In true Cowtown tradition, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will officially begin on Friday, and for the first time in three years, it will feature the All Western Parade.
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR) is a 23-day event that brings thousands of people and horses to the Fort Worth Cultural District. The event was first held in 1986 and has been a Fort Worth tradition ever since.
Festivities begin on Friday at 7:30 p.m. with the Best of the Ranch Rodeo held at Dickies Arena.
On Saturday, the annual Stock Show “All Western Parade” will begin at 11 a.m. The parade has not been held since 2020, having been canceled in previous years due to high winds, according to Julie J. Bryant, the communications & grand entry coordinator for FWSSR.
The parade is free to watch, but tickets are available for reserved seating at Sundance Square ($25) and the Fort Worth Convention Center ($15).
The event will feature many more attractions throughout the cultural district. The FWSSR website states it will include “livestock and horse shows, kid-friendly activities and exhibits, live music, carnival midway, shopping, great food and much more.”
Last year, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo parade were canceled due to strong winds, while the year prior they were canceled due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
The weather is not a concern for this year’s event, according to a spokesperson. The forecast for parade day calls for a high of 61 degrees and a 3% chance of precipitation.
“Ticket sales have been brisk. With the weather the way it is looking, we’re expecting big crowds. Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate with us. This year, it’s really looking good,” said FWSSR spokesperson Matt Brockman, per NBC 5 DFW.
“I expect a very robust parade with lots of participants and lots of spectators,” said Brockman, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I do think there’s been some pent-up desire.”
Events will be held at the Fort Worth Cultural District, Will Rogers Memorial Center, and Dickies Arena. There are various attractions occurring every day throughout the event, with some of the most well-known events including the Best of Mexico Celebración on Sunday, and the Texas Champion’s Challenge on January 19.
No matter where you’re from, Brockman said that there is something for everyone at this year’s event.
“Whether you’re that sixth-generation person that’s been coming to the stock show all your life because your grandparents brought you here, or you’re that transplant that came here from California, you catch on to that vibe and you want to check this out,” the FWSSR spokesman said.
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will wrap up on February 4 with the FWSSR PRORODEO Tournament in Dickies Arena.
More schedule information is available on the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo website.
Note: This article was updated on January 13, 2023, at 12:43 p.m. to correct an error.