natural Science rarely launches a new exhibit without some kind of VR attraction. The Rodeo is no different.

This year, visitors can get in the saddle for a virtual chuck wagon race, driving horses around a virtual dirt field in one of the Rodeo's most beloved competitions. Presented by Verizon, the event is completely free to try and a thrilling educational tool for understanding this part of the pioneer era.

If something more technical is your speed, there is also a VR welding experience that offers the experience of welding with none of the danger. Both exhibits are in Hall C of NRG Center.

Heidi Rollercoaster
A new ride at the carnival weds the German heritage of Texas with the thrill of a rollercoaster. Heidi is a high-speeding spinning coaster that rotates riders as they zip through over a thousand feet of track more than four stories in the air. It's an Octoberfest on wheel for those in the mood for a wild ride.

Nor is it the only new ride at the carnival. Overdrive is a new spinning ride that uses movie-level FX to heighten the experience. There is also a family-friendly Dragon coaster for the kids too small for the bigger rides.

Decadent Desserts
The Rodeo is one of the biggest food events of the Houston social calendar, offering chances to try new street cuisine and experimental vittles. This year, be sure to check out two new food stalls centered around desserts.

Strawberry cups have been a viral TikTok trend that's drawing people to wait hours in line in cities such as London and Dubai. These are strawberries drizzled in a variety of gourmet chocolates and served, obviously, in a cup. Candy Factory will bring the trend to the Rodeo Midway.

The other go-to sweet spot is Totally Baked Cookie Joint. Despite its name, its actually a refreshing ice cream stand where fresh scoops are topped with oatmeal cookie crumbles. Just another new experience for the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.