If you’ve ever wanted to see the West on full display without leaving Fort Worth, mark your calendar for Saturday, Jan. 17, when the 129th Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo kicks off with its legendary All-Western Parade. Downtown will transform into a cavalcade of color, motion, and tradition starting at 11 a.m., drawing more than 100,000 spectators to the streets.
This isn’t just any parade. With over 3,000 horses, nearly 150 entries, and more than 70 riding clubs from across the nation, the All-Western Parade stakes its claim as the oldest non-motorized rodeo parade in the United States — and one of the largest. Marching bands from local high schools, the TCU Horned Frog Marching Band, and the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboy Band fill the air with music, while floats, wagons, and horse-drawn carriages weave a spectacle of Western heritage. Near Sundance Square Plaza, face painters and balloon artists will keep the littlest cowboys and cowgirls entertained.
The parade’s two-mile route begins at Main and Weatherford streets, just south of the Tarrant County Courthouse, continues past the Fort Worth Convention Center, then snakes north along Houston Street. Street closures start at 9 a.m., giving spectators time to stake out the best viewing spots — ticketed seating is available at both Sundance Square and the Convention Center. A parade seat ticket also grants one general admission to the Stock Show & Rodeo grounds on any single day during the 23-day run.
And the parade is just the beginning. The FWSSR — running through Feb. 7 — brings more than 13,000 young competitors from across Texas vying for over $10 million in scholarships and auction proceeds. With more than 1.2 million visitors each year, the event offers world-class livestock shows, equestrian competitions, live music, a carnival midway, shopping, family attractions, and nightly rodeos at Dickies Arena. There’s something for everyone — pony rides, a petting zoo, an endless array of food options, and the thrill of rodeo in one of the nation’s premier venues.
“The All-Western Parade sets the tone for everything the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo represents,” says FWSSR Chairman Philip Williamson. “For 129 years, this event has honored the traditions of the West while bringing families, youth exhibitors, and visitors from around the world together in Fort Worth. It is a celebration of our history and an invitation to experience one of the most respected livestock and rodeo events in the country.”